$120 Find Cheap Flights from California to North Carolina - Compare and Save

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from California to North Carolina departing on 8/27. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
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1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$120
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 11% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 9% lower on average.
Flight from San Diego to Raleigh

Flights from California to North Carolina: the best tips from KAYAK users

Insights shared by verified travelers who flew the route from California to North Carolina 
HartajFlew with United Airlines
SFO
-
RDU
Apr 2026
My main tip is to allow a bit of extra time at SFO, since the airport is currently undergoing renovations. It is nothing unmanageable, but giving yourself a little buffer can help avoid delays.
MichelleFlew with American Airlines
SAN
-
CLT
Mar 2026
Not to sit next to the bathroom because people are always using it and the smell is bad at times.
MitchellFlew with United Airlines
SFO
-
RDU
Jan 2026
United had a direct flight to RDU - worked out well just need to manage food timing as arriving in RDU after 9 PM, very limited availability for healthy food. rental car transfer at RDU went very smoothly
LeoFlew with American Airlines
LAX
-
CLT
Jul 2025
Avoid LAX. Personal experience. I have had less chaotic process in Ontario, CA airport. If transferring through another AA flight, consider Phoenix airport.
LeoFlew with American Airlines
ONT
-
CLT
Sep 2024
Have plenty of patience for the casual travelers! They are oblivious of rules and etiquettes that slows down the process for everyone. Case in point, a guy held up the line trying to place both his personal item (should be UNDER the seat in front of you) and his carry on case horizontally. Obviously not aware of the big poster right in front of his displaying the proper way of placing his case on it's side. Slowed the whole line of people behind him. Also be mindful the agents in Ontario airport (or any smaller airports) might not be the most knowledgeable on the rules and regulations of air travel, luggage specification allowances etc. Stay patient!! Also the seats do not recline that well anymore on AA flights. So if you have back problems, be sure to bring some back supports.
Verified travelerFlew with American Airlines
LAX
-
CLT
Feb 2024
Don’t red eye if you have to work the next day
MariFlew with American Airlines
ONT
-
CLT
Jan 2024
Bring a blanket it's very cold on plane

FAQs for booking flights from California to North Carolina

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from California to North Carolina?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from California to North Carolina.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from California to North Carolina?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight from California to North Carolina is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from California to North Carolina?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly from California to North Carolina with an airline and back with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from California to North Carolina?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying from California to North Carolina up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

  • Which airlines fly most frequently to North Carolina?

    California and North Carolina are connected by different airlines. The airlines that fly that route the most regularly are American Airlines (186 flights per week), Alaska Airlines (68 flights per week), and Air Tahiti Nui (52 flights per week).

  • How many airports are there in North Carolina?

    There are 10 airports in North Carolina. The busiest airport is Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT), with 56% of all flights arriving there.

  • Which is the cheapest airport to fly into in North Carolina?

    Prices will differ depending on the departure airport, but generally, the cheapest airport to fly to in North Carolina is Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU), with an average flight price of $302.

  • What is the cheapest day to fly to North Carolina?

    Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest day to fly to North Carolina is Wednesday where round-trip tickets can be as cheap as $410. On the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is Sunday, where round-trip prices are $529 on average.

  • What is the cheapest time of day to fly to North Carolina?

    The cheapest time of day to fly to North Carolina is generally in the afternoon, when round-trip flights cost $284 on average. Morning departures are around 21% more expensive than evening flights, on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to North Carolina is generally in the morning, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is $474.

  • What is the cheapest flight to North Carolina?

    The cheapest ticket to North Carolina from California found in the last 5 days was to Raleigh, at $138 round-trip. The most popular route is Los Angeles (LAX) to Charlotte (CLT) and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 5 days was $332.

  • What is the cheapest month to fly from California to North Carolina?

    The cheapest month for flights from California to North Carolina is July, when tickets cost $233 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are January and March, when the average cost of round-trip tickets is $434 and $374 respectively.

  • How far in advance should I book a flight from California to North Carolina?

    To get a below average price on the flight from California to North Carolina, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 11% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 20 weeks before departure.

  • How many cities have direct flights to North Carolina?

    From California, there are direct flights to North Carolina from 6 cities. The city with the most direct flights is Los Angeles, with 237 direct flights each week.

  • How many direct flights to North Carolina are there each day?

    There are around 66 direct flights from within California to North Carolina every day. Most flights (50%) depart in the morning.

  • How many direct flights to North Carolina are there each week?

    Each week there are around 461 direct flights from within California to North Carolina. The most common day for departures is Sunday, with 17% of flights taking off on this day.

  • How long is the flight to North Carolina?

    An average nonstop flight from California to North Carolina takes 6h 19m, covering a distance of 2194 miles. The shortest route is Las Vegas (LAS) to Raleigh (RDU) with an average flight time of 4h 15m.

