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WAS - SFO

£88 Find cheap flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco departing on 10/6. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
0 bags
Sat 15/6
Sat 22/6

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

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, as well as popular online travel agencies
In the last 7 days, travellers have searched 42,211,976 times on KAYAK, and here's why:

Save 28% or moreCompare multiple travel sites with one search.

Track pricesNot ready to book? Create a price alert for when prices drop.

Filter your dealsChoose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

Bundle and saveSave money when you bundle your flight + hotel.

Cheap flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco (WAS-SFO)

Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices and deals for you by selecting your travel dates.
Choose your dates
16:00 - 23:36DCA-SFO
10h 36m1 stop
22:40 - 13:00SFO-DCA
11h 20m1 stop
£176JetBlue
Find Deal
Tue, 13 Aug - Tue, 20 Aug
16:00 - 23:36DCA-SFO
10h 36m1 stop
22:40 - 13:00SFO-DCA
11h 20m1 stop
£211JetBlue
Find Deal
Thu, 8 Aug - Mon, 26 Aug
18:33 - 00:11BWI-SFO
8h 38m1 stop
13:43 - 00:37SFO-BWI
7h 54m1 stop
£228Delta
Find Deal
Wed, 12 Jun - Thu, 1 Aug
12:00 - 10:58IAD-SFO
25h 58m1 stop
17:50 - 21:37SFO-IAD
24h 47m1 stop
£241Sun Country Air
Find Deal
Tue, 9 Jul - Fri, 12 Jul
18:33 - 00:10BWI-SFO
8h 37m1 stop
00:25 - 10:47SFO-BWI
7h 22m1 stop
£248Delta
Find Deal
Mon, 1 Jul - Fri, 9 Aug
11:05 - 17:19IAD-SFO
9h 14m1 stop
17:50 - 10:02SFO-IAD
13h 12m1 stop
£249Sun Country Air
Find Deal
Thu, 24 Oct - Wed, 30 Oct
07:00 - 07:29IAD-SFO
27h 29m1 stop
12:50 - 17:05SFO-IAD
25h 15m1 stop
£250Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, 30 May - Mon, 3 Jun
07:00 - 07:29IAD-SFO
27h 29m1 stop
17:55 - 05:40SFO-IAD
8h 45m1 stop
£252Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, 4 Jun - Tue, 11 Jun
09:00 - 11:45BWI-SFO
5h 45mdirect
23:10 - 07:29SFO-BWI
5h 19mdirect
£292United Airlines
Find Deal
Wed, 2 Oct - Sun, 6 Oct
07:05 - 09:50BWI-SFO
5h 45mdirect
22:45 - 06:59SFO-BWI
5h 14mdirect
£294United Airlines
Find Deal
Wed, 24 Jul - Mon, 5 Aug

Flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco - Travel Insights & Trends

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What is the cheapest Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flight route?

The cheapest price for flight routes found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks for one-way flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.
Our data shows that the cheapest route for a one-way flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco cost £173 and was between Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport and San Francisco. On average, the best prices are found if you fly this route. The average price for a return flight for this route is £594.

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

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.
The cheapest month for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco is September, where tickets cost £304 on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are May and June, where the average cost of tickets is £415 and £412 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a stopover from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

The average price for all direct flights, flights with one stopover, and flights with two stopovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.
No, with an average price for the route of £281, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

To calculate daily average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each day before departure over the last year for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each month.
To get a below average price on the flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, you should book around 3 weeks before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 66 days before departure.

Which airlines provide the cheapest flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

The cheapest price for the route for each airline clicked by KAYAK users in the last 72 hours.
In the last 72 hours, the cheapest one-way ticket from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco found on KAYAK was with JetBlue for £88. JetBlue proposed a return connection from £176 and Delta from £228.

Which airlines fly direct between Washington, D.C. and San Francisco?

Airline and price data is aggregated from results in KAYAK’s search results from the last 2 weeks for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.
There are 2 airlines that fly direct from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. They are Alaska Airlines and United Airlines. The cheapest airline for this route is Alaska Airlines, with the best one-way deal found costing £180. On average, the best prices for this route can be found at Alaska Airlines.

How many flights are there between Washington, D.C. and San Francisco per day?

Each day, there are between 13 and 15 nonstop flights that take off from Washington, D.C. and land in San Francisco, with an average flight time of 5h 47m. The most common departure time is 18:00 and most flights take off in the evening. Each week, there are 97 flights. The most frequent day of departure is Friday, when 15% of all weekly flights depart. The fewest flights depart on a Thursday.

