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

Across the trailing quarter, approximately 22.4% of flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco have historically been direct. For flights that include stopovers, the median number of stopovers has typically been 2. Travelers should consider these percentages when planning their journey and evaluating flight options.

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

A direct flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco typically takes 5 hours and 51 minutes, with a median duration of 351 minutes. For flights with one stop, the median travel time historically extends to 11 hours and 30 minutes, or 690 minutes. The distance between these two cities is approximately 3885 kilometers.

Flights From Washington, D.C.

To San Francisco

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

Q: How often do cheap flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco come up?

Historically, cheap flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco are classified as frequent. This indicates that opportunities for finding good value on this route occur regularly. Travelers can typically expect to see favorable pricing options appear with some consistency across the trailing 30 days.

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Deals from

Washington, D.C.

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

Prices updated 1 day ago

451 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Aug 18, 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

2026-10-21 – 2026-10-26
WAS - San Francisco
85% AI deal score
$303
$211
Round trip
2026-11-05 – 2026-11-11
WAS - San Francisco
84% AI deal score
$282
$212
Round trip
2026-11-11 – 2026-11-16
WAS - San Francisco
84% AI deal score
$293
$212
Round trip
2026-11-07 – 2026-11-16
WAS - San Francisco
83% AI deal score
$275
$212
Round trip
2026-09-09 – 2026-09-16
WAS - San Francisco
83% AI deal score
$280
$213
Round trip
2026-09-01 – 2026-09-02
WAS - San Francisco
86% AI deal score
$317
$213
Round trip
2026-09-15 – 2026-09-21
WAS - San Francisco
85% AI deal score
$298
$213
Round trip
2026-09-19 – 2026-09-21
WAS - San Francisco
85% AI deal score
$307
$213
Round trip
2026-09-01 – 2026-09-30
WAS - San Francisco
76% AI deal score
$246
$213
Round trip
2026-09-12 – 2026-09-19
WAS - San Francisco
83% AI deal score
$281
$213
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, including connections, takes about 5h 51m. This route covers a distance of 3885 kilometers, classifying it as a medium-haul flight. Most itineraries on this route involve at least one stop.

For travelers seeking cheap flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, fares typically range from $394–$710, with a median of $502. Right now, current fares are below the typical level, and about 7% of recent fares were classified as a good price. New deals appear almost daily for this route, suggesting frequent opportunities to find competitive pricing.

The cheapest time to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco is often in November, with a median fare of $343. Other affordable months include February, where the median fare is $387, and March, with a median fare of $393. Planning your trip during these months could result in more favorable pricing.

When flying from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, most itineraries connect at least once, with only 22.4% of recent fares being non-stop. For those itineraries that include connections, the typical number of stopovers is 2. This means you should generally expect a longer travel time due to layovers.

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

Regular price: $257 - $398

Prices are currently below the regular range.

Regular prices for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco typically range from $257 to $398. The current lowest deal is $210 with Frontier Airlines for travel from Oct 21-Oct 26.

now $210

Low $257

High $398

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

The cheapest month to fly from Washington to San Francisco is November, with a median price of $378. The most expensive month is April, with a median price of $912. Prices are generally lower from January to November.

November

Cheapest

Flights from $378

April

Most Expensive

Flights from $912

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

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

Southwest Airlines

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

Tue, Aug 18

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$934

$434

One-way

Tue, Aug 18

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$1,154

$455

One-way

Wed, Aug 19

⌛ Last-Minute

IAD - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$568

$369

One-way

Wed, Aug 19

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$870

$440

One-way

Wed, Aug 19

⌛ Last-Minute

IAD - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$727

$448

One-way

Wed, Aug 19

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$1,180

$456

One-way

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

2 nights

Aug 19 - Aug 21

$1,180 → $456

61%

3 nights

Aug 18 - Aug 21

$1,154 → $455

61%

3 nights

Aug 19 - Aug 22

$1,154 → $481

58%

2 nights

Aug 22 - Aug 24

$1,139 → $471

59%

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

Washington, D.C. - San Francisco route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are below the typical level

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

📅 Best time to fly

November, February, and March offer lower median prices

Historically, November ($343), February ($387), and March ($393) offer the lowest median prices.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights average 5h 51m

Direct flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco typically take 5h 51m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are common

Connecting flights are dominant, with 22.4% of recent flights being direct.

🏆 Airline highlight

Southwest Airlines offers direct flights

Southwest Airlines provides direct flight options on this route.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals appear frequently

Deals for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco appear frequently.

Washington, D.C. main airports to depart from

Washington Dulles International (IAD)

Cheapest

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

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

💸 Flights from ~$182

Baltimore–Washington International (BWI)

Baltimore–Washington International is an alternative departure airport for flights to San Francisco.

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

💸 Flights from ~$303

Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)

Ronald Reagan Washington National is conveniently located for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.

