What percentage of San Francisco to Los Angeles flights are direct?

In the trailing 90 days, approximately 59.2% of flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles were direct. For travelers opting for connecting flights, the median number of stopovers observed was 2. This indicates that while direct options are readily available, a substantial portion of the flights on this route do involve at least one stop. Travelers should consider this when planning their journey.

How long does it take to fly from San Francisco to Los Angeles?

A direct flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles typically takes 1 hour and 35 minutes, covering a distance of 544 kilometers. Flights with one stop, however, have a significantly longer median duration, averaging 9 hours and 57 minutes. This considerable difference highlights the efficiency of direct routes for this particular journey. Travelers prioritizing speed will find direct options much more convenient.

Should I set a price alert for San Francisco to Los Angeles flights?

Given the historical data over the trailing 30 days, flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles are classified as a frequent deal route. This means that price fluctuations and competitive offers are common for this journey. Setting a price alert can be beneficial to track these frequent changes and potentially secure a more favorable fare when prices drop. Travelers may find good opportunities by monitoring this route.

Flights From San Francisco

To Los Angeles

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles

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Deals from

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RatePunk searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Los Angeles

Prices updated 2 days ago

405 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

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

Today’s best flight deals from San Francisco to Los Angeles

Explore current cheapest deals departing from San Francisco to Los Angeles

2026-09-14 – 2026-09-21
SFO - Los Angeles
77% AI deal score
$77
$38
Round trip
2026-09-01 – 2026-09-15
SFO - Los Angeles
75% AI deal score
$67
$38
Round trip
2026-09-09 – 2026-09-30
SFO - Los Angeles
74% AI deal score
$64
$38
Round trip
2026-09-15 – 2026-09-30
SFO - Los Angeles
74% AI deal score
$65
$38
Round trip
2026-09-21 – 2026-09-22
SFO - Los Angeles
77% AI deal score
$80
$38
Round trip
2026-09-02 – 2026-09-22
SFO - Los Angeles
73% AI deal score
$64
$40
Round trip
2026-09-17 – 2026-09-21
SFO - Los Angeles
76% AI deal score
$80
$40
Round trip
2026-09-17 – 2026-09-19
SFO - Los Angeles
76% AI deal score
$80
$40
Round trip
2026-09-08 – 2026-09-23
SFO - Los Angeles
73% AI deal score
$65
$40
Round trip
2026-09-08 – 2026-09-22
SFO - Los Angeles
74% AI deal score
$67
$40
Round trip

San Francisco to Los Angeles: Overview

Insights for flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles

For those seeking cheap flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles, September stands out as the most economical month, with a median fare of just $69. December is another cost-effective option, offering a median fare of $70. Travelers can also find good value in April, where the median fare is $79.

Fares for the San Francisco to Los Angeles route typically range from $95–$450, with a median price of $193 over the last 90 days. Right now, current fares are above the typical level for this route. Only 2% of recent fares were classified as a good price, indicating that finding exceptionally low prices can be challenging. New deals appear almost daily, so setting up a price alert can be beneficial for tracking fare changes.

When considering flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles, a meaningful share are non-stop, making up 59.2% of recent itineraries. For the remaining flights that do include connections, the typical number of stopovers is 2.

A typical journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles takes approximately 1h 35m, including both direct and connecting itineraries. For non-stop flights, the median duration is also 1h 35m. However, if your itinerary includes connections, the median journey time extends significantly to 11h 58m.

The distance between San Francisco and Los Angeles is 544 kilometers, classifying this as a short-haul route. This relatively short distance contributes to the quick flight times for direct services.

How much is a round trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles

Regular price: $56 - $118

Prices are currently below the regular range for flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

The regular price range for flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles is USD 56 to USD 118. The current lowest deal is USD 36 with Frontier Airlines, valid for travel from Sep 1-Sep 10.

now $36

Low $56

High $118

The cheapest time to fly from San Francisco to Los Angeles

The cheapest month to fly from SFO to LAX is December, with a median price of $55. The most expensive month is July, with a median price of $251. Prices are generally lower from January to December.

December

Cheapest

Flights from $55

July

Most Expensive

Flights from $251

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles

Last-minute flights going from San Francisco to Los Angeles

Tue, Aug 11

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Los Angeles

San Francisco (SFO) - Los Angeles (LAX)

$192

$112

One-way

Wed, Aug 12

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Los Angeles

San Francisco (SFO) - Los Angeles (LAX)

$189

$97

One-way

Wed, Aug 12

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Los Angeles

San Francisco (SFO) - Los Angeles (LAX)

$172

$97

One-way

Sat, Aug 15

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Los Angeles

San Francisco (SFO) - Los Angeles (LAX)

Frontier Airlines

$95

$44

One-way

Mon, Aug 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Los Angeles

San Francisco (SFO) - Los Angeles (LAX)

$186

$97

One-way

Mon, Aug 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Los Angeles

San Francisco (SFO) - Los Angeles (LAX)

$185

$97

One-way

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

3 nights

Aug 12 - Aug 15

$189 → $97

49%

1 night

Aug 17 - Aug 18

$186 → $97

48%

3 nights

Aug 17 - Aug 20

$185 → $97

48%

2 nights

Aug 18 - Aug 20

$185 → $97

48%

Popular Airports to fly from San Francisco to Los Angeles

San Francisco - Los Angeles route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

Recent fares from SFO to LAX are above the typical level, with a median price of $193.