Which cabin class options are there for flights between Washington, D.C. and San Francisco?

The average price of flights for each cabin class for the route found by users searching on KAYAK over the last 2 weeks.
There are 3 cabin class options for the route. These are Business, Economy and Prem Economy. Perform a search on KAYAK to find the latest prices and availability for all cabin fares, which differ across airlines.

How long does a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco take?

The duration of a direct flight to San Francisco from Washington, D.C. is typically 5h 40m. The journey crosses a distance of 2,434 miles.

What’s the earliest departure time from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Early birds can take the earliest flight from Washington, D.C. at 07:00 and will be landing in San Francisco at 09:40.

What’s the latest departure time from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

If you prefer to fly at night, the latest flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco jets off at 22:05 and lands at 00:53.

Good to know - Cheap tickets from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Low season

January

High season

June

Cheapest flight

£88
Best time to beat the crowds (10% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly (12% more expensive on average)
Flight from Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco

When to book flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or returns with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

  • Can I fly nonstop from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco?

    Yes, those looking for direct flights to San Francisco to DC will be glad to know that they have several options. United Airlines offers nonstop service from both BWI and IAD to SFO, American Airlines offers nonstop service from IAD to SFO, and Alaska Airlines offers nonstop service from IAD to SFO.

  • What other cities does San Francisco International Airport serve besides just San Francisco?

    Aside from San Francisco, SFO serves as the main gateway to northern California. You can easily access other nearby cities such as Oakland, Davis, Fremont, Berkeley, Santa Rosa and San Jose from SFO.

  • Can I get to the downtown area of San Francisco via a rideshare when I land?

    Yes, the rideshare apps Lyft and Uber both operate at SFO. Each terminal has a designated pickup area for these rides. At Terminal 1, you’ll meet your ride in the garage core A/B and B. In Terminal 2, it is located at garage core C and D, and in Terminal 3, you will go to E, F, and F/G. The rideshare app Wingz also operates at SFO, and the pickup locations are just outside the doors of each terminal.

  • Are there any hotels at the airports in Washington, D.C.?

    Yes. In case you’d like to stay at the airport the night before your flight, IAD boasts the Washington Dulles Airport Marriott onsite, BWI has the Sheraton BWI Hotel, and DCA has the Crystal City Marriott. These airports also each have many other hotel options nearby in case you’d prefer to take a free shuttle in the morning.

  • If I don’t have a direct flight from Washington DC to San Francisco, where will my layovers occur?

    If you have not booked a direct flight, your layover locations will depend on the airlines you choose to fly with. For example, Frontier Airlines stops in Denver (DEN), United Airlines stops in either New York (EWR) or Houston (IAH), Delta stops in Minneapolis (MSP), and JetBlue stops in Boston (BOS).

  • What documents will I need in order to fly from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco?

    US citizens boarding a flight from DC to San Francisco need only a valid passport or a REAL ID driver’s license. Please keep in mind that normal driver’s licenses that are not REAL IDs will not be accepted for air travel. 

  • How do I get around once I arrive in California?

    From San Francisco Airport, there are a number of public transport options. Take the AirTrain to the BART Rapid Rail station, which goes to San Francisco, East Bay, and San Mateo County. If you’re traveling to San Jose, the Caltrain Commuter rail has a direct service from Millbrae Station. The SamTrans public bus service runs 24/7 and connects the airport with Millbrae Station, San Francisco, and San Mateo County.

  • How do I get around San Francisco Airport?

    For the convenience of people traveling through San Francisco Airport, the SFO AirTrain is a free 24-hour service that connects the domestic and international terminals, parking garages, rental car center, and the BART train station.

  • I’m traveling with kids. How can I keep them entertained?

    The FunWay at Dulles International is a play area with a slide and foam models of NASA aircraft where kids can run around before departure. A touchscreen console has kid-friendly games, while activity sheets and puzzles keep children entertained. Located in Concourse B, parents and guardians have access to seating and charging stations while they wait.

  • Are there pet relief areas on this route?