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

💸 Flights from ~$271

San Francisco main airports to arrive at

San Francisco International (SFO)

Cheapest

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

📍 ~20 km from San Francisco (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$212

Airports nearby San Francisco used as alternative

Oakland International (OAK)

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

📍 ~20 km from San Francisco (reachable by car, BART)

💸 Flights from ~$193

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 BWI

Elite

Sep 21

San Francisco, United States

89% AI deal score

$1,719

$1,182

Save $537

United Airlines

Business Class

From DCA

Elite

Dec 11

San Francisco, United States

88% AI deal score

$1,875

$1,407

Save $468

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From BWI

Elite

Sep 25

San Francisco, United States

88% AI deal score

$1,689

$1,219

Save $470

United Airlines

Business Class

From DCA

Elite

Dec 14

San Francisco, United States

87% AI deal score

$1,961

$1,507

Save $454

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From DCA

Elite

Dec 11

San Francisco, United States

87% AI deal score

$1,918

$1,507

Save $411

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From DCA

Elite

Dec 12

San Francisco, United States

87% AI deal score

$1,943

$1,507

Save $436

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From DCA

Elite

Dec 15

San Francisco, United States

87% AI deal score

$1,959

$1,507

Save $452

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From DCA

Elite

Dec 12

San Francisco, United States

87% AI deal score

$1,886

$1,507

Save $379

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From DCA

Elite

Dec 15

San Francisco, United States

87% AI deal score

$1,886

$1,507

Save $379

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From DCA

Elite

Dec 15

San Francisco, United States

87% AI deal score

$1,886

$1,507

Save $379

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From DCA

Elite

Dec 12

San Francisco, United States

87% AI deal score

$1,886

$1,507

Save $379

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From DCA

Elite

Dec 14

San Francisco, United States

87% AI deal score

$1,886

$1,507

Save $379

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Francisco

Historically, the best time to purchase tickets for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco is typically 60+ days before departure. Across the trailing quarter, prices averaged around $533 for tickets booked in this window. In contrast, tickets purchased 0-6 days before departure averaged $1301, while those bought 7-13 days out averaged $984. Planning ahead can lead to significant savings on this route.

A flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco is considered a good deal if it is priced at or below $394. This threshold is based on historical pricing data from the trailing 90 days. The median price for this route has been $502, with 75% of prices observed at $710 or less. Comparing potential fares to these historical benchmarks can help travelers identify favorable prices.

Historically, November has been the cheapest month to fly from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, with a median price of $343. February also typically offers lower fares, with a median price of $387. The annual median price for this route across the trailing 270 days has been $502, indicating that these months often present opportunities for savings.

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More routes from Washington, D.C.

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Flights to San Francisco from other cities

Flights from Addis Ababa to San Francisco Flights from Adelaide to San Francisco Flights from Albuquerque to San Francisco Flights from Amsterdam to San Francisco Flights from Auckland to San Francisco Flights from Calgary to San Francisco Flights from Edmonton to San Francisco Flights from Montreal to San Francisco Flights from Toronto to San Francisco Flights from Vancouver to San Francisco Flights from Warsaw to San Francisco Flights from Zürich 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

Regular price: $257 - $398

Prices are currently below the regular range.

Regular prices for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco typically range from $257 to $398. The current lowest deal is $210 with Frontier Airlines for travel from Oct 21-Oct 26.

now $210

Low $257

High $398

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

November

Cheapest

Flights from $378

April

Most Expensive

Flights from $912

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

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

Southwest Airlines

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

Tue, Aug 18

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$934

$434

One-way

Tue, Aug 18

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$1,154

$455

One-way

Wed, Aug 19

⌛ Last-Minute

IAD - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$568

$369

One-way

Wed, Aug 19

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$870

$440

One-way

Wed, Aug 19

⌛ Last-Minute

IAD - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$727

$448

One-way

Wed, Aug 19

⌛ Last-Minute

BWI - San Francisco

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

Frontier Airlines

$1,180

$456

One-way

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

2 nights

Aug 19 - Aug 21

$1,180 → $456

61%

3 nights

Aug 18 - Aug 21

$1,154 → $455

61%

3 nights

Aug 19 - Aug 22

$1,154 → $481

58%

2 nights

Aug 22 - Aug 24

$1,139 → $471

59%

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

Washington, D.C. - San Francisco route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are below the typical level

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

📅 Best time to fly

November, February, and March offer lower median prices

Historically, November ($343), February ($387), and March ($393) offer the lowest median prices.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights average 5h 51m

Direct flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco typically take 5h 51m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are common

Connecting flights are dominant, with 22.4% of recent flights being direct.

🏆 Airline highlight

Southwest Airlines offers direct flights

Southwest Airlines provides direct flight options on this route.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals appear frequently

Deals for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco appear frequently.

Washington, D.C. main airports to depart from

Washington Dulles International (IAD)

Cheapest

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

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

💸 Flights from ~$182

Baltimore–Washington International (BWI)

Baltimore–Washington International is an alternative departure airport for flights to San Francisco.

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

💸 Flights from ~$303

Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)

Ronald Reagan Washington National is conveniently located for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.

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

💸 Flights from ~$271

San Francisco main airports to arrive at

San Francisco International (SFO)

Cheapest

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

📍 ~20 km from San Francisco (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$212

Airports nearby San Francisco used as alternative

Oakland International (OAK)

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

San Francisco, United States

87% AI deal score

$1,886

$1,507

Save $379

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to San Francisco

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

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

Recent fares are below the typical level

November, February, and March offer lower median prices

Direct flights average 5h 51m

Connecting flights are common

Southwest Airlines offers direct flights

Deals appear frequently

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

Sep 21

Dec 11

Sep 25

Dec 14

Dec 11

Dec 12

Dec 15

Dec 12

Dec 15

Dec 15

Dec 12

Dec 14

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?

How often do cheap flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco come up?

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

Recent fares are below the typical level

November, February, and March offer lower median prices

Direct flights average 5h 51m

Connecting flights are common

Southwest Airlines offers direct flights

Deals appear frequently

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

Sep 21

Dec 11

Sep 25

Dec 14

Dec 11

Dec 12

Dec 15

Dec 12

Dec 15

Dec 15

Dec 12

Dec 14

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?