📅 Best time to fly

Fly in December for the best prices

Historically, December is the cheapest month to fly, with a median price of $55.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights take 1h 35m

The typical direct flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles takes 1 hour and 35 minutes.

✈️ Airlines & availability

59.2% of recent flights are direct

Historically, 59.2% of flights on this route are direct, with 2 stopovers for connecting flights.

🏆 Airline highlight

Frontier Airlines offers direct flights

Frontier Airlines has offered direct flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles recently.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals appear frequently on this route

Deals on flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles are frequent, appearing within a 30-day window.

San Francisco main airports to depart from

San Francisco International (SFO)

Cheapest

San Francisco International is a convenient option for flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

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

💸 Flights from ~$117

Los Angeles main airports to arrive at

Los Angeles International (LAX)

Cheapest

Los Angeles International Airport is a primary gateway to Los Angeles, offering convenient access to the city.

📍 ~19 km from Los Angeles (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$50

Airports nearby Los Angeles used as alternative

Hollywood Burbank (BUR)

Hollywood Burbank (BUR) is a practical alternative due to its close proximity to North Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.

📍 ~20 km from Los Angeles (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$135

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Los Angeles

78% AI deal score

$439

$279

Save $160

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Los Angeles

Historically, the optimal booking window for flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles is typically between 14-27 days before departure. During this period, the average price observed was $237. Booking within 0-6 days of departure generally sees a significantly higher average price of $591, while booking 7-13 days out averages $381. Even booking more than 60 days in advance, the average price was $242, indicating that the 14-27 day window offers the most favorable pricing.

Across the trailing quarter, a good deal for a flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles is considered to be $95 or less. This threshold represents the lowest 25% of prices observed over a 90-day period. The median price for this route was $193, with prices reaching up to $450 or more for the higher 25% of fares. Therefore, if you find a fare at or below $95, it is historically a very competitive price.

Historically, the cheapest months to fly from San Francisco to Los Angeles include September, with a median price of $69, and December, with a median price of $70. April also shows competitive pricing, with a median of $79. The annual median price for this route is $193, indicating that these specific months offer significant savings compared to the yearly average. Travelers can typically find more budget-friendly options during these periods.

Related routes

More routes from San Francisco

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Flights to Los Angeles from other cities

Flights from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles Flights from San Jose to Los Angeles Flights from Shannon, County Clare to Los Angeles Flights from Singapore to Los Angeles Flights from Skopje to Los Angeles Flights from Split to Los Angeles Flights from St. Louis to Los Angeles Flights from Stockholm to Los Angeles Flights from Stuttgart to Los Angeles Flights from Sydney to Los Angeles Flights from Tel Aviv to Los Angeles Flights from Toulouse to Los Angeles

San Francisco to Los Angeles: Overview

Insights for flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles

How much is a round trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles

Regular price: $56 - $118

Prices are currently below the regular range for flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

The regular price range for flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles is USD 56 to USD 118. The current lowest deal is USD 36 with Frontier Airlines, valid for travel from Sep 1-Sep 10.

now $36

Low $56

High $118

The cheapest time to fly from San Francisco to Los Angeles

The cheapest month to fly from SFO to LAX is December, with a median price of $55. The most expensive month is July, with a median price of $251. Prices are generally lower from January to December.

December

Cheapest

Flights from $55

July

Most Expensive

Flights from $251

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles

Last-minute flights going from San Francisco to Los Angeles

Tue, Aug 11

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Los Angeles

San Francisco (SFO) - Los Angeles (LAX)

$192

$112

One-way

Wed, Aug 12

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Los Angeles

San Francisco (SFO) - Los Angeles (LAX)

$189

$97

One-way

Wed, Aug 12

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Los Angeles

San Francisco (SFO) - Los Angeles (LAX)

$172

$97

One-way

Sat, Aug 15

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Los Angeles

San Francisco (SFO) - Los Angeles (LAX)

Frontier Airlines

$95

$44

One-way

Mon, Aug 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Los Angeles

San Francisco (SFO) - Los Angeles (LAX)

$186

$97

One-way

Mon, Aug 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Los Angeles

San Francisco (SFO) - Los Angeles (LAX)

$185

$97

One-way

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

3 nights

Aug 12 - Aug 15

$189 → $97

49%

1 night

Aug 17 - Aug 18

$186 → $97

48%

3 nights

Aug 17 - Aug 20

$185 → $97

48%

2 nights

Aug 18 - Aug 20

$185 → $97

48%

Popular Airports to fly from San Francisco to Los Angeles