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Cheap Flights from San Francisco International to Columbus

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Flight deals from San Francisco International to Columbus

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from San Francisco International Airport to Columbus? If you want to travel next month, return fares start from R 4,079. Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.
Columbus.R 1,896 per passenger.Departing Thu, 27 Aug.One-way flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Southwest Airlines, departs from San Francisco International on Thu, 27 Aug, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 1,896, select.
Columbus.R 1,969 per passenger.Departing Thu, 3 Sep.One-way flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Southwest Airlines, departs from San Francisco International on Thu, 3 Sep, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 1,969, select.
Columbus.R 2,046 per passenger.Departing Wed, 29 Jul.One-way flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from San Francisco International on Wed, 29 Jul, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 2,046, select.
Columbus.R 2,209 per passenger.Departing Sat, 10 Oct.One-way flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Southwest Airlines, departs from San Francisco International on Sat, 10 Oct, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 2,209, select.
Columbus.R 3,011 per passenger.Departing Tue, 1 Dec.One-way flight with United.Outbound indirect flight with United, departs from San Francisco International on Tue, 1 Dec, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 3,011, select.
Columbus.R 3,019 per passenger.Departing Mon, 8 Mar.One-way flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Southwest Airlines, departs from San Francisco International on Mon, 8 Mar, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 3,019, select.
Columbus.R 3,380 per passenger.Departing Thu, 26 Nov.One-way flight with Delta.Outbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from San Francisco International on Thu, 26 Nov, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 3,380, select.
Columbus.R 3,890 per passenger.Departing Tue, 18 May.One-way flight with Delta.Outbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from San Francisco International on Tue, 18 May, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 3,890, select.
Columbus.R 4,950 per passenger.Departing Fri, 21 Aug.One-way flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from San Francisco International on Fri, 21 Aug, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 4,950, select.
Columbus.R 4,951 per passenger.Departing Fri, 25 Dec.One-way flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from San Francisco International on Fri, 25 Dec, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 4,951, select.
Columbus.R 4,953 per passenger.Departing Tue, 1 Sep.One-way flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from San Francisco International on Tue, 1 Sep, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 4,953, select.
Columbus.R 4,954 per passenger.Departing Thu, 30 Jul.One-way flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from San Francisco International on Thu, 30 Jul, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 4,954, select.
Columbus.R 4,954 per passenger.Departing Fri, 27 Nov.One-way flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from San Francisco International on Fri, 27 Nov, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 4,954, select.
Columbus.R 4,954 per passenger.Departing Thu, 15 Oct.One-way flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from San Francisco International on Thu, 15 Oct, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 4,954, select.
Columbus.R 4,972 per passenger.Departing Sun, 7 Mar.One-way flight with United.Outbound direct flight with United departs from San Francisco International on Sun, 7 Mar, arriving in Port Columbus.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 4,972, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco International to Columbus

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like San Francisco International to Columbus flights are currently cheapest in August.
Jul
from R 2,046
Aug
from R 1,896
Sep
from R 1,969
Oct
from R 2,209
Nov
from R 3,380
Dec
from R 3,011
Jan
Find prices
Feb
Find prices
Mar
from R 3,019
Apr
Find prices
May
from R 3,890
Jun
Find prices

Direct flights from San Francisco International to Columbus

Alternative San Francisco International to Columbus routes

Looking for the cheapest, fastest or easiest route from San Francisco International to Columbus? You could fly into the following airports instead.

Port Columbus

11km from central Columbus
ClosestCheapest
from R 1,896
Search flights

Columbus Rickenbacker

17km from central Columbus
from R 3,184
Search flights

San Francisco to Columbus: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight foundR 1,896
Cheapest month to flyAugust
Average flight time4 hrs, 52 mins
Most popular airlineUnited
Average flights per week14

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

There are 2 airports in Columbus: Port Columbus and Columbus Rickenbacker.
The best price we found for a return flight from San Francisco International to Columbus is R 3,874. 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.
4 hours and 52 minutes is the average flight time from San Francisco International to Columbus.
United flies direct from San Francisco International to Columbus.
As of July 2026, there are 14 flights per week flying from San Francisco International to Columbus.
The cheapest month to fly from San Francisco International to Columbus is usually September.
If you're flying from San Francisco International Airport, the cheapest airport near Columbus is Port Columbus – which is 10.8 km away from the centre of Columbus. We've found flights into this airport from R 3,874.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from San Francisco International Airport to Columbus on Monday, 14 September 2026.
Yes – the average flight time is 4 hours and 52 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 Columbus 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 Columbus is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.