    If you’re traveling with a pet or service animal, Dulles International in Washington has four pet relief areas in the airport to use before you depart. After you land at San Francisco, there are a number of fenced animal relief areas with water bowls, which are indicated by paw-prints painted on the ground.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco was £111 for a one-way ticket and £222 for a return.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    Washington, D.C. is served by 2 major airports and there is only 1 main airport in San Francisco. You will leave Washington, D.C. from one of these airports: Washington, D.C. Reagan-National or Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl. You will be arriving at San Francisco.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    Only Alaska Airlines offers inflight Wi-Fi service on the Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    The Boeing 737 MAX 9 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Washington, D.C. to San Francisco flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    oneworld, and Star Alliance are the airline alliances operating flights between Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, with Star Alliance being the most commonly used for this route.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    There are direct flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco on a daily basis.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to San Francisco from Washington, D.C. is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly to San Francisco with an airline and back to Washington, D.C. with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to San Francisco from Washington, D.C. up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

See more FAQs

Top tips for finding a cheap flight from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

  • Looking for a cheap flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.? 25% of our users found flights on this route for £612 or less round-trip.
  • Washington, D.C., is served by three major airports: Dulles International Airport (IAD), Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). Most departures from DC to San Francisco depart from either IAD or BWI, but DCA serves a small number of flights, as well.
  • If you will be landing late at night in San Francisco, you may want to book a hotel near the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) so you can immediately rest before continuing your journey in the morning. The Grand Hyatt SFO is onsite at the airport, and there are plenty of hotels connected to the hotel via free shuttles.
  • Those traveling out of BWI, IAD, or DCA with limited mobility will be glad to know that all three airports offer accessibility services. At each one, wheelchair rental is available, as well as escort service, accessible facilities, changing tables, and more.
  • Direct flights from Washington to San Francisco are served by a number of airlines, including United and Alaska Airlines. Flights from Washington to San Francisco usually depart from Dulles International Airport and arrive at San Francisco International Airport.
  • If you’re hungry before your flight from Dulles, there are plenty of food and beverage outlets to choose from. Enjoy a meal by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, grab a gourmet burger or a slice of pizza, or relax with a glass of wine before you embark.
  • A diverse collection of local art, sculptures, and rotating exhibits are on display at Dulles International Airport. While waiting for flights to depart, travelers can also see the Daedalus 87 human-powered aircraft on display at the AeroTrain station in Concourse B and enjoy live entertainment and classical music performances throughout the terminals.
  • If someone in your party is flying from Dulles for the first time and has special needs, the Wings for All program has been designed to ease the stress of flying for people with special needs. Families and guardians can take part in a simulation of the stages of traveling on a plane, from checking in and passing through security to boarding an aircraft. This program also helps to educate airport personnel to understand the needs of all passengers.
  • At San Francisco Airport, friendly dogs wearing “Pet me!” vests can be found around the terminals with their handlers. The Wag Brigade program brings certified animal therapy dogs to spread cheer through the airport with their gentle dispositions and helps to ease the stress of traveling, especially for children.
  • The Airport Butler at San Francisco is a multilingual concierge service that can be customized for all kinds of travelers including business passengers, senior citizens, and those traveling with children. Passengers are met at the gate and escorted through the airport. The Airport Butler also assists with luggage collection and can organize transfers and hotel bookings.
See more tips

Prefer to fly direct from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco?

Find which airlines fly direct from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Monday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +12 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

Tuesday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +12 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

Wednesday

Air China, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

Air China, Air New Zealand, +14 more

Thursday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +12 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

Friday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +12 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

Saturday

Air China, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +14 more

Air China, Air New Zealand, +15 more

Sunday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +12 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

Monday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +12 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

Tuesday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +12 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

Wednesday

Air China, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

Air China, Air New Zealand, +14 more

Thursday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +13 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +14 more

Friday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +13 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +14 more

Saturday

Air China, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +15 more

Air China, Air New Zealand, +16 more

Sunday

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, +12 more

Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, +13 more

See more direct flights
See more direct flights

Top airline flying from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.0
Alaska AirlinesOverall score based on 9157 reviews
8.2Boarding
8.6Crew
7.3Entertainment
7.3Food
7.9Comfort
Airline reviews

Flight was changed twice. Original flight was scheduled at 5:30pm. Weeks before flight, flight was changed to 7:00pm. On the date of flight, flight was delayed and departed at 9:00pm. This caused many problems and significantly affected our schedule at our destination.

2.0 MediocreAnonymous, May 2024PSP - SFO
Read more about Alaska Airlines reviews

Flight was changed twice. Original flight was scheduled at 5:30pm. Weeks before flight, flight was changed to 7:00pm. On the date of flight, flight was delayed and departed at 9:00pm. This caused many problems and significantly affected our schedule at our destination.

They canceled my flight going back to SF after I was at the airport. Wanted me to take a flight 14 hours later. Not a happy camper.

