How many flights from Raleigh to San Francisco are non-stop?

In the trailing 90 days, approximately 1.7% of flights from Raleigh to San Francisco were non-stop. For flights that include stopovers, the median number of stopovers observed was 2. Travelers should anticipate that the majority of journeys on this route will involve at least one connection. This percentage indicates that direct options are relatively uncommon for this route.

How many hours is the flight from Raleigh to San Francisco?

A direct flight from Raleigh to San Francisco typically takes about 6 hours and 3 minutes. For flights with one stop, the median duration extends to approximately 9 hours and 10 minutes. The total distance covered on this route is 3855 kilometers. Travelers should account for these varying durations when planning their journey, with connecting flights adding a significant amount of travel time.

How often do cheap flights from Raleigh to San Francisco come up?

Historically, cheap flights from Raleigh to San Francisco come up frequently. This route is consistently observed to have favorable pricing opportunities. Travelers seeking good value on this route can expect to find deals with regularity. The frequency of these opportunities makes it a route where patience can be rewarded.

Flights From Raleigh

To San Francisco

Cheap Flights from Raleigh to San Francisco

Browse current best options from Raleigh. Become a member to unlock all deals and get alerts when new deals appear.

Deals from

Raleigh

RatePunk searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to San Francisco

Prices updated 7 days ago

483 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Oct 26, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Raleigh to San Francisco

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Raleigh to San Francisco

2026-12-14 – 2027-01-12
RDU - San Francisco
82% AI deal score
$254
$203
Round trip
2027-01-25 – 2027-02-02
RDU - San Francisco
84% AI deal score
$285
$205
Round trip
2026-11-18 – 2026-12-08
RDU - San Francisco
82% AI deal score
$265
$208
Round trip
2027-01-25 – 2027-02-23
RDU - San Francisco
82% AI deal score
$264
$208
Round trip
2027-02-08 – 2027-02-23
RDU - San Francisco
76% AI deal score
$246
$209
Round trip
2026-11-18 – 2026-12-01
RDU - San Francisco
83% AI deal score
$278
$210
Round trip
2026-12-05 – 2026-12-08
RDU - San Francisco
85% AI deal score
$315
$210
Round trip
2026-12-09 – 2026-12-14
RDU - San Francisco
84% AI deal score
$309
$221
Round trip
2026-12-09 – 2026-12-12
RDU - San Francisco
84% AI deal score
$315
$221
Round trip
2026-12-09 – 2026-12-10
RDU - San Francisco
84% AI deal score
$317
$221
Round trip

Raleigh to San Francisco: Overview

Insights for flights from Raleigh to San Francisco

For those seeking cheap flights from Raleigh to San Francisco, the data indicates that April is typically the most affordable month to fly, with a median fare of $244. Other cost-effective options include August, with a median fare of $410, and March, where the median fare is $428. These months offer the best opportunities for finding lower prices on this route.

Fares for flights from Raleigh to San Francisco typically range from $438 to $761, with a median of $567. Right now, current fares are near the typical level for this route. However, the share of recent fares classified as a good price is 0%, suggesting that finding exceptionally low prices may require careful timing and flexibility. New deals for this route appear almost daily, offering frequent opportunities to monitor price changes.

Most itineraries for flights from Raleigh to San Francisco involve connections, with only 1.7% of recent fares being non-stop. When connecting, most itineraries typically include 2 stopovers. This means that travelers should generally expect to factor in at least one stop when planning their journey.

A typical journey from Raleigh to San Francisco takes approximately 6h 3m including connections. For connecting flights specifically, the median travel time extends to 21h 31m. This significant difference highlights the impact of layovers on overall travel duration for this route.

The distance between Raleigh and San Francisco is approximately 3855 kilometers. This classifies the route as a medium-haul flight, which typically involves several hours of travel and often includes a stopover, aligning with the observed flight durations.

How much is a round trip from Raleigh to San Francisco

Regular price: $539 - $781

Prices for flights from Raleigh to San Francisco are currently above the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from Raleigh to San Francisco is typically between $539 and $781. The current lowest deal is $1267 with United Airlines for travel from Oct 28-Oct 29.

now $1,267

Low $539

High $781

The cheapest time to fly from Raleigh to San Francisco

The cheapest month to fly from RDU to SFO is April, with a median price of $244. The most expensive month is December, with a median price of $993. Prices are generally lower from January to November.

