Detroit to San Francisco (DTW–SFO) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
DTW–SFO is served by 2 airlines with nonstop service. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines lead the route. The flight covers 2,074 miles in approximately 4h 56m. Beyond nonstop, 103 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL Delta Air Lines Also: AF, KE, VS | 34 | 739, 75W | 4h56-5h05 | SkyTeam | AF, KE, VS | |
| UA United Airlines Also: NZ, OZ | 19 | 319, 7M9 | 5h06-5h23 | Star Alliance | NZ, OZ |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach San Francisco from Detroit
| Metric | DTW→SFO | LAN→SFO | CLE→SFO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from DTW | – | 74 mi | 95 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Weekly flights | 88 | – | 29 |
| Flight time | 4h 56m | 4h 39m | 5h 15m |
| Departure OTP | 70% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
DTW: EDT · SFO: PDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Detroit, it's 3:00 PM in San Francisco.
There is no rail link to DTW; the airport is 18 miles southwest of downtown Detroit. SMART bus Route 261 provides a slow connection ($2), but ride-share or car is standard for most travelers. Ride-shares from downtown cost $30–45.Driving is the primary mode: I-94 and I-275 are the main expressways. Economy parking is well-organized with frequent shuttles. For Windsor, Ontario arrivals, the airport connects via I-75 and the Ambassador Bridge or DRIC tunnel.
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.
DTW–SFO Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from DTW to SFO
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) are connected by nonstop service from Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. With 88 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
DTW to SFO Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from DTW to SFO ranges from 4 hours 56 minutes to 5 hours 26 minutes. The route covers a distance of 2,074 miles (3,337 km). There are approximately 88 weekly flights outbound and 80 return, totaling 168 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
103 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 5 hours via SLN. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Lansing (LAN), Cleveland (CLE) and Freeland (MBS).