Travelling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles Airport (IAD): what you need to know
Around 5 hours 25 minutes is how long you'll be travelling on a direct flight from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles Airport.
Washington DC is three hours ahead of San Francisco and observes the UTC-5 timezone.
Flights from SFO to IAD start from 00:20 — the first with United Airlines. The last service of the day is at 23:59 with United Airlines. Overall, you can take your pick of 56 weekly San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles Airport flights.
Arriving two hours before an international flight and one hour ahead of a domestic departure are golden rules for stress-free travel. Be at the airport with enough time to board your SFO to IAD flight.
You'll likely experience longer lines during popular months like July. Arriving up to four hours in advance for international flights and two hours for a domestic departure is a good idea.
Jetting into Washington DC (and then discovering more of the United States!) is a snap with United. This popular airline has direct flights from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles Airport.
The airline with the highest booking volume on this route is United.
With a dependable 86.69% of services arriving as planned, United is the most punctual carrier operating SFO to IAD flights.
We make it easy to book a flight with a stopover. To see your options for tickets from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, choose a flight with a stop long enough to tour the city of your choice. Top stopovers between SFO and IAD include:
Denver International Airport
Detroit Wayne County Airport
Minneapolis St Paul Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles Airport (IAD)
R 2,197 is the best price for a one-way San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles Airport flight. A return flight starts at R 4,375. These fares can change based on demand and availability.
It's usually smart to book early if you want to get cheap tickets from SFO to IAD. That's because flight prices are based on demand, which tends to rise closer to the date of departure.
The cheapest month for flights from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles Airport is May. Use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest prices if you have a flexible travel schedule.
Getting your hands on cheap flights from SFO to IAD couldn't be easier with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch when there's a better deal.
Tailor your flights with filters. Choose your preferred arrival and departure times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles Airport.
Handy information about San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Of all flights departing from San Francisco International Airport, 78% land on schedule at their destination.
To get to San Francisco International Airport from central San Francisco, it takes about 25 minutes if you're planning to drive. This depends on traffic, however. It's approximately 21 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.
Catching public transport? Expect a journey time of around 35 minutes.
Get your travels off to a relaxed start by staying near SFO. Whether you're boarding an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles Airport or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are ideal:
Arriving at Washington Dulles Airport (IAD)
Book a hotel near IAD if you're on a late San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles Airport flight. Settle into one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Travel at your own speed with a Washington Dulles Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Dollar, Thrifty or Sixt and see more of Washington DC and beyond.
To get the best deal, reserve your vehicle from Washington Dulles Airport around one week ahead.
Getting from Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) to central Washington DC
The street address for IAD is 1 Saarinen Circle.
From Washington Dulles Airport, Washington DC is approximately 40 kilometres away. It takes around 45 minutes to get to the centre driving.
If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey of roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
When to fly to Washington Dulles Airport (IAD)
It's time to choose your trip dates for your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles Airport. July is the busiest month to head to Washington DC. If you want a more laid-back vibe, go in February.
Lock in your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles Airport for July if you'd like to explore Washington DC during its warmest month. Expect temperatures of between 19ºC (66ºF) and 33ºC (91ºF).
If you like travelling in cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from SFO to IAD in January. Average temperatures are between -6ºC (21ºF) and 10ºC (50ºF) then.
Explore more of the United States
New York is just one of the many places in the United States waiting to be discovered after you've experienced Washington DC. Around 322 kilometres away to the north-east, well-known attractions include Central Park, Statue of Liberty and Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Philadelphia is another essential stop in the United States and is around 193 kilometres north-east of Washington DC. No journey is complete without seeing Independence Hall, Liberty Bell and Philadelphia Museum of Art.