  • How many long-haul flights are there to North Carolina each week?

    There are not any long-haul (6-12 hour flight duration) or short-haul (up to 3 hour flight duration) flights to North Carolina. Instead, there are 461 medium-haul flights (3-6 hour flight duration), with the most arriving from Los Angeles.

  • What are the most popular destinations in North Carolina?

    Based on KAYAK flight searches, the most popular destination is Raleigh (29% of total searches to North Carolina). The next most popular destinations are Charlotte (29%) and Knoxville (11%). Searches for flights to Norfolk (8%), to Myrtle Beach (7%) and to Asheville (7%) are also popular.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from California to North Carolina

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from California to North Carolina? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.9
SouthwestOverall score based on 4249 reviews
7.5Entertainment
8.6Crew
8.0Comfort
7.0Food
8.1Boarding
Airline reviews

I think Southwest is the number one airline that anyone can fly I have flown for the first time Frontier and what a joke and their customer service United was a very strange experience I'm only sticking to Southwest from here on out for sure

10.0 Excellentkelly, Jul 2026
SFO - PHX
Read more Southwest reviews

I think Southwest is the number one airline that anyone can fly I have flown for the first time Frontier and what a joke and their customer service United was a very strange experience I'm only sticking to Southwest from here on out for sure

Great job Southwest! My family doesn't fly often but we felt safe the whole time.

Plane was late. Zero service for 2+ hour flight and it was not that bumpy.

The staff was very friendly, professional, and courteous. The overall flight was a great experience.

southwest just starting charging for luggage. hadnt realized it until it was too late. now out $70 when i couldve bought a carry on if i wouldve known. free bags was one of the only reasons i chose southwest over another airline (the other being no assigned seats, which is apparently also being changed). stupid business decision. wont be flying southwest anymore.

Cluster mess boarding. Can't wait for SWA reserved seating. Internet didn't seem to work on the plane.

The price of the tickets isn't matching the flight experience. No matter how long the flight is, you're only getting pretzels. The flight attendants looked unkept and over it.

I liked the boarding by group and numbers. I didn't like my inability to guarantee our seats together. I didn't like the $8/flight for Internet, but I did appreciate the inflight movie options on their app. I didn't like that there were no charging stations on the seats during either of our flights. One flight was over 3 hours.

I never like the fact that if I don't check in exactly 24 hours before the flight time, I get to board C, and that means sitting between 2 individuals. I would like assigned seating in the airplanes.

Flight only half full. Room to spread out. Newer plane. Very satisfied.

I thought the service was very nice and pleasant. There were no hiccups and no issues so overall a good experience.

Average seat comfort, a drink and chips were provided, early boarding because we checked a carryon at the gate was nice. Ticket pricing shenanigans, including fees to pick a seat, check a bag, and get food onboard - evidence the industry is reinvigorating last century’s strategies- destroys the experience before one ever arrives at the airport. It’s difficult to recognize any value or sustain loyalty in the end-to-end process making air travel more drudgery than pleasure.

WiFi didn’t work. Flight delayed 3 hours Crew members were illiterate Seat lean back did not work.

The plan was delayed and left DC 90 minutes late. However, it showed a 20 minute delay on the delta app, then a 12 min delay. It turned out to be an hour delay. I found out where the plane was with flightaware. Stop keeping customers in the dark about what is going on.

Could not get my connecting flight boarding pass until four hrs before departure! Ver annoying especially since the staff could not explain why!

Smooth boarding, pleasant and professional lady checking us in. Crew service was excellent, again pleasant, but professional. Nice touch-down on landing! Thank you Delta. 💗

Very smooth, on-time, and pleasantly uneventful flight. The team at the gate and on board were professional and genuinely courteous. The pilot kept us well updated throughout, and both takeoff and landing were steady and enjoyable without any drama. Just a good, solid flight. Thank you! 💗

No lunch on a x-country flight scheduled for 10:50 am departure, arrived 5+ hrs later. That requires a black box label before you pay for the tickets. Worst, when I checked in online, it's specifically said that lunch was served on his flight for economy Plus passengers.

Great experience on Delta. Staff from baggage check to flight attendants were very courteous and professional. My only issue was a personal preference for pretzels instead of the chips and cookies that were offered.

My husband upgraded our seats and I don't know if it was due to the type of planet was or if they didn't upgrade our seats. We were supposed to be in I believe comfort seats and they were just as tight as any other seat- no leg room and we are very tall people but at least it wasn't extremely cold. My husband did put in a complaint about our seating because he paid extra and if we would have known that the space and the tightness would have been the same, we just would have gotten the emergency row emergency row seats that we normally get. We love Delta but both our flights coming home we're not good. Oh I forgot to mention that on our flight to Hawaii our luggage wheels got broke and we had to purse new luggage on vacation then we never had this problem so we didn't know protocol and reported it after we got home only for them to tell is we only had 24hrs to report the damage. Not sure what was going on with Delta this vacation trip.