April

Cheapest

Flights from $244

December

Most Expensive

Flights from $993

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Raleigh to San Francisco

Frontier Airlines

Last-minute flights going from Raleigh to San Francisco

Tue, Oct 27

⌛ Last-Minute

RDU - San Francisco

Raleigh (RDU) - San Francisco (SFO)

United Airlines

$729

$1,263

One-way

Wed, Oct 28

⌛ Last-Minute

RDU - San Francisco

Raleigh (RDU) - San Francisco (SFO)

United Airlines

$720

$1,265

One-way

Thu, Nov 5

⌛ Last-Minute

RDU - San Francisco

Raleigh (RDU) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$355

$264

One-way

Wed, Nov 11

⌛ Last-Minute

RDU - San Francisco

Raleigh (RDU) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$337

$250

One-way

Fri, Nov 13

⌛ Last-Minute

RDU - San Francisco

Raleigh (RDU) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$333

$250

One-way

Sun, Nov 15

⌛ Last-Minute

RDU - San Francisco

Raleigh (RDU) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$327

$334

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Raleigh to San Francisco

5 nights

Oct 26 - Oct 31

$697 → $407

42%

8 nights

Oct 30 - Nov 7

$585 → $336

43%

12 nights

Oct 26 - Nov 7

$566 → $343

39%

15 nights

Oct 30 - Nov 14

$535 → $321

40%

Popular Airports to fly from Raleigh to San Francisco

Raleigh - San Francisco route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are near the typical level

Recent fares from RDU to SFO are near the typical level of $567.

📅 Best time to fly

April is historically the cheapest month

Historically, April is the cheapest month to fly from RDU to SFO, with a median price of $244.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights take 6h 3m

The median direct flight duration from RDU to SFO is 6 hours and 3 minutes.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are typical for this route

Connecting flights are typical for this route, with a median of 2 stopovers.

🏆 Airline highlight

United Airlines offers direct flights

United Airlines is one airline that offers direct flights from Raleigh–Durham International to San Francisco International.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals are frequent for this route

Deals for flights from RDU to SFO are frequent, appearing within a 30-day window.

Raleigh main airports to depart from

Raleigh–Durham International (RDU)

Cheapest

Raleigh–Durham International Airport is a convenient option for flights from Raleigh to San Francisco.

📍 ~17 km from Raleigh (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$218

San Francisco main airports to arrive at

San Francisco International (SFO)

Cheapest

San Francisco International Airport is a major hub, offering convenient access to San Francisco.

📍 ~18 km from city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$192

Airports nearby San Francisco used as alternative

Oakland International (OAK)

Cheapest

Oakland International is a primary alternative, offering extensive domestic options and direct BART rail access.

📍 ~18 km from San Francisco (reachable by BART rail system)

💸 Flights from ~$220

Business & First Class Flight Deals to San Francisco

Discover luxury on the budget with premium cabin class on flights from Raleigh to San Francisco.

Elite

Best Elite deals to San Francisco

Exclusive daily First Class, Business Class, and Premium Economy flight deals, refreshed every 24 hours.

