Dulles to San Francisco (IAD–SFO) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
IAD–SFO is served by 3 airlines with nonstop service. United Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines and Air China lead the route. The flight covers 2,413 miles in approximately 5h 17m. Beyond nonstop, 128 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA United Airlines | 63 | 739, 752, 753, 788, 7M9 | 5h17-7h56 | Star Alliance | – | |
| ET Ethiopian Airlines | 7 | 739 | 6h13 | Star Alliance | – | |
| CA Air China | 2 | 752 | 6h | Star Alliance | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Other ways to reach San Francisco from Dulles
| Metric | IAD→SFO | DCA→SFO | BWI→SFO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from IAD | – | 23 mi | 45 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Weekly flights | 73 | 28 | 37 |
| Flight time | 5h 17m | 5h 26m | 5h 36m |
| Departure OTP | 68% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
IAD: EDT · SFO: PDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Dulles, it's 3:00 PM in San Francisco.
WMATA Silver Line Metro now reaches Dulles directly; take Silver Line to Washington Dulles Airport station (about 65 min from Metro Center, ~$7). The connection opened in late 2022.Ride-shares from downtown DC run $35–60 and take 35–50 minutes via I-66 (longer during peak hours). Washington Flyer coach to Wiehle-Reston East Metro costs $6. The airport is 27 miles from downtown; taxis are expensive ($60–80).
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.
IAD–SFO Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from IAD to SFO
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) are connected by nonstop service from Air China, Ethiopian Airlines and United Airlines. With 73 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
IAD to SFO Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from IAD to SFO ranges from 5 hours 17 minutes to 7 hours 56 minutes. The route covers a distance of 2,413 miles (3,883 km). There are approximately 73 weekly flights outbound and 66 return, totaling 139 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
128 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 6 hours via SUS. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Washington (DCA), Baltimore (BWI) and Richmond (RIC).