San Francisco to Detroit (SFO–DTW) — 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.
SFO–DTW 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 35m. Beyond nonstop, 1-stop connecting options are also available.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL Delta Air Lines Also: AF, KE, KL, VS | 32 | 739 | 4h31-4h39 | SkyTeam | AF, KE, KL, VS | |
| UA United Airlines Also: NZ | 15 | 739, 7M9, B39M | 4h48-4h50 | Star Alliance | NZ |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Other ways to reach Detroit from San Francisco
| Metric | SFO→DTW | SJC→DTW | CCR→DTW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from SFO | – | 30 mi | 31 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Weekly flights | 89 | 6 | 1 |
| Flight time | 4h 35m | 4h 28m | 3h 59m |
| Departure OTP | 100% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
SFO: PDT · DTW: EDT
When it's 6:00 PM in San Francisco, it's 9:00 PM in Detroit.
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) runs from downtown San Francisco (Embarcadero, Powell St.) to the SFO station and then a free AirTrain shuttle to all terminals (30–40 min from Embarcadero, $10.45). BART also connects Oakland and Berkeley; useful for East Bay travelers. Trains run from ~4am to midnight.Taxis from downtown San Francisco cost $40–60. Ride-hails (Uber, Lyft) pick up in the designated area in the garage and are often $30–50 depending on surge pricing. SamTrans buses serve Peninsula cities. Highway 101 and I-280 are heavily congested during commute hours; BART is faster than driving at those times.
DTW has no rail. Ride-shares and taxis are the practical options. Taxis to downtown cost $45–60. Ride-shares run $30–45. The two terminals (McNamara and North) are connected by the automated people mover (MTC); both share the same baggage claim and ground transport facilities.Car rental desks are in the consolidated facility accessible from McNamara Terminal. SMART bus Route 261 serves the airport with transfers into the bus network. Allow extra time for I-94 congestion during peak hours.
Humid continental climate. Winters are cold and snowy (−8 to 0°C) from December through March. Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair generate significant lake-effect snow that can fall heavily with little warning. Ice storms and blizzards cause the most serious flight disruptions.
Summers are warm and humid (26–32°C) with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Spring and fall are transitional with frost risk into April and from October. January and February are the highest disruption-risk months.
SFO–DTW Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from SFO to DTW
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) are connected by nonstop service from Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. With 89 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
SFO to DTW Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from SFO to DTW is about 4 hours 35 minutes gate to gate. The route covers a distance of 2,074 miles (3,337 km). There are approximately 89 weekly flights outbound and 86 return, totaling 175 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
1-stop connecting options are also available, commonly via Chicago Midway, Denver and Minneapolis–Saint Paul. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include San Jose (SJC), Concord (CCR) and Monterey (MRY).