Are direct flights from St. Louis to San Francisco always the best option?

Direct flights offer convenience by minimizing travel time and avoiding layovers. However, connecting flights can sometimes be more economical, especially if you are flexible with your schedule. The 'best' option often depends on your priorities for cost versus convenience.

Can flexible travel dates help on St. Louis to San Francisco flights?

Yes, being flexible with your travel dates can significantly impact flight prices. Flying on weekdays or during off-peak seasons often results in lower fares compared to weekends or popular holiday periods. Adjusting your departure or return by a day or two may reveal better deals.

What extra costs should I check before booking St. Louis to San Francisco flights?

Before booking, always check for potential extra costs such as baggage fees, seat selection charges, and in-flight services. Some airlines may also charge for printing boarding passes or making changes to your reservation. Being aware of these can help you calculate the true total cost.

Flights From St. Louis

To San Francisco

Cheap Flights from St. Louis to San Francisco

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

Deals from

St. Louis

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

Prices updated today

485 airlines compared

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Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Nov 2, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from St. Louis to San Francisco

Explore current cheapest deals departing from St. Louis to San Francisco

2026-12-07 – 2026-12-14
STL - San Francisco
87% AI deal score
$271
$144
Round trip
2026-11-16 – 2026-12-14
STL - San Francisco
84% AI deal score
$237
$145
Round trip
2026-11-18 – 2026-12-14
STL - San Francisco
84% AI deal score
$237
$150
Round trip
2026-12-09 – 2026-12-14
STL - San Francisco
86% AI deal score
$280
$150
Round trip
2026-11-25 – 2026-12-14
STL - San Francisco
84% AI deal score
$239
$151
Round trip
2026-12-07 – 2026-12-15
STL - San Francisco
85% AI deal score
$259
$151
Round trip
2026-11-16 – 2026-12-15
STL - San Francisco
83% AI deal score
$237
$152
Round trip
2026-11-18 – 2026-12-15
STL - San Francisco
83% AI deal score
$237
$156
Round trip
2026-12-07 – 2026-12-11
STL - San Francisco
84% AI deal score
$285
$169
Round trip
2026-11-18 – 2026-12-04
STL - San Francisco
81% AI deal score
$244
$170
Round trip

St. Louis to San Francisco: Overview

Insights for flights from St. Louis to San Francisco

A typical journey from St. Louis to San Francisco takes about 4h 35m, including connections. Given that most itineraries for this route involve at least one stopover, this duration reflects the overall travel time rather than just the in-air flight time. When connecting, the median journey time extends to approximately 8h 18m.

For those seeking cheap flights from St. Louis to San Francisco, prices typically range from $428–$779, with a median of $550. Right now, fares are below the typical level. However, the share of recent fares classified as a good price is 0%, indicating that finding significantly discounted tickets may be challenging at present.

When is the cheapest time to fly from St. Louis to San Francisco? Historically, August has offered the lowest median fares at $353. Following closely, December also presents a more affordable option with a median fare of $377. Travelers can also find comparatively lower prices in September, where the median fare is around $423.

Most itineraries for this route connect at least once, with only 1.5% of recent fares being non-stop. For the majority of flights that do include a stopover, the typical number of connections is 2. This means travelers should generally expect a journey with at least one intermediate stop.

The distance between St. Louis and San Francisco is approximately 2787 kilometers. This classifies the route as a medium-haul journey, indicating a flight that is longer than a short domestic trip but typically shorter than intercontinental travel.

How much is a round trip from St. Louis to San Francisco

Regular price: $222 - $427

Prices for flights from St. Louis to San Francisco are currently below the regular range.

The regular price range for this route is typically between $222 and $427. The current lowest deal is $199 with Frontier Airlines for travel from Nov 16-Nov 25.

now $199

Low $222

High $427

The cheapest time to fly from St. Louis to San Francisco

The cheapest month to fly from St. Louis to San Francisco is August, with a median price of $337. The most expensive month is February, with a median price of $685. Prices are generally lower from January to December.

August

Cheapest

Flights from $337

February

Most Expensive

Flights from $685

Jan

Feb

May

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from St. Louis to San Francisco

Frontier Airlines

Last-minute flights going from St. Louis to San Francisco

Mon, Nov 16

⌛ Last-Minute

STL - San Francisco

St. Louis (STL) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$296

$171

One-way

Mon, Nov 16

⌛ Last-Minute

STL - San Francisco

St. Louis (STL) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$296

$179

One-way

Mon, Nov 16

⌛ Last-Minute

STL - San Francisco

St. Louis (STL) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$239

$201

One-way

Mon, Nov 16

⌛ Last-Minute

STL - San Francisco

St. Louis (STL) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$237

$205

One-way

Mon, Nov 16

⌛ Last-Minute

STL - San Francisco

St. Louis (STL) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$239

$220

One-way

Mon, Nov 16

⌛ Last-Minute

STL - San Francisco

St. Louis (STL) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$237

$229

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from St. Louis to San Francisco

3 nights

Dec 7 - Dec 10

$287 → $166

42%

3 nights

Dec 14 - Dec 17

$286 → $169

41%

4 nights

Dec 14 - Dec 18

$285 → $173

39%

4 nights

Dec 11 - Dec 15

$286 → $178

38%

Popular Airports to fly from St. Louis to San Francisco

St. Louis - San Francisco route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are below the typical level.

