San Francisco to Detroit (SFO–DTW) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
SFO–DTW is served by 3 airlines with nonstop service. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Air France lead the route. The flight covers 2,074 miles in approximately 4h 23m. Beyond nonstop, 82 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL Delta Air Lines | 28 | 739 | 4h23-4h27 | SkyTeam | – | |
| UA United Airlines | 15 | 319, 320 | 4h36-4h55 | Star Alliance | – | |
| AF Air France | 14 | 739, 75W | 4h28-4h34 | SkyTeam | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Other ways to reach Detroit from San Francisco
| Metric | SFO→DTW | SJC→DTW | SMF→DTW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from SFO | – | 30 mi | 86 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Weekly flights | 57 | 1 | 7 |
| Flight time | 4h 23m | 4h 5m | 4h 21m |
| Departure OTP | 83% | – | – |
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 Air France, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. With 57 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
SFO to DTW Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from SFO to DTW ranges from 4 hours 23 minutes to 4 hours 55 minutes. The route covers a distance of 2,074 miles (3,337 km). There are approximately 57 weekly flights outbound and 49 return, totaling 106 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
82 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 5 hours via MSN. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include San Jose (SJC) and Sacramento (SMF).