San Francisco to Tampa (SFO–TPA) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
SFO–TPA is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. United Airlines leads the route. The flight covers 2,389 miles in approximately 4h 51m. Beyond nonstop, 125 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA United Airlines Also: NZ, VA | 21 | 7M8, 7M9, B38M | 4h51-5h21 | Star Alliance | NZ, VA |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Travel Essentials
SFO: PDT · TPA: EDT
When it's 6:00 PM in San Francisco, it's 9:00 PM in Tampa.
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.
Uber and Lyft pickup is on the lower level curb; typically $20–30 to downtown Tampa and $45–60 to St. Petersburg. Taxis at the rank run $25–35 to Tampa center. The HART bus (Route 30X) connects to downtown for $2.25 but is infrequent; check schedules before relying on it.Rental car counters are in the arrivals hall with a shuttle to the consolidated rental facility. I-275 provides direct access north to downtown and south toward St. Pete. The airport's people mover system is free and connects all areas of the terminal complex.
Humid subtropical climate. Tampa is called the "lightning capital of North America." Afternoon thunderstorms are nearly daily from June through September, causing frequent ground stops and gate holds during summer afternoons. Summer afternoon flights routinely run late.
Hurricane season (June–November) poses storm surge and wind risk. Direct hits are rare, but evacuations periodically affect the region. Winter (December–February) is mild at 14–23°C with very low disruption risk. Spring (March–May) is the most comfortable season.
SFO–TPA Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from SFO to TPA
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Tampa International Airport (TPA) are connected by nonstop service from United Airlines. With 43 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
SFO to TPA Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from SFO to TPA ranges from 4 hours 51 minutes to 5 hours 22 minutes. The route covers a distance of 2,389 miles (3,844 km). There are approximately 43 weekly flights outbound and 59 return, totaling 102 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
125 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 5 hours via TUL. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.