Washington to San Francisco (DCA–SFO) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
DCA–SFO is served by 2 airlines with nonstop service. United Airlines and Alaska Airlines lead the route. The flight covers 2,436 miles in approximately 6h 10m. Beyond nonstop, 74 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA United Airlines Also: NZ, VA | 14 | 7M8, B38M | 6h11-6h12 | Star Alliance | NZ, VA | |
| AS Alaska Airlines Also: FJ, QF | 7 | 73H | 6h10 | Oneworld | FJ, QF |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach San Francisco from Washington
| Metric | DCA→SFO | IAD→SFO | BWI→SFO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from DCA | – | 23 mi | 30 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 2 | 13 | 5 |
| Weekly flights | 56 | 150 | 43 |
| Flight time | 6h 10m | 5h 4m | 5h 44m |
| Departure OTP | 100% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
DCA: EDT · SFO: PDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Washington, it's 3:00 PM in San Francisco.
The DC Metro (Yellow and Blue lines) connects the airport directly to downtown Washington in 15–25 minutes from most central stations ($2.25–$3.85 depending on distance and time of day). The Reagan National Airport station is inside the terminal complex with a direct indoor walkway. Metro runs from about 05:00 to midnight Sunday–Thursday, and until 01:00 on Friday–Saturday.Taxis and Uber/Lyft from the city centre cost $15–30 depending on destination and traffic. DCA is one of the most transit-accessible major US airports. Driving is straightforward via the George Washington Memorial Parkway; short-term parking at the terminal costs from $5 for 20 minutes. No personal vehicles are allowed to idle at arrivals; use the cell-phone lot or commercial pick-up zones.
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.
DCA–SFO Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from DCA to SFO
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) are connected by nonstop service from Alaska Airlines and United Airlines. With 56 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
DCA to SFO Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from DCA to SFO ranges from 6 hours 10 minutes to 6 hours 29 minutes. The route covers a distance of 2,436 miles (3,921 km). There are approximately 56 weekly flights outbound and 56 return, totaling 112 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
74 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 Dulles (IAD), Baltimore (BWI) and Richmond (RIC).