Domestic route
Cheap flights from San Francisco to Washington
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). 2,437 miles, 5h 10m nonstop.
SFO to DCA at a glance
Computed from airline schedules and the fares we track for this route. Refreshed several times a day.
- Distance
- 2,437 milesgreat-circle
- Typical flight time
- 5h 10mnonstop, gate to gate
- Nonstop airlines
- AAUAAS3 airlinesAmerican, United, Alaska
- Nonstop flights per day
- 19all airlines combined
- Cheapest month
- February 2027over the next six months
- Best day to fly
- Tuesday20% less than Friday
- Time difference
- 3h aheadWashington vs San Francisco
San Francisco to Washington
Round trips from $226
Per traveler, taxes and fees included. Lowest fare we found departs Tue, Feb 2.
Cheapest month: February 2027
See fares on these datesLock any fare free — pay only when you accept your last-minute deal
Or ask an agent on WhatsAppSan Francisco to Washington fares by month
Lowest round-trip economy fare per traveler in each of the next six months, taxes and fees included. Select a month to search that date.
Airlines flying San Francisco to Washington
3 airlines fly nonstop with 19 departures a day combined, plus 7 more with one stop.
- ASAlaska AirlinesoneworldNonstop · 7 flights a day · first checked bag from $35
- UAUnited AirlinesStar AllianceNonstop · 7 flights a day · first checked bag from $40
- AAAmerican AirlinesoneworldNonstop · 5 flights a day · first checked bag from $40
- MXBreeze AirwaysLow-costConnecting via PVD, CHS, TPA, RDU, BDL, ORF · first checked bag from $45
- DLDelta Air LinesSkyTeamConnecting via ATL, MSP, DTW, SLC, SEA, LAX, JFK, BOS, LGA · first checked bag from $35
- F9Frontier AirlinesLow-costConnecting via DEN, LAS, MCO, PHL, ATL, PHX, CLE · first checked bag from $55
- B6JetBlueConnecting via JFK, BOS, FLL, MCO, LAX · first checked bag from $40
- WNSouthwest AirlinesLow-costConnecting via DAL, HOU, MDW, DEN, LAS, PHX, MCO, ATL, BNA, LAX, SAN, STL, AUS · first checked bag from $35
- NKSpirit AirlinesLow-costConnecting via FLL, LAS, DTW, MCO, DFW, ATL, IAH · first checked bag from $55
- SYSun Country AirlinesLow-costConnecting via MSP · first checked bag from $45
Connecting options
Hubs where one airline can carry you on both legs, most choices first.
- Atlanta (ATL)DLWNNKF94 airlines
- Orlando (MCO)WNB6NKF94 airlines
- Los Angeles (LAX)DLWNB63 airlines
- Las Vegas (LAS)WNNKF93 airlines
- Minneapolis (MSP)DLSY2 airlines
Which airport should I use?
San Francisco has 3 airports and Washington has 3 airports. Fares can differ by $50 to $150 round trip between them, so check the alternatives before you book.
Other departure airports near San Francisco
Tips for this route
- American, United and Alaska all fly SFO to DCA nonstop, so compare the total with bags before picking the lowest base fare: the difference between a basic and a standard economy ticket is often less than one checked bag each way.
- February 2027 is the cheapest month to fly over the next six months, with round trips from $226; September 2026 is the most expensive at $304 and up, a difference of $78 per traveler.
- Departing on a Tuesday averages 20% less than a Friday on this route. If your dates are flexible, shift the outbound by a day or two and check the calendar view before you book.
- Fares on this route are usually lowest 4 to 8 weeks before departure and rise sharply inside two weeks.
- Washington is 3 hours ahead of San Francisco. Expect to lose 3 hours on the clock heading east, so an overnight or late-afternoon departure tends to arrive at a more usable hour.
Destination guide
Washington: Free museums and the monuments at your feet
Washington, DC is one of the best-value city breaks in the country: the Smithsonian museums and monuments are free, the Metro reaches all three airports, and competition between Reagan National, Dulles and Baltimore keeps fares low.
Best time to visit: Late March–April (cherry blossoms) and September–October are ideal. Summer is hot, humid and crowded with school groups; winter is cheap and the museums are empty.
Flying the other way? Washington to San FranciscoFares, airlines and tips for DCA to SFO.Ready to compare live fares?
See every airline on SFO–DCA side by side with bags and seat rules spelled out.
Search San Francisco to WashingtonSan Francisco to Washington: common questions
How long is the flight from San Francisco to Washington?
A nonstop flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Washington (DCA) takes about 5h 10m gate to gate, covering 2,437 miles. Connecting itineraries add the layover, typically 1 to 3 hours more in total.
Which airlines fly nonstop from SFO to DCA?
American Airlines, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines operate nonstop flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Washington (DCA), with 19 nonstop departures a day between them. One-stop options connect through ATL, MCO and LAX.
What is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to Washington?
Over the next six months, February 2027 has the lowest round-trip fares from San Francisco (SFO) to Washington (DCA), starting at $226 per traveler including taxes and fees. Within any month, Tuesday departures average the lowest prices.
How far in advance should I book San Francisco to Washington flights?
Fares on this route are usually lowest 4 to 8 weeks before departure and rise sharply inside two weeks. Air1 Tickets includes free cancellation within 24 hours of booking on every fare, so you can lock in a good price and keep looking.
What is the time difference between San Francisco and Washington?
Washington is 3 hours ahead of San Francisco. SFO is on America/Los Angeles time and DCA on America/New York time. Departure and arrival times in search results are always shown in local time at each airport.
Related routes
Other popular city pairs from the same departure city and to the same destination, with the lowest round-trip fares we found.
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