Recent fares from St. Louis to San Francisco are below the typical level for this route.

📅 Best time to fly

August is historically the cheapest month to fly.

Historically, August, December, and September are the cheapest months to fly from St. Louis to San Francisco.

⏱️ Flight duration

Nonstop flights average 4h 35m.

Nonstop flights typically take 4h 35m, while connecting flights average 8h 18m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant on this route.

Connecting flights are dominant, with a median of 2 stopovers when connecting.

🏆 Airline highlight

United Airlines offers direct flights.

United Airlines has offered direct flights from St. Louis to San Francisco recently.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals appear regularly for this route.

Deals for flights from St. Louis to San Francisco appear regularly, typically every 30 days.

St. Louis main airports to depart from

St. Louis Lambert International (STL)

Cheapest

St. Louis Lambert International Airport is a good option for flights from St. Louis to San Francisco.

📍 ~20 km from St. Louis (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~$216

San Francisco main airports to arrive at

San Francisco International (SFO)

Cheapest

San Francisco International is a primary arrival airport for flights from St. Louis.

📍 ~18 km from San Francisco (reachable by car, train, and bus).

💸 Flights from ~$201

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 car or rail)

💸 Flights from ~$165

Business & First Class Flight Deals to San Francisco

Discover luxury on the budget with premium cabin class on flights from St. Louis 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 STL

Elite

Nov 10

San Francisco, United States

78% AI deal score

$1,522

$1,215

Save $307

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From STL

Elite

Nov 10

San Francisco, United States

78% AI deal score

$1,522

$1,215

Save $307

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From STL

Elite

Dec 14

San Francisco, United States

77% AI deal score

$1,504

$1,205

Save $299

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From STL

Elite

Dec 11

San Francisco, United States

77% AI deal score

$1,475

$1,222

Save $253

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From STL

Elite

Dec 25

San Francisco, United States

77% AI deal score

$1,555

$1,244

Save $311

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From STL

Elite

Dec 25

San Francisco, United States

77% AI deal score

$1,542

$1,244

Save $298

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From STL

Elite

Nov 10

San Francisco, United States

77% AI deal score

$1,522

$1,255

Save $267

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From STL

Elite

Dec 25

San Francisco, United States

76% AI deal score

$1,492

$1,248

Save $244

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From STL

Elite

Nov 13

San Francisco, United States

76% AI deal score

$1,509

$1,309

Save $200

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From STL

Elite

Nov 13

San Francisco, United States

76% AI deal score

$1,509

$1,309

Save $200

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From STL

Elite

Dec 11

San Francisco, United States

76% AI deal score

$1,655

$1,370

Save $285

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From STL

Elite

Feb 23

San Francisco, United States

75% AI deal score

$1,438

$1,242

Save $196

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Francisco

To find more affordable flights, consider being flexible with your travel dates and times. Comparing prices across different airlines and booking platforms can often reveal better deals. Setting up price alerts may also help you catch drops in fares.

Booking flights in advance, often several weeks or months before your intended travel date, can sometimes result in lower prices. However, last-minute deals can occasionally appear, so monitoring prices is key. There isn't a single best time, as prices can fluctuate.

Comparing nearby airports can sometimes offer alternative flight options or potentially lower fares. While it may require additional ground transportation, the savings could be worthwhile. Always factor in the total cost and convenience when considering this approach.

Related routes

More routes from St. Louis

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Flights to San Francisco from other cities

Flights from Calgary to San Francisco Flights from Edmonton to San Francisco Flights from Montreal to San Francisco Flights from Sydney to San Francisco Flights from Tampa to San Francisco Flights from Tokyo to San Francisco Flights from Toronto to San Francisco Flights from Tucson to San Francisco Flights from Vancouver to San Francisco Flights from Vienna to San Francisco Flights from Warsaw to San Francisco Flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

St. Louis to San Francisco: Overview

Insights for flights from St. Louis to San Francisco

How much is a round trip from St. Louis to San Francisco

Regular price: $222 - $427

Prices for flights from St. Louis to San Francisco are currently below the regular range.

