IND - SFO

$191 Find Cheap Flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco - Compare and Save

1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

Save 25% or more on flights. Compare deals from all over the web.

Never overpay with our price tracking tools.

Filter searches by price, airline and more to find your best flights.

Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$374
Typical prices: $330-$522
Frontier
Sun 12/16Wed 12/19
IND - SFO • 2 stops
Cheapest non-stop
$399
Typical prices: $334-$546
United Airlines
Sun 1/28Wed 1/31
IND - SFO • Non-stop
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with United Airlines. Average duration is 5h 05m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 20 weeks in advance save around 37% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 11% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $319 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 6h 44m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Start a new search
KAYAK searches 100s of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to San Francisco!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco (IND-SFO)

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Indianapolis to San Francisco

Wed, Dec 16 - Sat, Dec 19
Frontier Logo
4:06 pm - 7:39 amIND  Indianapolis-SFO San Francisco
18h 33m2 stops Denver Intl Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Frontier Logo
12:20 am - 8:03 pmSFO  San Francisco-IND Indianapolis
16h 43m2 stops Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Denver Intl
$374Frontier
Thu, Nov 26 - Mon, Nov 30
Frontier Logo
4:37 pm - 11:01 amIND  Indianapolis-SFO San Francisco
21h 24m2 stops Denver Intl Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Frontier Logo
9:23 pm - 6:32 pmSFO  San Francisco-IND Indianapolis
18h 09m2 stops Denver Intl Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
$374Frontier
Mon, Nov 16 - Wed, Nov 18
Southwest Logo
4:50 pm - 11:55 pmIND  Indianapolis-SFO San Francisco
10h 05m1 stop Chicago Midway
Southwest Logo
10:25 am - 10:45 pmSFO  San Francisco-IND Indianapolis
9h 20m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
$374Southwest
Fri, Dec 18 - Thu, Dec 24
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:30 pm - 8:28 pmIND  Indianapolis-SFO San Francisco
6h 58m1 stop Denver Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:23 pm - 4:30 pmSFO  San Francisco-IND Indianapolis
16h 07m2 stops Denver Intl Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$374Multiple Airlines
Sat, Feb 27 - Fri, Mar 5
Southwest Logo
5:55 pm - 10:25 pmIND  Indianapolis-SFO San Francisco
7h 30m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
Southwest Logo
9:35 am - 6:50 pmSFO  San Francisco-IND Indianapolis
6h 15m1 stop Denver Intl
$375Southwest
Sat, Dec 5 - Mon, Dec 14
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:12 pm - 2:09 pmIND  Indianapolis-SFO San Francisco
22h 57m2 stops Seattle/Tacoma Intl Los Angeles
Alaska Airlines Logo
9:45 pm - 5:04 pmSFO  San Francisco-IND Indianapolis
16h 19m2 stops Los Angeles Seattle/Tacoma Intl
$375Alaska Airlines
Thu, Nov 19 - Mon, Nov 30
American Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 12:25 pmIND  Indianapolis-SFO San Francisco
9h 25m1 stop Charlotte Douglas
American Airlines Logo
11:25 pm - 10:13 amSFO  San Francisco-IND Indianapolis
7h 48m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
$393American Airlines
Thu, Apr 22 - Tue, Apr 27
American Airlines Logo
4:05 pm - 8:18 pmIND  Indianapolis-SFO San Francisco
7h 13m1 stop Los Angeles
American Airlines Logo
12:21 pm - 10:45 pmSFO  San Francisco-IND Indianapolis
7h 24m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
$393American Airlines
Thu, Jan 28 - Sun, Jan 31
United Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 9:07 amIND  Indianapolis-SFO San Francisco
5h 07mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
10:39 am - 5:59 pmSFO  San Francisco-IND Indianapolis
4h 20mnonstop
$399United Airlines
Fri, Nov 13 - Sun, Nov 15
United Airlines Logo
7:14 am - 9:15 amIND  Indianapolis-SFO San Francisco
5h 01mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
10:53 pm - 6:12 amSFO  San Francisco-IND Indianapolis
4h 19mnonstop
$399United Airlines
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for Indianapolis to San Francisco flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

How much is a round-trip flight from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

Round-trip flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco typically range from $330 to $522. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $374, on Frontier.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Wednesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Indianapolis to San Francisco. It’s 6% cheaper than the average day, while Monday is the most expensive, with prices 23% higher.

