Charlotte to San Francisco (CLT–SFO) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
CLT–SFO is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. American Airlines leads the route. The flight covers 2,291 miles in approximately 5h 28m. Beyond nonstop, 145 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA American Airlines Also: CZ, FJ, QF | 61 | 321 | 5h28-5h56 | Oneworld | CZ, FJ, QF |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach San Francisco from Charlotte
| Metric | CLT→SFO | RDU→SFO | AGS→SFO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from CLT | – | 130 mi | 140 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Weekly flights | 76 | 55 | 3 |
| Flight time | 5h 28m | 5h 13m | 4h 44m |
| Departure OTP | 67% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
CLT: EDT · SFO: PDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Charlotte, it's 3:00 PM in San Francisco.
There is no rail link to CLT. CATS Route 5 bus runs from Charlotte Transportation Center to the airport in 45 minutes ($2.20). The airport is 7 miles from Uptown Charlotte.Ride-shares from Uptown cost $18–30 and take 15–25 minutes. Taxis are available but less common than ride-share in Charlotte. I-85 and Billy Graham Parkway are the primary expressway routes; allow extra time during afternoon rush (4–6:30pm).
BART from SFO station (free AirTrain from any terminal to the station) to downtown San Francisco takes 30–40 minutes ($10.45 to Embarcadero). Traffic on 101 can make taxis and ride-hails much slower during peak hours; BART skips all of that. BART also reaches Oakland, Berkeley, and Millbrae for Caltrain connections.Ride-hails from SFO use a dedicated garage pickup area; follow signs. Taxis are metered; downtown SF costs $40–60. Caltrain to the Peninsula (Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose) requires taking BART to Millbrae station for the transfer. Rental cars are at a consolidated facility accessible by AirTrain.
Coastal fog dominates the climate pattern. The thick marine layer ("Karl the Fog") rolls into SFO from the Pacific regularly in summer (June–September), causing significant low-visibility delays even on days that appear sunny inland. Morning fog burns off by afternoon most days, but persistent IFR conditions can last all day. This is the primary flight disruption risk at SFO.
Temperatures are mild year-round (10–20°C) with little seasonal variation. Winters bring rain (December–March) and occasional atmospheric river events that cause brief but intense flooding on the 101. Summers are cool. Pack a light jacket year-round. Wind off the bay affects small aircraft approach paths.
CLT–SFO Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from CLT to SFO
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) are connected by nonstop service from American Airlines. With 76 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
CLT to SFO Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from CLT to SFO ranges from 5 hours 28 minutes to 5 hours 56 minutes. The route covers a distance of 2,291 miles (3,687 km). There are approximately 76 weekly flights outbound and 62 return, totaling 138 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
145 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 6 hours via ICT. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Raleigh/Durham (RDU) and Augusta (AGS).