I didn’t like not knowing my seat till I got to the airport - and my boarding group was F (last).

Clean plane, relatively spacious in Main Cabin. One experience: I'm 79, with torn rotator cuff (R shoulder). I asked for help getting my carryon into the overhead bin and was told that the staff "does not help with this" (or some such phrase. On previous flights, help has been offered (and accepted). I prevailed on a fellow passenger for this. Also, why not board back to front?? Would this not help in the speed of boarding?

No tv, movies for a 6 hour flight! Worst airline I have ever travelled!

Ground crew was great in Austin, flight crew left a lot to be desired. Not particularly friendly, helpful or nice.

Like South West(2 check in baggage free) if Alaskan Airlines could give at least one check in baggage free then it would be great.

Staff great. Tight seating. Pretzels and drink same as any other airline.

Horrible. I likely will have to spend several thousand dollars to rebook my international flights, due to their delays, plus a hotel in SF. I can’t wait to never fly them again!

The messaging about the change in flight destination and options for getting to SFO was poor. There should have been frequent updates. When I spoke to the boarding agent moment before we were supposed to board, he was flippant and offered no help before the announcement was made that transportation would be arranged. It was as poor of an experience that I've ever had.

Book cheap flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Cheapest flights to San Francisco from Washington, D.C. found in 2024

Recent one-way flight deals

 
Only flying one-way? Below are some of the best one-way flight deals from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco found on KAYAK in the last 72 hours.
10/6Mon
1 stopJetBlue
9h 26mDCA-SFO
£88
31/5Fri
1 stopAlaska Airlines
27h 29mIAD-SFO
£114
12/6Wed
1 stopDelta
8h 38mBWI-SFO
£114
10/9Tue
1 stopDelta
8h 15mIAD-SFO
£118
18/6Tue
1 stopSun Country Air
21h 26mIAD-SFO
£121
30/5Thu
1 stopAlaska Airlines
12h 58mIAD-SFO
£122
4/7Thu
1 stopJetBlue
10h 26mDCA-SFO
£123
19/9Thu
1 stopSun Country Air
9h 11mIAD-SFO
£125
10/6Mon
1 stopSpirit Airlines
15h 29mBWI-SFO
£149
10/6Mon
2 stopsSpirit Airlines
22h 03mBWI-SFO
£178

Search by stops

Search by airline

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

Last minute flight, train and bus deals

 
These last-minute flight deals are the cheapest flights found on KAYAK in the last 72 hours for flights from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco that are departing in the next 10 days.
21/5Tue
multi-stopDelta
8h 32mBWI-SFO
4/6Tue
multi-stopDelta
9h 28mSFO-BWI
£322
18/5Sat
multi-stopDelta
8h 22mBWI-SFO
20/5Mon
multi-stopDelta
7h 19mSFO-BWI
£380
20/5Mon
directUnited Airlines
6h 10mBWI-SFO
3/6Mon
multi-stopUnited Airlines
7h 36mSFO-BWI
£474
21/5Tue
multi-stopJetBlue
9h 59mDCA-SFO
26/5Sun
multi-stopJetBlue
9h 49mSFO-DCA
£509
18/5Sat
directUnited Airlines
6h 10mBWI-SFO
23/5Thu
multi-stopUnited Airlines
8h 03mSFO-BWI
£522
18/5Sat
multi-stopAlaska Airlines
14h 53mIAD-SFO
22/5Wed
multi-stopAlaska Airlines
28h 51mSFO-IAD
£535
18/5Sat
multi-stopAlaska Airlines
12h 38mDCA-SFO
22/5Wed
multi-stopAlaska Airlines
11h 59mSFO-DCA
£560
21/5Tue
multi-stopJetBlue
9h 59mDCA-SFO
27/5Mon
multi-stopJetBlue
9h 09mSFO-DCA
£593
19/5Sun
multi-stopSun Country Air
22h 21mIAD-SFO
25/5Sat
multi-stopSun Country Air
14h 22mSFO-IAD
£621
19/5Sun
multi-stopSun Country Air
22h 21mIAD-SFO
24/5Fri
multi-stopSun Country Air
22h 57mSFO-IAD
£633

Search by stops

Search by airline

Search by price

Washington, D.C. - San Francisco Flights

Destination:

San Francisco (SFO)United States

Return flight deals:

San Francisco - Washington, D.C.

Cabin classes:

£1,361
£314

Browse origins:

  • Flights » 
  • Washington, D.C.

Browse destinations:

  • Flights » 
  • Worldwide » 
  • San Francisco