What percentage of Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flights are direct?

Across the trailing 90 days, approximately 13.2% of flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco were direct. For travelers opting for connecting flights, the median number of stopovers was 2. This indicates that a significant majority of routes on this corridor involve at least one layover. Travelers prioritizing direct flights should be aware of their relative scarcity on this route.

How long does it take to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

The median flight time for a direct flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco is 6 hours and 6 minutes. For flights with one stop, the median duration significantly increases to 12 hours and 36 minutes. The air distance between these two cities is approximately 3885 kilometers. Travelers should account for these considerable differences in travel time when choosing between direct and connecting options.

Is it cheaper to fly direct or with a layover from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Historically, flying with a layover from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco has been slightly cheaper than flying direct. The median price for connecting flights was $513, while direct flights had a median price of $529 across the trailing 90 days. This represents a premium of approximately 3% for direct flights. Although direct flights constitute about 15% of the available options, travelers can often find slightly better value by choosing a route with one or more stops.

Flights From Washington, D.C.

To San Francisco

Flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco — [2026]

Browse current best options from Washington, D.C.. Become a member to unlock all deals and get alerts when new deals appear.

Deals from

Washington, D.C.

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

Prices updated 7 days ago

482 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 Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

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

2027-02-01 – 2027-02-23
WAS - San Francisco
89% AI deal score
$272
$162
Round trip
2027-02-01 – 2027-03-02
WAS - San Francisco
89% AI deal score
$271
$163
Round trip
2027-02-01 – 2027-02-03
WAS - San Francisco
89% AI deal score
$294
$175
Round trip
2027-02-08 – 2027-02-23
WAS - San Francisco
86% AI deal score
$259
$177
Round trip
2027-02-08 – 2027-03-02
WAS - San Francisco
87% AI deal score
$272
$177
Round trip
2027-02-08 – 2027-02-23
WAS - San Francisco
87% AI deal score
$274
$177
Round trip
2027-02-08 – 2027-03-02
WAS - San Francisco
86% AI deal score
$256
$178
Round trip
2027-02-09 – 2027-02-23
WAS - San Francisco
87% AI deal score
$278
$181
Round trip
2026-11-11 – 2026-11-17
WAS - San Francisco
90% AI deal score
$337
$184
Round trip
2026-11-10 – 2026-11-17
WAS - San Francisco
85% AI deal score
$282
$202
Round trip

Washington, D.C. to San Francisco: Overview

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

A typical journey from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco takes about 6h 6m, including connections. Given that most itineraries connect at least once, this median duration reflects the overall travel time for this medium-haul route. For connecting flights specifically, the median journey time extends to 20h 56m, indicating that itineraries with stopovers significantly increase travel duration.

For travelers seeking cheap flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, fares typically range from $417–$722, with a median of $523. Right now, current fares are above the typical level. Only 2% of recent fares were classified as a good price, suggesting that finding exceptionally low prices can be challenging.

When considering the cheapest time to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, January stands out as the most economical month, with a median fare of $317. April also offers more favorable prices, with a median fare of $437. Additionally, November presents a good option, with a median fare of $491.

Most itineraries for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco connect at least once, with only 13.2% of recent fares being non-stop. For the majority of flights that do include connections, the typical number of stopovers is 2. This means that travelers should generally expect to make at least one stop on this route.

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

Regular price: $233 - $407

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

Regular prices for this route typically range from $233 to $407. The current lowest deal is $162 with Frontier Airlines, for travel from Feb 1-Feb 23.

now $162

Low $233

High $407

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

The cheapest month to fly from Washington to San Francisco is January, with a median price of $317. The most expensive month is June, with a median price of $3652. Prices are generally lower from January to November.

January

Cheapest

Flights from $317

June

Most Expensive

Flights from $3,652

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

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

Frontier Airlines

United Airlines

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

JetBlue Airways

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

Tue, Nov 3

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$350

$324

One-way

Mon, Nov 9

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$363

$308

One-way

Wed, Nov 11

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$353

$315

One-way

Tue, Nov 17

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$356

$262

One-way

Tue, Nov 17

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$297

$266

One-way

Wed, Nov 18

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$299

$266

One-way

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

2 nights

Dec 12 - Dec 14

$484 → $270

44%

3 nights

Dec 11 - Dec 14

$482 → $270

44%

5 nights

Dec 9 - Dec 14

$473 → $266

44%

7 nights

Dec 7 - Dec 14

$458 → $270

41%

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

Washington, D.C. - San Francisco route insights

💸 Price insights

Fares are above the typical level

Recent fares from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco are above the typical level.

📅 Best time to fly

January is historically cheapest

Historically, January is the cheapest month to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights take 6h 6m

Direct flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco typically take 6h 6m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant

Connecting flights are dominant, making up 86.8% of recent deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.

🏆 Airline highlight

Frontier Airlines has 73 direct deals

Frontier Airlines has 73 direct deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals are frequent

Deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco are frequent, appearing in 30-day windows.

Washington, D.C. main airports to depart from

Baltimore–Washington International (BWI)

Cheapest

Baltimore–Washington International offers the cheapest flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.

📍 ~44 km from Washington, D.C. city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~$165

Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)

Ronald Reagan Washington National is a convenient option for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.

📍 ~6 km from Washington, D.C. city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~$246

Washington Dulles International (IAD)

Washington Dulles International is a major hub for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.

