San Francisco to Dulles (SFO–IAD) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
SFO–IAD is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. United Airlines leads the route. The flight covers 2,413 miles in approximately 4h 48m. Beyond nonstop, 130 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA United Airlines | 65 | 739, 752, 753, 7M9, A21N | 4h56-5h30 | Star Alliance | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Other ways to reach Dulles from San Francisco
| Metric | SFO→IAD | OAK→IAD | SJC→IAD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from SFO | – | 11 mi | 30 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Weekly flights | 66 | 3 | 2 |
| Flight time | 4h 48m | 4h 25m | 4h 38m |
| Departure OTP | 67% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
SFO: PDT · IAD: EDT
When it's 6:00 PM in San Francisco, it's 9:00 PM in Dulles.
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.
Silver Line Metro runs from Washington Dulles Airport station to Metro Center in about 65 minutes (~$7). The route bypasses I-66 and I-495 congestion entirely. Washington Flyer coach also runs to Wiehle-Reston East station ($6, 15 min) for Metro connection.Taxis and ride-shares to downtown DC cost $55–80 and take 35–55 minutes depending on traffic. Car rental facilities are on-site. Dulles is 27 miles west of the Capitol; it is farther than either DCA or BWI from central DC.
Humid continental climate. Summers are hot and muggy (30–36°C) with frequent afternoon thunderstorms that cause delays June through August. Winters bring cold temperatures (−3 to 5°C) with snow and ice. The Virginia suburbs accumulate more snow than downtown DC, and ice storms are the primary disruption risk.
Dulles sits at higher elevation in Virginia's piedmont and sees more winter precipitation than DCA. Spring and fall are variable. Snowfall is possible into April. Thunderstorms begin from April through May.
SFO–IAD Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from SFO to IAD
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) are connected by nonstop service from United Airlines. With 66 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
SFO to IAD Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from SFO to IAD ranges from 4 hours 48 minutes to 5 hours 30 minutes. The route covers a distance of 2,413 miles (3,883 km). There are approximately 66 weekly flights outbound and 73 return, totaling 139 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
130 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 6 hours via APC. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Oakland (OAK), San Jose (SJC) and Concord (CCR).