The regular price range for this route is typically between $222 and $427. The current lowest deal is $199 with Frontier Airlines for travel from Nov 16-Nov 25.

now $199

Low $222

High $427

The cheapest time to fly from St. Louis to San Francisco

August

Cheapest

Flights from $337

February

Most Expensive

Flights from $685

Jan

Feb

May

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from St. Louis to San Francisco

Frontier Airlines

Last-minute flights going from St. Louis to San Francisco

Mon, Nov 16

⌛ Last-Minute

STL - San Francisco

St. Louis (STL) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$296

$171

One-way

Mon, Nov 16

⌛ Last-Minute

STL - San Francisco

St. Louis (STL) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$296

$179

One-way

Mon, Nov 16

⌛ Last-Minute

STL - San Francisco

St. Louis (STL) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$239

$201

One-way

Mon, Nov 16

⌛ Last-Minute

STL - San Francisco

St. Louis (STL) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$237

$205

One-way

Mon, Nov 16

⌛ Last-Minute

STL - San Francisco

St. Louis (STL) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$239

$220

One-way

Mon, Nov 16

⌛ Last-Minute

STL - San Francisco

St. Louis (STL) - San Francisco (SFO)

Frontier Airlines

$237

$229

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from St. Louis to San Francisco

3 nights

Dec 7 - Dec 10

$287 → $166

42%

3 nights

Dec 14 - Dec 17

$286 → $169

41%

4 nights

Dec 14 - Dec 18

$285 → $173

39%

4 nights

Dec 11 - Dec 15

$286 → $178

38%

Popular Airports to fly from St. Louis to San Francisco

St. Louis - San Francisco route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are below the typical level.

Recent fares from St. Louis to San Francisco are below the typical level for this route.

📅 Best time to fly

August is historically the cheapest month to fly.

Historically, August, December, and September are the cheapest months to fly from St. Louis to San Francisco.

⏱️ Flight duration

Nonstop flights average 4h 35m.

Nonstop flights typically take 4h 35m, while connecting flights average 8h 18m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant on this route.

Connecting flights are dominant, with a median of 2 stopovers when connecting.

🏆 Airline highlight

United Airlines offers direct flights.

United Airlines has offered direct flights from St. Louis to San Francisco recently.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals appear regularly for this route.

Deals for flights from St. Louis to San Francisco appear regularly, typically every 30 days.

St. Louis main airports to depart from

St. Louis Lambert International (STL)

Cheapest

St. Louis Lambert International Airport is a good option for flights from St. Louis to San Francisco.

📍 ~20 km from St. Louis (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~$216

San Francisco main airports to arrive at

San Francisco International (SFO)

Cheapest

San Francisco International is a primary arrival airport for flights from St. Louis.

📍 ~18 km from San Francisco (reachable by car, train, and bus).

💸 Flights from ~$201

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

75% AI deal score

$1,438

$1,242

Save $196

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Francisco

Cheap Flights from St. Louis to San Francisco

Today’s best flight deals from St. Louis to San Francisco

St. Louis to San Francisco: Overview

Insights for flights from St. Louis to San Francisco

How much is a round trip from St. Louis to San Francisco

The cheapest time to fly from St. Louis to San Francisco

Direct flights from St. Louis to San Francisco

Last-minute flights going from St. Louis to San Francisco

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from St. Louis to San Francisco

Popular Airports to fly from St. Louis to San Francisco

St. Louis - San Francisco route insights

Recent fares are below the typical level.

August is historically the cheapest month to fly.

Nonstop flights average 4h 35m.

Connecting flights are dominant on this route.

United Airlines offers direct flights.

Deals appear regularly for this route.

St. Louis 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 10

Nov 10

Dec 14

Dec 11

Dec 25

Dec 25

Nov 10

Dec 25

Nov 13

Nov 13

Dec 11

Feb 23

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Francisco

How can I find cheap flights from St. Louis to San Francisco?

When should I book flights from St. Louis to San Francisco?

Should I compare nearby airports for flights from St. Louis to San Francisco?

Are direct flights from St. Louis to San Francisco always the best option?

Can flexible travel dates help on St. Louis to San Francisco flights?

What extra costs should I check before booking St. Louis to San Francisco flights?

Related routes

More routes from St. Louis

Flights to San Francisco from other cities

St. Louis to San Francisco: Overview

Insights for flights from St. Louis to San Francisco

How much is a round trip from St. Louis to San Francisco

The cheapest time to fly from St. Louis to San Francisco

Direct flights from St. Louis to San Francisco

Last-minute flights going from St. Louis to San Francisco

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from St. Louis to San Francisco

Popular Airports to fly from St. Louis to San Francisco

St. Louis - San Francisco route insights

Recent fares are below the typical level.

August is historically the cheapest month to fly.

Nonstop flights average 4h 35m.

Connecting flights are dominant on this route.

United Airlines offers direct flights.

Deals appear regularly for this route.

St. Louis 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 10

Nov 10

Dec 14

Dec 11

Dec 25

Dec 25

Nov 10

Dec 25

Nov 13

Nov 13

Dec 11

Feb 23

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Francisco

How can I find cheap flights from St. Louis to San Francisco?

When should I book flights from St. Louis to San Francisco?

Should I compare nearby airports for flights from St. Louis to San Francisco?