Are there direct flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.?

Direct flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. are available, though they represent a smaller portion of the total routes. Historically, approximately 9.7% of flights on this route have been direct. For journeys involving connections, travelers typically experience a median of 2 stopovers. While direct options exist, connecting flights are more common.

What's the flight time from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.?

The typical direct flight time from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. is approximately 5 hours and 20 minutes, covering a distance of 3885 kilometers. For flights that include one stop, the median travel time increases to about 9 hours and 59 minutes. Travelers should account for these differences when planning their journey, as connecting flights can add several hours to the total duration.

Are non-stop flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. worth the extra cost?

Historically, non-stop flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. have carried a premium of approximately 5% compared to connecting flights. The median price for a direct flight was $602, while connecting flights had a median price of $571. Direct flights constitute about 9.8% of the available options. Travelers can weigh the convenience of a shorter travel time against this modest price difference.

Flights From San Francisco

To Washington, D.C.

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

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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 San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Explore current cheapest deals departing from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

2027-02-02 – 2027-02-08
SFO - Washington, D.C.
88% AI deal score
$313
$179
Round trip
2027-02-23 – 2027-03-01
SFO - Washington, D.C.
88% AI deal score
$302
$180
Round trip
2027-01-19 – 2027-02-08
SFO - Washington, D.C.
82% AI deal score
$231
$180
Round trip
2027-02-02 – 2027-02-08
SFO - Washington, D.C.
88% AI deal score
$306
$180
Round trip
2027-02-02 – 2027-03-01
SFO - Washington, D.C.
86% AI deal score
$287
$181
Round trip
2027-02-02 – 2027-03-01
SFO - Washington, D.C.
86% AI deal score
$281
$182
Round trip
2027-02-02 – 2027-02-09
SFO - Washington, D.C.
88% AI deal score
$314
$183
Round trip
2027-01-19 – 2027-02-09
SFO - Washington, D.C.
81% AI deal score
$231
$184
Round trip
2026-12-08 – 2026-12-15
SFO - Washington, D.C.
88% AI deal score
$359
$199
Round trip
2027-02-03 – 2027-02-09
SFO - Washington, D.C.
82% AI deal score
$313
$233
Round trip

San Francisco to Washington, D.C.: Overview

Insights for flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

For travelers looking for cheap flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., prices typically range from $445 to $782, with a median of $569. Right now, current fares are near the typical level for this route. Approximately 10% of recent fares from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. were classified as a good price.

When is the cheapest time to fly from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.? The data indicates that January is typically the most affordable month, with a median fare of $232. March follows as another economical option, with a median fare of $427, and February also offers competitive pricing at a median of $441.

Most itineraries from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. connect at least once. Only 9.7% of recent fares were for direct flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. For connecting itineraries, the typical number of connections is 2.

How long is the flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.? A typical journey, including connections, takes about 5h 20m. This median duration accounts for both non-stop and connecting flights on this route.

The flight distance between San Francisco and Washington, D.C. is approximately 3,885 kilometers. This classifies the route as a medium-haul journey.

How much is a round trip from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Regular price: $205 - $432

Prices are currently below the regular range for flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Regular prices for flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. typically range from $205 to $432. The current lowest deal is $164 with Frontier Airlines for travel from Jan 19-Feb 1.

now $164

Low $205

High $432

The cheapest time to fly from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

The cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to Washington is January, with a median price of $232. The most expensive month is June, with a median price of $2665. Prices are generally lower from January to November.

January

Cheapest

Flights from $232

June

Most Expensive

Flights from $2,665

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

United Airlines

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Last-minute flights going from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Mon, Nov 16

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Washington, D.C.

San Francisco (SFO) - Washington, D.C. (BWI)

Frontier Airlines

$293

$247

One-way

Tue, Nov 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Washington, D.C.

San Francisco (SFO) - Washington, D.C. (BWI)

Frontier Airlines

$239

$263

One-way

Tue, Nov 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Washington, D.C.

San Francisco (SFO) - Washington, D.C. (BWI)

Frontier Airlines

$238

$263

One-way

Tue, Nov 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Washington, D.C.

San Francisco (SFO) - Washington, D.C. (BWI)

Frontier Airlines

$232

$263

One-way

Tue, Nov 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Washington, D.C.

San Francisco (SFO) - Washington, D.C. (BWI)

Frontier Airlines

$234

$263

One-way

Tue, Nov 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Washington, D.C.

San Francisco (SFO) - Washington, D.C. (BWI)

Frontier Airlines

$232

$263

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

7 nights

Dec 8 - Dec 15

$359 → $200

44%

5 nights

Feb 3 - Feb 8

$316 → $170

46%

6 nights

Feb 3 - Feb 9

$313 → $175

44%

6 nights

Feb 2 - Feb 8

$313 → $178

43%

Popular Airports to fly from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

San Francisco - Washington, D.C. route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are near the typical level

Recent fares from SFO to WAS are near the typical level of $569.

📅 Best time to fly

January is historically cheapest at $232

Historically, January is the cheapest month to fly from SFO to WAS, with a median price of $232.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights average 5h 20m

Direct flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. typically take 5h 20m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant

Only 9.7% of recent flights from SFO to WAS are direct, with connecting flights dominant.

