Travelling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Cairns Airport (CNS): what you need to know
The timezone in Cairns is UTC+10, which is 17 hours ahead of San Francisco.
To ensure you get on your SFO to CNS flight, leave plenty of time to check in and drop off your luggage. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
You'll likely experience longer lines in popular months like August. Arriving up to four hours in advance for an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure is a wise move.
Consider adding a stopover when booking your ticket from San Francisco International Airport to Cairns Airport. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' to break up your trip, or perhaps see a new city along the way. Check out these options between SFO and CNS:
Brisbane Airport
Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport
Auckland Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Cairns Airport (CNS)
Right now, R 8,250 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way San Francisco International Airport to Cairns Airport flight. The best price for a return ticket is R 19,819. Remember that fares may change due to demand when booking.
To score cheap tickets from SFO to CNS, book in advance. Airlines tend to offer lower prices when flights are first released.
Finding cheap flights from San Francisco International Airport to Cairns Airport is easier if you're flexible with your travel plans. Use the 'Whole month' tool to see the best prices across the month and score a great deal.
Stay on top of deals for cheap flights from SFO to CNS by creating a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when a new low fare is offered.
Lock in the perfect flight for you with the help of the filters. To see the 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' flights from San Francisco International Airport to Cairns Airport, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter results by airline, departure and arrival times, and number of stops.
Handy information about San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
When it comes to San Francisco International Airport's on-time performance, 77.36% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
San Francisco International Airport is about 21 kilometres from central San Francisco. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a cab from the centre, it'll take 20 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic.
Expect a trip time of around 45 minutes when using public transport.
Searching for a handy hotel close to SFO? If you're catching an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to Cairns Airport, these accommodation options will put you moments from your departure lounge:
Arriving at Cairns Airport (CNS)
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're landing late on a San Francisco International Airport to Cairns Airport flight. Stay at one of these accommodation options near CNS instead:
Pick up a Cairns Airport rental car and discover Cairns and beyond with your own wheels. Simba car hire, Bargain Car Rentals and East Coast are top outlets you can book with here.
Reserving your ride from Cairns Airport around two weeks in advance can help you get the lowest rate.
Getting from Cairns Airport (CNS) to central Cairns
From Cairns Airport, Cairns is approximately 6 kilometres away. It takes around 10 minutes to reach the centre driving.
It typically takes 1 hour 25 minutes when travelling by public transport.
When to fly to Cairns Airport (CNS)
July is the busiest month for flights from San Francisco International Airport to Cairns Airport. To steer clear of the crowds, head to Cairns in February.
Book your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Cairns Airport for January if you want to explore Cairns during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures of between 23ºC (73ºF) and 31ºC (88ºF).
If you want cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from SFO to CNS in August. Temperatures average between 16ºC (61ºF) and 25ºC (77ºF) then.
Explore more of Australia
Cairns has plenty going for it, but there are so many other corners of Australia just waiting to be discovered. About 290 kilometres south of Cairns, a visit to Townsville will fill your itinerary to the brim. Don't miss top attractions like The Strand Beach, Castle Hill and Big Mama Sailing- Magnetic Island & Townsville.
Bowen is another must-experience destination in Australia and is around 434 kilometres south-east of Cairns. No journey is complete without dropping by Holbourne Island National Park, The Big Mango and Grays Bay.
