Travelling from Melbourne to San Francisco International Airport (SFO): What you need to know
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) is Melbourne's main airport. Check out your options for reserving a flight from Melbourne to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) jetting off from here.
The average length of a direct Melbourne to San Francisco International Airport flight is 14 hours 20 minutes.
San Francisco International Airport is located in San Francisco. The city runs on the UTC-8 timezone and is 19 hours behind Melbourne.
Choose from 7 direct flights every week between Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). This is the most popular route, with United Airlines offering a 10:55am departure from MEL to SFO.
To ensure you catch your flight from Melbourne to SFO, leave plenty of time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Turning up two hours before international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
You'll likely experience bigger queues in popular months such as July and other peak seasons. Arriving up to four hours in advance for international flights and two hours for domestic departures is a wise move.
Airports in Melbourne
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
You can jump on a direct flight from Melbourne to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) departing from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL).
United Airlines is a popular carrier that offers direct flights from Melbourne to San Francisco International Airport taking off from MEL.
The airline most travellers choose when flying between MEL and SFO is United.
With 67.21% of its services landing on schedule, United is the highest-rated carrier for punctuality on this route.
Consider adding a stopover to find cheap flights from Melbourne to SFO. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL). Break up the journey at one of these popular airports:
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD)
Brisbane Airport (BNE)
The journey from central Melbourne to MEL takes around 35 minutes by public transport. If you ride-share, drive or take a taxi, you'll cover the 24 kilometres in 25 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Booked an early flight from Melbourne to San Francisco International Airport? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by choosing one of these hotels close to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport:
63% of flights that take off from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport touch down at their destination on schedule.
Avalon Airport (AVV)
Break up your flight from Melbourne to San Francisco International Airport with a stop at Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD). A main stopover between Avalon Airport and SFO, it's a great opportunity to recharge before the next leg of your journey.
You can reach AVV from the centre of Melbourne in approximately 1 hour 5 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The ride on public transport will take roughly 1 hour 20 minutes to travel the 56 kilometres or so.
You're going on holiday, so why not book another night away at a hotel close to Avalon Airport? Before your Melbourne to SFO flight, drop your bags at Corio Bay Motel.
As far as flight punctuality goes, Avalon Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 76%.
About San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
The last thing you need is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from Melbourne to San Francisco International Airport. Book one of these accommodation options near SFO instead:
Lock in the best possible rate by reserving your vehicle around one week ahead of your Melbourne to San Francisco International Airport flight.
Getting from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to central San Francisco
From San Francisco International Airport, central San Francisco is around 21 kilometres away. It takes about 25 minutes to reach the city centre by car.
It takes around 35 minutes if you're using public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from Melbourne to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
The lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Melbourne to San Francisco International Airport is R 8,206. For a return flight on this route, the best price is R 12,918. Depending on when you book and the availability, these fares may change.
Don't leave things to the last moment. You're more likely to walk away with cheap flights from Melbourne to SFO if you book ahead. Airlines often have some fantastic early bird discounts.
If you can be flexible with your trip dates, try using the 'Whole month' search tool. It'll show you the lowest price across each month when searching for your Melbourne to San Francisco International Airport ticket.
Finding a cheap plane ticket from Melbourne to SFO couldn't be easier with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you as soon as a lower fare pops up.
Lock in a cheap flight from Melbourne to San Francisco International Airport by using filters. Select your preferred times, airlines and number of stops, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from Melbourne to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Picture the kind of break you want when picking your flight dates. December is the quietest month to visit San Francisco. July is when most people book flights from Melbourne to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), which may be ideal if you enjoy travelling when it's busier.
Book a Melbourne to SFO plane ticket departing in September if you want to explore the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in San Francisco to range from 12ºC (54ºF) to 24ºC (75ºF).
If you like travelling in cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from Melbourne to San Francisco International Airport in January when temperatures are between 5ºC (41ºF) and 16ºC (61ºF).
More about San Francisco
When it comes to searching for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best places to stay in San Francisco right here. Check out these hotels once you've booked your flight from Melbourne to San Francisco International Airport:
Golden Gate Bridge and Painted Ladies - Alamo Square are just the start of the top attractions to add to your San Francisco to-do list. Keep the momentum going by heading to Alcatraz Island.
Explore more of the United States
You've visited San Francisco, now it's time to discover more of the United States. Travel around 257 kilometres east to Fresno to tick off its top sights. From Forestiere Underground Gardens to Shinzen Japanese Garden and Fresno Chaffee Zoo, your itinerary will be busy.
Around 129 kilometres northeast of San Francisco, Sacramento is another essential stop in the United States. Experience the best of this destination with a visit to California State Railroad Museum, Old Sacramento State Historic Park and Crocker Art Museum.