🏆 Airline highlight

Frontier Airlines offers the cheapest deal

Frontier Airlines has the cheapest recent deal at $164 from San Francisco International to Washington Dulles International.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals are frequent on this route

Deals for flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. 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 departure airport for flights to Washington, D.C.

📍 ~18 km from San Francisco (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~$206

Washington, D.C. main airports to arrive at

Washington Dulles International (IAD)

Cheapest

Washington Dulles International is a good arrival option for flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

📍 ~36 km from Washington, D.C. (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$196

Airports nearby Washington, D.C. used as alternative

Philadelphia International (PHL)

Cheapest

Philadelphia International is a major international hub with extensive route networks and competitive fares.

📍 ~225 km from Washington, D.C. (reachable by car or Amtrak)

💸 Flights from ~$199

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Washington, D.C.

Discover luxury on the budget with premium cabin class on flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C..

Elite

Best Elite deals to Washington, D.C.

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

From SFO

Elite

Dec 02

Washington, D.C., United States

88% AI deal score

$2,004

$1,202

Save $802

From SFO

Elite

Dec 02

Washington, D.C., United States

87% AI deal score

$2,018

$1,262

Save $756

From SFO

Elite

Dec 09

Washington, D.C., United States

86% AI deal score

$1,901

$1,454

Save $447

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From SFO

Elite

Dec 10

Washington, D.C., United States

86% AI deal score

$2,000

$1,507

Save $493

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From SFO

Elite

Dec 09

Washington, D.C., United States

85% AI deal score

$1,693

$1,137

Save $556

From SFO

Elite

Dec 02

Washington, D.C., United States

82% AI deal score

$2,064

$1,518

Save $546

From SFO

Elite

Dec 08

Washington, D.C., United States

81% AI deal score

$1,915

$1,470

Save $445

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From SFO

Elite

Nov 23

Washington, D.C., United States

81% AI deal score

$1,422

$1,177

Save $245

From SFO

Elite

Nov 23

Washington, D.C., United States

81% AI deal score

$1,422

$1,177

Save $245

From SFO

Elite

Nov 23

Washington, D.C., United States

81% AI deal score

$1,418

$1,180

Save $238

From SFO

Elite

Dec 02

Washington, D.C., United States

80% AI deal score

$1,805

$1,451

Save $354

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From SFO

Elite

Dec 03

Washington, D.C., United States

80% AI deal score

$1,806

$1,451

Save $355

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Washington, D.C.

Historically, the optimal booking window for flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. is typically between 28 and 59 days prior to departure. During this period, the average price for a ticket is around $589. If you wait until 0-6 days before your flight, the average price can increase significantly to approximately $1047. Planning ahead by at least a month can lead to substantial savings on your airfare.

Based on historical data from the trailing 90 days, a good price for a flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. is considered to be around $445 or less. The median price for this route during the same period was $569. Prices can vary, with 75% of tickets historically costing $782 or less. Aiming for a price below the median can help secure a more economical fare.

Historically, January has offered the cheapest flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., with a median price of $232. Other relatively inexpensive months include March, with a median price of $427, and February, with a median price of $441. The annual median price for this route is $569, indicating that booking during these months can result in significant savings compared to the yearly average.

Related routes

More routes from San Francisco

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Flights to Washington, D.C. from other cities

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San Francisco to Washington, D.C.: Overview

Insights for flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

The flight distance between San Francisco and Washington, D.C. is approximately 3,885 kilometers. This classifies the route as a medium-haul journey.

How much is a round trip from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Regular price: $205 - $432

Prices are currently below the regular range for flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Regular prices for flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. typically range from $205 to $432. The current lowest deal is $164 with Frontier Airlines for travel from Jan 19-Feb 1.

now $164

Low $205

High $432

The cheapest time to fly from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

January

Cheapest

Flights from $232

June

Most Expensive

Flights from $2,665

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

United Airlines

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Last-minute flights going from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Mon, Nov 16

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Washington, D.C.

San Francisco (SFO) - Washington, D.C. (BWI)

Frontier Airlines

$293

$247

One-way

Tue, Nov 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Washington, D.C.

San Francisco (SFO) - Washington, D.C. (BWI)

Frontier Airlines

$239

$263

One-way

Tue, Nov 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Washington, D.C.

San Francisco (SFO) - Washington, D.C. (BWI)

Frontier Airlines

$238

$263

One-way

Tue, Nov 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Washington, D.C.

San Francisco (SFO) - Washington, D.C. (BWI)

Frontier Airlines

$232

$263

One-way

Tue, Nov 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Washington, D.C.

San Francisco (SFO) - Washington, D.C. (BWI)

Frontier Airlines

$234

$263

One-way

Tue, Nov 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SFO - Washington, D.C.

