Cheap Flights from Washington Dulles to San Francisco International

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Flight deals from Washington Dulles to San Francisco International

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Washington Dulles to San Francisco International? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Washington Dulles to San Francisco International

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Washington Dulles to San Francisco International flights are currently cheapest in August.

Direct flights from Washington Dulles to San Francisco International

Washington Dulles to San Francisco International: Alternative routes

Compare routes from Washington Dulles to San Francisco below. You may find an airport to fly into that's cheaper, faster, or easier than San Francisco International.

Washington D.C. to San Francisco: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight foundR 2,299
Cheapest month to flyAugust
Average flight time5 hrs, 53 mins
Most popular airlineUnited
Average flights per week217

Finding cheap flights from Washington Dulles to San Francisco International: Frequently asked questions

The best price we found for a return flight from Washington Dulles to San Francisco International is R 4,529. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
5 hours and 53 minutes is the average flight time from Washington Dulles to San Francisco International.
United, Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia fly direct from Washington Dulles to San Francisco International.
As of July 2025, there are 217 flights per week flying from Washington Dulles to San Francisco International.
The cheapest month to fly from Washington Dulles to San Francisco International is usually September.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Washington Dulles Airport to San Francisco International Airport on Tuesday, 16 September 2025.
Yes – the average flight time is 5 hours and 53 minutes.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to San Francisco International but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to San Francisco is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
Currently, Hawaiian Airlines and United offer the cheapest flight tickets to San Francisco International.

Travelling from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO): what you need to know

  • The average duration of a direct flight from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Francisco International Airport is 5 hours 50 minutes.

  • The timezone in San Francisco is UTC-7, which is three hours behind Washington DC.

  • Flights from IAD to SFO start from 06:23 — the earliest with United Airlines. The last service of the day is at 22:25 with United Airlines. Overall, you can choose from 77 weekly Washington Dulles International Airport to San Francisco International Airport flights.

  • For a stress-free journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This ensures you have enough time to catch your IAD to SFO flight.

  • Flying during a peak time such as April? Public holidays and other high seasons can mean longer queues and delays at airport checkpoints. Play things extra safe and arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.

  • Alaska Airlines is your ticket to exploring San Francisco (and maybe even some other great corners of United States!). Browse the direct flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Francisco International Airport offered by this airline.

  • Alaska Airlines is the airline most travellers choose for this route.

  • With 79.59% of its services arriving as scheduled, Alaska Airlines is the most punctual carrier offering IAD to SFO flights.

  • If you want to include a stop along the way, simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for your ticket from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Francisco International Airport. Here are the most popular stopovers between IAD and SFO:

    • Denver International Airport

    • Harry Reid Airport (formerly McCarran Airport)

    • O'Hare International Airport

How to find the cheapest flights from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

  • The cheapest price we've found for a one-way Washington Dulles International Airport to San Francisco International Airport flight is R 2,299. A round-trip ticket right now is R 4,529. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares could change.

  • Book six months before you travel. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you'll want to book ahead to find cheap tickets from IAD to SFO.

  • The cheapest month for flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Francisco International Airport is May. Use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest prices if you have a flexible schedule.

  • Picking up cheap flights from IAD to SFO couldn't be easier with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as there's a better deal.

  • Tailor your flights with filters. Select your preferred departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Francisco International Airport.

Handy information about Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

  • IAD is located at 1 Saarinen Circle.

  • Of the departures from Washington Dulles International Airport, 74.39% land on schedule at their destination.

  • Central Washington DC to Washington Dulles International Airport is approximately 56 kilometres. Depending on traffic, it'll take you about 50 minutes to get there if you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing.

  • You can expect a journey time of around 3 hours 25 minutes when using public transport.

  • Booked an early flight from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Francisco International Airport? Avoid rushing to the airport (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by choosing one of these stays near IAD:

Arriving at San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Getting from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to central San Francisco

  • From San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco is approximately 21 kilometres away. It takes around 20 minutes to reach the centre by car.

  • It'll take around 45 minutes to get there by public transport.

When to fly to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

  • The quietest month for a flight from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Francisco International Airport is February, while August is the busiest. Choose the ideal time to go to San Francisco based on whether you prefer a bustling atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.

  • Book your flight from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Francisco International Airport for September if you want to explore San Francisco during its warmest month. Expect temperatures of between 12ºC (54ºF) and 22ºC (72ºF).

  • Search for cheap tickets from IAD to SFO in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 6ºC (43ºF) and 16ºC (61ºF) on average.

Explore more of United States

  • You've visited San Francisco, now it's time to explore other parts of United States. Travel around 64 kilometres south-east to San Jose to tick off its popular sights. From Winchester Mystery House to Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and San Jose Museum of Art, you'll have a packed itinerary ahead.

  • Fresno is another sought-after destination in United States and is around 257 kilometres south-east of San Francisco. No journey is complete without seeing Forestiere Underground Gardens, Fresno Chaffee Zoo and Shinzen Japanese Garden.

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.