📍 ~36 km from Washington, D.C. city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~$189

San Francisco main airports to arrive at

San Francisco International (SFO)

Cheapest

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

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

💸 Flights from ~$213

Airports nearby San Francisco used as alternative

Oakland International (OAK)

Cheapest

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

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

💸 Flights from ~$187

Business & First Class Flight Deals to San Francisco

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

Elite

Dec 15

San Francisco, United States

81% AI deal score

$2,005

$1,698

Save $307

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From IAD

Elite

Dec 08

San Francisco, United States

80% AI deal score

$1,729

$1,451

Save $278

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From DCA

Elite

Dec 11

San Francisco, United States

80% AI deal score

$1,708

$1,504

Save $204

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From DCA

Elite

Jan 12

San Francisco, United States

77% AI deal score

$1,596

$1,487

Save $109

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From DCA

Elite

Jan 20

San Francisco, United States

76% AI deal score

$1,561

$1,487

Save $74

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From DCA

Elite

Jan 26

San Francisco, United States

75% AI deal score

$1,515

$1,487

Save $28

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From DCA

Elite

Jan 20

San Francisco, United States

75% AI deal score

$1,487

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From DCA

Elite

Jan 23

San Francisco, United States

75% AI deal score

$1,487

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From DCA

San Francisco, United States

74% AI deal score

$1,467

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Francisco

Historically, the optimal booking window for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco is typically between 28 and 59 days prior to departure. During this period, the average price for a ticket is around $616. In contrast, booking within 0-6 days of departure sees prices rise significantly, averaging $1018. Even booking 60+ days out can be slightly more expensive, with an average price of $685, indicating that waiting until the last minute or booking too far in advance may not yield the best value.

Across the trailing quarter, a good deal for a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco is considered to be $417 or less. This threshold represents the 25th percentile of prices observed over a 90-day window. The median price for this route during the same period was $523, while prices at the 75th percentile reached $722. Therefore, if you find a ticket priced at or below $417, it is historically a competitive offer.

Historically, January has been the cheapest month to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, with a median price of $317. Other relatively inexpensive months include April, with a median price of $437, and November, with a median price of $491. These prices are notably lower than the annual median price of $523 for this route. Travelers looking for more budget-friendly options may consider planning their trips during these months.

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Flights to San Francisco from other cities

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Washington, D.C. to San Francisco: Overview

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

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

Regular price: $233 - $407

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

Regular prices for this route typically range from $233 to $407. The current lowest deal is $162 with Frontier Airlines, for travel from Feb 1-Feb 23.

now $162

Low $233

High $407

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

January

Cheapest

Flights from $317

June

Most Expensive

Flights from $3,652

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

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

Frontier Airlines

United Airlines

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

JetBlue Airways

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

Tue, Nov 3

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$350

$324

One-way

Mon, Nov 9

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$363

$308

One-way

Wed, Nov 11

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$353

$315

One-way

Tue, Nov 17

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$356

$262

One-way

Tue, Nov 17

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$297

$266

One-way

Wed, Nov 18

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$299

$266

One-way

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

2 nights

Dec 12 - Dec 14

$484 → $270

44%

3 nights

Dec 11 - Dec 14

$482 → $270

44%

5 nights

Dec 9 - Dec 14

$473 → $266

44%

7 nights

Dec 7 - Dec 14

$458 → $270

41%

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

Washington, D.C. - San Francisco route insights

💸 Price insights

Fares are above the typical level

Recent fares from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco are above the typical level.

📅 Best time to fly

January is historically cheapest

Historically, January is the cheapest month to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights take 6h 6m

Direct flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco typically take 6h 6m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant

Connecting flights are dominant, making up 86.8% of recent deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.

🏆 Airline highlight

Frontier Airlines has 73 direct deals

Frontier Airlines has 73 direct deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals are frequent

Deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco are frequent, appearing in 30-day windows.

Washington, D.C. main airports to depart from

Baltimore–Washington International (BWI)

Cheapest

Baltimore–Washington International offers the cheapest flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.

📍 ~44 km from Washington, D.C. city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~$165

Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)

Ronald Reagan Washington National is a convenient option for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.

📍 ~6 km from Washington, D.C. city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~$246

Washington Dulles International (IAD)

Washington Dulles International is a major hub for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.

📍 ~36 km from Washington, D.C. city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~$189

San Francisco main airports to arrive at

San Francisco International (SFO)

Cheapest

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

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

💸 Flights from ~$213

Airports nearby San Francisco used as alternative

Oakland International (OAK)

Cheapest

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

San Francisco, United States

75% AI deal score

$1,487

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From DCA

Elite

Jan 23

San Francisco, United States

75% AI deal score

$1,487

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From DCA

San Francisco, United States

74% AI deal score

$1,467

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Francisco

Flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco — [2026]

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

Washington, D.C. to San Francisco: Overview

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Washington, D.C. - San Francisco route insights

Fares are above the typical level

January is historically cheapest

Direct flights take 6h 6m

Connecting flights are dominant

Frontier Airlines has 73 direct deals

Deals are frequent

Washington, D.C. 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

Dec 15

Dec 08

Dec 11

Jan 12

Jan 20

Jan 26

Jan 20

Jan 23

Jan 30

Feb 22

Dec 15

Jan 13

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Francisco

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

How do I know if a Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flight is a good deal?

What's the cheapest month to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

What percentage of Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flights are direct?

How long does it take to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Is it cheaper to fly direct or with a layover from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Related routes

More routes from Washington, D.C.

Flights to San Francisco from other cities

Washington, D.C. to San Francisco: Overview

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Washington, D.C. - San Francisco route insights

Fares are above the typical level

January is historically cheapest

Direct flights take 6h 6m

Connecting flights are dominant

Frontier Airlines has 73 direct deals

Deals are frequent

Washington, D.C. 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

Dec 15

Dec 08

Dec 11

Jan 12

Jan 20

Jan 26

Jan 20

Jan 23

Jan 30

Feb 22

Dec 15

Jan 13

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Francisco

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

How do I know if a Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flight is a good deal?

What's the cheapest month to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?