From RDU

Elite

Nov 16

San Francisco, United States

90% AI deal score

$2,276

$1,570

Save $706

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From RDU

Elite

Dec 16

San Francisco, United States

89% AI deal score

$2,018

$1,373

Save $645

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From RDU

Elite

Dec 01

San Francisco, United States

89% AI deal score

$2,017

$1,413

Save $604

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From RDU

Elite

Nov 07

San Francisco, United States

88% AI deal score

$2,495

$1,855

Save $640

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From RDU

Elite

Nov 05

San Francisco, United States

88% AI deal score

$2,445

$1,855

Save $590

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From RDU

Elite

Dec 16

San Francisco, United States

87% AI deal score

$1,743

$1,343

Save $400

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From RDU

Elite

Dec 16

San Francisco, United States

87% AI deal score

$1,743

$1,343

Save $400

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From RDU

Elite

Dec 16

San Francisco, United States

87% AI deal score

$1,810

$1,388

Save $422

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From RDU

Elite

Dec 01

San Francisco, United States

87% AI deal score

$1,812

$1,413

Save $399

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From RDU

Elite

Nov 13

San Francisco, United States

87% AI deal score

$2,344

$1,831

Save $513

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From RDU

Elite

Dec 21

San Francisco, United States

86% AI deal score

$1,760

$1,399

Save $361

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From RDU

Elite

Dec 21

San Francisco, United States

86% AI deal score

$1,760

$1,399

Save $361

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Francisco

Historically, the optimal booking window for flights from Raleigh to San Francisco is typically 28-59 days before departure. During this period, the average price observed was around $520. Booking within 0-6 days of departure generally sees prices rise significantly, averaging $845. Planning your trip within the recommended 28-59 day window can lead to more favorable pricing.

Across the trailing quarter, a flight from Raleigh to San Francisco is considered a good deal if it is priced at or below $438. The median price for this route over the same period was $567. Prices can vary, with 75% of observed fares falling below $761. Comparing potential fares to the $438 threshold can help identify a good value.

Historically, April has been the cheapest month to fly from Raleigh to San Francisco, with a median price of $244. August also offered competitive pricing, with a median of $410. The annual median price for this route is $567, indicating that certain months can offer significant savings compared to the yearly average. Travelers looking for lower fares might consider these months.

Related routes

More routes from Raleigh

Flights from Raleigh to Amsterdam Flights from Raleigh to Athens Flights from Raleigh to Atlanta Flights from Raleigh to Barcelona Flights from Raleigh to Berlin Flights from Raleigh to Shanghai Flights from Raleigh to Tampa Flights from Raleigh to Tokyo Flights from Raleigh to Venice Flights from Raleigh to Vienna Flights from Raleigh to Washington, D.C.Flights from Raleigh to Zürich

Flights to San Francisco from other cities

Flights from Reno to San Francisco Flights from Rome to San Francisco Flights from Salt Lake City to San Francisco Flights from San Diego to San Francisco Flights from Santa Ana to San Francisco Flights from Seattle to San Francisco Flights from Seoul to San Francisco Flights from Shanghai to San Francisco Flights from Singapore to San Francisco Flights from St. Louis to San Francisco Flights from Sydney to San Francisco Flights from Tampa to San Francisco

Raleigh to San Francisco: Overview

Insights for flights from Raleigh to San Francisco

How much is a round trip from Raleigh to San Francisco

Regular price: $539 - $781

Prices for flights from Raleigh to San Francisco are currently above the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from Raleigh to San Francisco is typically between $539 and $781. The current lowest deal is $1267 with United Airlines for travel from Oct 28-Oct 29.

now $1,267

Low $539

High $781

The cheapest time to fly from Raleigh to San Francisco

April

Cheapest

Flights from $244

December

Most Expensive

Flights from $993

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Raleigh to San Francisco

Frontier Airlines

Last-minute flights going from Raleigh to San Francisco

Tue, Oct 27

⌛ Last-Minute

RDU - San Francisco

Raleigh (RDU) - San Francisco (SFO)

United Airlines

$729

$1,263

One-way

Wed, Oct 28

⌛ Last-Minute

RDU - San Francisco

Raleigh (RDU) - San Francisco (SFO)

United Airlines

$720

$1,265

One-way

Thu, Nov 5

⌛ Last-Minute

RDU - San Francisco

Raleigh (RDU) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$355

$264

One-way

Wed, Nov 11

⌛ Last-Minute

RDU - San Francisco

Raleigh (RDU) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$337

$250

One-way

Fri, Nov 13

⌛ Last-Minute

RDU - San Francisco

Raleigh (RDU) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$333

$250

One-way

Sun, Nov 15

⌛ Last-Minute

RDU - San Francisco

Raleigh (RDU) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$327

$334

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Raleigh to San Francisco

5 nights

Oct 26 - Oct 31

$697 → $407

42%

8 nights

Oct 30 - Nov 7

$585 → $336

43%

12 nights

Oct 26 - Nov 7

$566 → $343

39%

15 nights

Oct 30 - Nov 14

$535 → $321

40%

Popular Airports to fly from Raleigh to San Francisco

Raleigh - San Francisco route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are near the typical level

Recent fares from RDU to SFO are near the typical level of $567.

