Santa Monica to San Francisco (SMO–SFO) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
No flights match your filters.
No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
While no nonstop service exists between SMO and SFO, connecting options are available through 5 hubs.
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Other ways to reach San Francisco from Santa Monica
| Metric | SMO→SFO | LAX→SFO | BUR→SFO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from SMO | – | 6 mi | 14 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 0 | 29 | 9 |
| Weekly flights | 3 | 528 | 199 |
| Flight time | 0h 56m | 0h 52m | 0h 47m |
Travel Essentials
SMO: PDT · SFO: PDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Santa Monica, it's 6:00 PM in San Francisco.
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.
SMO–SFO Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from SMO to SFO
Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) are connected through multiple connecting hub airports.
SMO to SFO Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from SMO to SFO ranges from 0 hours 56 minutes to 0 hours 58 minutes. The route covers a distance of 332 miles (534 km). There are approximately 3 weekly flights outbound and 2 return, totaling 5 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
5 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 3 hours via OAK. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Los Angeles (LAX), Burbank (BUR) and Santa Ana (SNA).