I was exhausted from a long day. The flight was smooth. The first flight during my 3 week travel that took off on time.

Boarded early; and arrived home 40 mins early. After a long flight, it’s nice to be back home early. These flights have no amenities; no snacks. So need to bring your own

As I wrote earlier, poor planning and/or communication. At least twice, we were told that we would be boarding in less than ten minutes, only to have the flight again delayed at least another hour.

Great flight. Boarded efficiently. Arrived early at CLT. There was no in flight entertainment on this aircraft. Great crew.

It was a red-eye, but the flight felt surprisingly quick. The seats were very comfortable, and that made resting much easier. I also want to thank the gentleman seated next to me, who graciously moved so my mom could sit beside me. We slept almost the entire way. The cabin crew was respectful in not disturbing us, while also being courteous and professional throughout. Thank you, United.

They promise free wi-fi prior to boarding and then once on board you are informed you have to purchase wifi even after being a mileagePlus member.

Terrible. No customer service, no food, no drinks on a 6 hour premier economy booking.

left on time, reasonable boarding process arrived early luggage came out quickly

Compared with other carriers business class for an overnight was not worth the extra expense.

EVen warmer in the plane it think it was 24+ degrees

I was not clear if food was offered or not.

They did not offer coffee on a 7am flight…awful!!

Take-off delayed an hour because of a missing flight officer, so,arrived in Charlotte lates causing many passengers to miss connections. Otherwise a very good flight, safe and comfortable, with an excellent professional crew.

The flight was flawless and we even arrived between 20 and 25 minutes early!

Mostly good. Flight was crowded but Airline personnel were very friendly & accommodating. It would be good to have savory snacks rather than just sweet Biscoff cookies.

The seat was so hard my tailbone was aching The crew was kind of a b**** because I made a joke that I didn't care if they close the door I total c*** when she was trying to f****** act like she was mad at me because I said that The flight was bumpy. Sure you didnt have control over that.

AA re-routed flight from HNL to LAX due to delay. My group of 3 with reserved seats in row 9 was broken up, with one assigned to a middle seat, another in the last row of the plane. Not happy. No explanation to the delay. No apologies. No compensation. Would have been nice to be offered an Admiral Club admission or a voucher for the extra 3 hours of layover in LAX. Could not hear the boarding gate announcements in LAX. Adjacent gate was boarding at the same time. Loud speakers were competing against each other. Barely made my boarding group.

Cramped seats. FAA should make airlines have more legroom, for even short people complain

VERY disappointed at the agent checking in my luggage. I know that the weight limit is 23 kg, a little over 50 pounds (50.71 pounds). Yet the agent kept repeating "50 pounds". So I said, the limit is 23 kg, and she had the audacity to say 'no, it is 22 kg!" Imagine my surprise. Was she ignorant or was she poorly trained? Not sure. The boarding process was pretty good. The speakers were loud enough so I still could hear them despite inconsiderate passengers continuing to speak while the announcements were going on. During the flight, the teenage girl sitting behind me kept pressing her feet to the back of my chair. I turned around several times, yet she did not get the hint. I did not make a fuss since I sense I had a bad streak that night with AA, so I just did the best I can to lean forward and not let that bother me.

It was wonderful upgrading to first. Plane was so cold thou. Crew was great. Wish there was a food option in first for such a long flight. Doesnt matter the time of day. Chintzy.

It was awful ....my first time flying on it and I will NEVER fly it again ....everything about it was terrible .....most especially the flight attendants

The crew acted like they had never done this and kept barking passive aggressive orders at people. + the security line + the delay + sitting on the tarmac for 2 hours + none of the apps or signage updating with correct times

Everyone seemed to be in zone 1 for boarding. Maybe break it up a little. Otherwise, smooth flight.

Finally a Frontier on time and efficient. I've had problems before with your airline, but this time everything went fine.

Frontier is terrible. Paid for exit row, not given exit row, refused to refund fee.

One crew member was rude about our bags. Be nice about it. We don’t fly a lot. And the fact that you have to pay for a carry on is ridiculous

The flight attendant was arguing with a passenger before takeoff. The passenger was frustrated but the flight attendant should have handled it with grace, but instead she was nasty and rude. The seats were comfortable and the flight was uneventful. I wish we didn’t have to pay for drinks or snacks but that’s what you get with a budget airline.

Did not get the extra leg room i paid for.

Direct flight I like, Did not like all the delays

Delayed over 2 hours on the way there, and back, no free drinks, no free water, no Wifi, bathroom dirty!

Everything you need to know for your flight to North Carolina

Cabin class types available on flights to California

Cabin classes available on flights to California. Prices are the lowest found on KAYAK over the last 7 days. Price and availability is not guaranteed.