Philadelphia to San Francisco (PHL–SFO) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
PHL–SFO is served by 2 airlines with nonstop service. American Airlines and United Airlines lead the route. The flight covers 2,515 miles in approximately 6h. Beyond nonstop, 142 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA American Airlines Also: BA, CZ, EI, FJ | 58 | 321, 32Q, A21N | 6h11-6h28 | Oneworld | BA, CZ, EI, FJ | |
| UA United Airlines Also: CA, NH, VA | 29 | 739, 7M8, 7M9 | 6h-6h18 | Star Alliance | CA, NH, VA |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach San Francisco from Philadelphia
| Metric | PHL→SFO | TTN→SFO | ABE→SFO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from PHL | – | 36 mi | 55 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Weekly flights | 132 | – | 1 |
| Flight time | 6h | 5h 11m | 5h 33m |
| Departure OTP | 74% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
PHL: EDT · SFO: PDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Philadelphia, it's 3:00 PM in San Francisco.
SEPTA Airport Line rail runs from Center City Philadelphia (30th Street, Suburban, Jefferson, and Market East stations) to the airport in 25–30 minutes ($8 each way). Trains run every 30 minutes from about 5am to midnight. I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) and I-95 are both frequently congested, making the train a consistent choice for anyone based near a SEPTA station.
Ride-shares from Center City cost $20–35 and take 20–40 minutes. Taxis are metered and slightly more.
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.
PHL–SFO Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from PHL to SFO
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) are connected by nonstop service from American Airlines and United Airlines. With 132 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
PHL to SFO Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from PHL to SFO ranges from 6 hours 0 minutes to 6 hours 32 minutes. The route covers a distance of 2,515 miles (4,048 km). There are approximately 132 weekly flights outbound and 146 return, totaling 278 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
142 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 6 hours via ABI. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Ewing Township (TTN), Allentown/Bethlehem (ABE) and Newark (EWR).