In July, the average temperature is usually around 23°C. July is typically the warmest month in Columbus, when it usually averages around 29°C. You can expect the least rain in February. The coldest month is January, with temperatures averaging -7°C. The rainiest month is May.
Currently, Southwest Airlines and United offer the cheapest flight tickets to Columbus.

Flying from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Columbus: what you need to know

  • Around 5 hours 10 minutes is how long you'll be travelling on a direct flight from San Francisco International Airport to Columbus.

  • San Francisco International Airport is located in San Francisco. Following the UTC-5 timezone, Columbus is three hours ahead of San Francisco.

  • The busiest route is from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH). You can select from nine weekly services between these two airports. United Airlines offers a 08:44 departure between SFO and CMH.

  • Give yourself plenty of time to make your SFO to Columbus flight. As a general rule, turn up at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.

  • Travelling over a peak time such as July? Public holidays and other popular periods can mean longer queues and delays at security. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.

  • You can book a direct San Francisco International Airport to Columbus ticket. Start your trip at SFO and land at John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH).

  • United Airlines is a leading airline that operates direct flights from San Francisco International Airport to Columbus.

  • Located around 18 kilometres from the centre of San Francisco, SFO can be reached in about 25 minutes by car (depending on traffic). Travelling on public transport will take roughly 35 minutes.

  • Catching an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to Columbus? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these hotels near SFO:

  • 78% of flights that leave from San Francisco International Airport touch down at their destination on schedule.

How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Columbus

  • The lowest price we've found for a one-way San Francisco International Airport to Columbus flight is R 1,896. The cheapest price for a return flight is R 3,874. Bear in mind fares may change due to demand at the time of booking.

  • To score cheap flights from SFO to Columbus, reserve your journey one month ahead of your departure date.

  • The best month for scoring cheap San Francisco International Airport to Columbus tickets is June. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare flight prices, then select the dates with the lowest fares.

  • There's no need to keep checking in to see if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll notify you when there's an extra saving on cheap flights from SFO to Columbus.

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

Airports in Columbus

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)

  • John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) is around 16 kilometres from the centre of Columbus. If you're grabbing a taxi or a ride-share, the drive takes roughly 20 minutes.

  • If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of around 40 minutes.

  • If you have a late flight from San Francisco International Airport to Columbus, nothing beats the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be showered and sleeping not long after at one of these accommodation options near CMH:

  • To get the lowest possible price, reserve your vehicle from John Glenn Columbus International Airport at least a few weeks in advance of your flight from SFO to Columbus. Rates typically rise closer to your day of departure.

  • CMH is located at 4600 International Gateway.

Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK)

  • Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK) is about 23 kilometres from the centre of Columbus. Once you've hopped off your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Columbus, it'll take you around 25 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a ride-share or taxi.

  • Public transport will get you there in about 1 hour 15 minutes.

  • Best Western Canal Winchester Inn - Columbus South East is one accommodation option within an easy drive of LCK. Unpack your bags here after your SFO to Columbus flight and then hang the 'Do not disturb' sign to get some rest.

Best time to go to Columbus

  • December is the quietest month for flights from San Francisco International Airport to Columbus, while July is the most popular. Pick the ideal time to go to Columbus based on whether you prefer a bustling atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.

  • The warmest month in Columbus is July, with temperatures ranging between 15ºC (59ºF) and 31ºC (88ºF). Book your San Francisco International Airport to Columbus plane ticket then if that's your definition of good weather.

  • If you like cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from SFO to Columbus in January when temperatures average between -11ºC (12ºF) and 6ºC (43ºF).

More about Columbus

  • When it comes to searching for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best stays in Columbus right here. Browse these hotels once you've booked your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Columbus:

  • Whetstone Park / Park of Roses and Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens are a couple of leading attractions to put on your Columbus to-do list. Keep the momentum going by heading to Ohio Theatre.

Explore more of the United States

  • Columbus has loads to offer, but there are so many other parts of the United States waiting to be discovered. About 451 kilometres northwest of Columbus, a trip to Chicago will keep you busy. Don't miss top attractions like Millennium Park, Art Institute of Chicago and Willis Tower.

  • Indianapolis is another must-experience destination in the United States and is around 274 kilometres west of Columbus. No trip is complete without seeing Lucas Oil Stadium, Eiteljorg Museum and The Children's Museum of Indianapolis.

Plan the rest of your trip from San Francisco to Columbus

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 12 days.