Raleigh/Durham to San Francisco (RDU–SFO) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
No flights match your filters.
No scheduled airline flights on this route — it's flown by charter / private operators (). No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
Most recently operated nonstop flights — the month shown is when each was last scheduled. Most destinations remain reachable with a connection.
No discontinued nonstop flights on record for this route.
RDU–SFO is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. United Airlines leads the route. The flight covers 2,394 miles in approximately 5h 43m. Beyond nonstop, 1-stop connecting options are also available.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA United Airlines Also: NZ, VA | 35 | 738, 7M8, 7M9 | 5h15-5h46 | Star Alliance | NZ, VA |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Travel Essentials
RDU: EDT · SFO: PDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Raleigh/Durham, it's 3:00 PM in San Francisco.
No rail connection exists. GoTriangle Route 100 (RDU Express) runs from the Durham Station Transportation Center and downtown Raleigh to the airport for $2.25; takes 35–50 minutes but service is limited in the evenings and does not run all night.Ride-shares (Uber/Lyft) from downtown Raleigh: $20–30, 20–25 minutes. From Durham: $18–25, 15–20 minutes. Taxis: $30–40. Long-term parking from $7/day in Economy lots with shuttle service. I-40 provides direct access to both Raleigh and Durham.
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.
RDU–SFO Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from RDU to SFO
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) are connected by nonstop service from United Airlines. With 63 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
RDU to SFO Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from RDU to SFO is about 5 hours 43 minutes gate to gate. The route covers a distance of 2,394 miles (3,853 km). There are approximately 63 weekly flights outbound and 57 return, totaling 120 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
1-stop connecting options are also available, commonly via St. Louis Lambert, Nashville and Harry Reid. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.