📅 Best time to fly

April is historically the cheapest month

Historically, April is the cheapest month to fly from RDU to SFO, with a median price of $244.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights take 6h 3m

The median direct flight duration from RDU to SFO is 6 hours and 3 minutes.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are typical for this route

Connecting flights are typical for this route, with a median of 2 stopovers.

🏆 Airline highlight

United Airlines offers direct flights

United Airlines is one airline that offers direct flights from Raleigh–Durham International to San Francisco International.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals are frequent for this route

Deals for flights from RDU to SFO are frequent, appearing within a 30-day window.

Raleigh main airports to depart from

Raleigh–Durham International (RDU)

Cheapest

Raleigh–Durham International Airport is a convenient option for flights from Raleigh to San Francisco.

📍 ~17 km from Raleigh (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$218

San Francisco main airports to arrive at

San Francisco International (SFO)

Cheapest

San Francisco International Airport is a major hub, offering convenient access to San Francisco.

📍 ~18 km from city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$192

Airports nearby San Francisco used as alternative

Oakland International (OAK)

Cheapest

Oakland International is a primary alternative, offering extensive domestic options and direct BART rail access.

San Francisco, United States

86% AI deal score

$1,760

$1,399

Save $361

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Francisco

Cheap Flights from Raleigh to San Francisco

Today’s best flight deals from Raleigh to San Francisco

Raleigh to San Francisco: Overview

Insights for flights from Raleigh to San Francisco

How much is a round trip from Raleigh to San Francisco

The cheapest time to fly from Raleigh to San Francisco

Direct flights from Raleigh to San Francisco

Last-minute flights going from Raleigh to San Francisco

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Raleigh to San Francisco

Popular Airports to fly from Raleigh to San Francisco

Raleigh - San Francisco route insights

Recent fares are near the typical level

April is historically the cheapest month

Direct flights take 6h 3m

Connecting flights are typical for this route

United Airlines offers direct flights

Deals are frequent for this route

Raleigh main airports to depart from

San Francisco main airports to arrive at

Airports nearby San Francisco used as alternative

Business & First Class Flight Deals to San Francisco

Best Elite deals to San Francisco

Nov 16

Dec 16

Dec 01

Nov 07

Nov 05

Dec 16

Dec 16

Dec 16

Dec 01

Nov 13

Dec 21

Dec 21

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Francisco

How far in advance should I book a flight from Raleigh to San Francisco?

How do I know if a Raleigh to San Francisco flight is a good deal?

What's the best month to fly from Raleigh to San Francisco?

How many flights from Raleigh to San Francisco are non-stop?

How many hours is the flight from Raleigh to San Francisco?

How often do cheap flights from Raleigh to San Francisco come up?

Related routes

More routes from Raleigh

Flights to San Francisco from other cities

Raleigh to San Francisco: Overview

Insights for flights from Raleigh to San Francisco

How much is a round trip from Raleigh to San Francisco

The cheapest time to fly from Raleigh to San Francisco

Direct flights from Raleigh to San Francisco

Last-minute flights going from Raleigh to San Francisco

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Raleigh to San Francisco

Popular Airports to fly from Raleigh to San Francisco

Raleigh - San Francisco route insights

Recent fares are near the typical level

April is historically the cheapest month

Direct flights take 6h 3m

Connecting flights are typical for this route

United Airlines offers direct flights

Deals are frequent for this route

Raleigh main airports to depart from

San Francisco main airports to arrive at

Airports nearby San Francisco used as alternative

Business & First Class Flight Deals to San Francisco

Best Elite deals to San Francisco

Nov 16

Dec 16

Dec 01

Nov 07

Nov 05

Dec 16

Dec 16

Dec 16

Dec 01

Nov 13

Dec 21

Dec 21

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Francisco

How far in advance should I book a flight from Raleigh to San Francisco?

How do I know if a Raleigh to San Francisco flight is a good deal?

What's the best month to fly from Raleigh to San Francisco?