San Francisco (SFO) - Washington, D.C. (BWI)

Frontier Airlines

$232

$263

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

7 nights

Dec 8 - Dec 15

$359 → $200

44%

5 nights

Feb 3 - Feb 8

$316 → $170

46%

6 nights

Feb 3 - Feb 9

$313 → $175

44%

6 nights

Feb 2 - Feb 8

$313 → $178

43%

Popular Airports to fly from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

San Francisco - Washington, D.C. route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are near the typical level

Recent fares from SFO to WAS are near the typical level of $569.

📅 Best time to fly

January is historically cheapest at $232

Historically, January is the cheapest month to fly from SFO to WAS, with a median price of $232.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights average 5h 20m

Direct flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. typically take 5h 20m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant

Only 9.7% of recent flights from SFO to WAS are direct, with connecting flights dominant.

🏆 Airline highlight

Frontier Airlines offers the cheapest deal

Frontier Airlines has the cheapest recent deal at $164 from San Francisco International to Washington Dulles International.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals are frequent on this route

Deals for flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. 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 departure airport for flights to Washington, D.C.

📍 ~18 km from San Francisco (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~$206

Washington, D.C. main airports to arrive at

Washington Dulles International (IAD)

Cheapest

Washington Dulles International is a good arrival option for flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

📍 ~36 km from Washington, D.C. (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$196

Airports nearby Washington, D.C. used as alternative

Philadelphia International (PHL)

Cheapest

Philadelphia International is a major international hub with extensive route networks and competitive fares.

📍 ~225 km from Washington, D.C. (reachable by car or Amtrak)

💸 Flights from ~$199

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Washington, D.C.

Discover luxury on the budget with premium cabin class on flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C..

Elite

Best Elite deals to Washington, D.C.

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

From SFO

Elite

Dec 02

Washington, D.C., United States

88% AI deal score

$2,004

$1,202

Save $802

From SFO

Elite

Dec 02

Washington, D.C., United States

87% AI deal score

$2,018

$1,262

Save $756

From SFO

Elite

Dec 09

Washington, D.C., United States

86% AI deal score

$1,901

$1,454

Save $447

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From SFO

Elite

Dec 10

Washington, D.C., United States

86% AI deal score

$2,000

$1,507

Save $493

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From SFO

Elite

Dec 09

Washington, D.C., United States

85% AI deal score

$1,693

$1,137

Save $556

From SFO

Elite

Dec 02

Washington, D.C., United States

82% AI deal score

$2,064

$1,518

Save $546

From SFO

Elite

Dec 08

Washington, D.C., United States

81% AI deal score

$1,915

$1,470

Save $445

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From SFO

Elite

Nov 23

Washington, D.C., United States

81% AI deal score

$1,422

$1,177

Save $245

From SFO

Elite

Nov 23

Washington, D.C., United States

81% AI deal score

$1,422

$1,177

Save $245

From SFO

Elite

Nov 23

Washington, D.C., United States

81% AI deal score

$1,418

$1,180

Save $238

From SFO

Elite

Dec 02

Washington, D.C., United States

80% AI deal score

$1,805

$1,451

Save $354

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From SFO

Elite

Dec 03

Washington, D.C., United States

80% AI deal score

$1,806

$1,451

Save $355

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Washington, D.C.

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Today’s best flight deals from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

San Francisco to Washington, D.C.: Overview

Insights for flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

How much is a round trip from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

The cheapest time to fly from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Direct flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Last-minute flights going from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Popular Airports to fly from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

San Francisco - Washington, D.C. route insights

Recent fares are near the typical level

January is historically cheapest at $232

Direct flights average 5h 20m

Connecting flights are dominant

Frontier Airlines offers the cheapest deal

Deals are frequent on this route

San Francisco main airports to depart from

Washington, D.C. main airports to arrive at

Airports nearby Washington, D.C. used as alternative

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Washington, D.C.

Best Elite deals to Washington, D.C.

Dec 02

Dec 02

Dec 09

Dec 10

Dec 09

Dec 02

Dec 08

Nov 23

Nov 23

Nov 23

Dec 02

Dec 03

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Washington, D.C.

When should I buy San Francisco to Washington, D.C. tickets?

How much should a flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. cost?

Which months have the cheapest flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.?

Are there direct flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.?

What's the flight time from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.?

Are non-stop flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. worth the extra cost?

Related routes

More routes from San Francisco

Flights to Washington, D.C. from other cities

San Francisco to Washington, D.C.: Overview

Insights for flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

How much is a round trip from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

The cheapest time to fly from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Direct flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Last-minute flights going from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Popular Airports to fly from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

San Francisco - Washington, D.C. route insights

Recent fares are near the typical level

January is historically cheapest at $232

Direct flights average 5h 20m

Connecting flights are dominant

Frontier Airlines offers the cheapest deal

Deals are frequent on this route

San Francisco main airports to depart from

Washington, D.C. main airports to arrive at

Airports nearby Washington, D.C. used as alternative

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Washington, D.C.

Best Elite deals to Washington, D.C.

Dec 02

Dec 02

Dec 09

Dec 10

Dec 09

Dec 02

Dec 08

Nov 23

Nov 23

Nov 23

Dec 02

Dec 03

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Washington, D.C.

When should I buy San Francisco to Washington, D.C. tickets?

How much should a flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. cost?

Which months have the cheapest flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.?