What’s the cheapest month to fly from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

•April is the cheapest month to fly from Indianapolis to San Francisco at $360 round-trip.
•March ($471) and December ($440) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 30% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco the cheapest?

Flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco are cheapest 20 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 37% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Indianapolis to San Francisco

 
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor

Expert on SFO

Blane Bachelor is a journalist and editor specializing in travel and aviation who writes regularly for top global outlets. Born and raised in Florida, Blane has worked and lived in four countries, including the Netherlands, where she’s currently based with her family. Her favorite way to get to know a new destination is by running or riding a bike around town – or hearing a spooky ghost story about local history. She will always choose the window seat.

Jennifer Simonson

Jennifer Simonson

Expert on IND

Jennifer Simonson is driven by her lifelong commitment to exploring the globe. Her insatiable curiosity had led her to immerse herself into diverse locations like Oklahoma City and Pismo. Her hotel recommendations are the result of the myriad hotels she's stayed at across her travels. Along her journey, she cherishes engaging conversations with locals, indulging in the finest ice cream, trying her hand at surfing, and embarking on nature-filled hikes.

Key details for Indianapolis to San Francisco flights

Low season

January

Cheapest flight

$191
Beat the crowds with an average 28% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 23% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from Indianapolis to San Francisco

When to book flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Indianapolis to San Francisco based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price

Your Indianapolis to San Francisco flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking tips.

  • What are the earliest and latest flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

    These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Indianapolis to San Francisco:

    • Earliest: departs at 6:00 am and lands at 11:05 am
    • Latest: departs at 7:30 pm and lands at 12:35 am.

    The flight takes about 5h 05m.

  • What cabin classes can I book on flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

    Three cabin classes are available on flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco:

    • Economy Class
    • Premium Economy Class
    • First Class

  • How long is a flight from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

    A nonstop flight from Indianapolis to San Francisco takes 5h 05m, covering 1,937 miles.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

    No, a passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need a real ID-compliant driver's license, a state ID or another TSA-accepted form of identification.

  • How much should I expect to pay for a Indianapolis to San Francisco flight?

    Round-trip flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco range from $330 to $522, with an average of $403 over the past 12 months. Anything below $330 counts as a good deal.

  • How expensive are last-minute Indianapolis to San Francisco flights?

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 35% above the $403 route average. Book 20 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

  • How much can I save by taking a layover when flying from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

    On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $319 round-trip via Seattle/Tacoma Intl (SEA), compared to $423 for nonstop.

  • What is the standard checked-bag allowance on flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

    There is no standard. Checked-bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $40–$80 for the first checked bag in economy. Premium fares and elite-status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

  • Which aircraft model is used most often on flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

    The Boeing 737-800 family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by United Airlines. Other aircraft seen on the route include Boeing 737 MAX 8 variants.

  • How are flight departures from Indianapolis to San Francisco spread across the day?

    Morning is the busiest departure period on Indianapolis to San Francisco flights, with 100% of flights leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 0%, evening flights for 0%, and night flights for 0%.

  • Have flight prices from Indianapolis to San Francisco changed much recently?

    Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, round-trip prices on this route showed a wide range, from about $374 to $1,861. That means the highest observed fare was about 5x higher than the lowest one.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi on Indianapolis to San Francisco flights?

    JetBlue is the only airline on the Indianapolis to San Francisco route offering in-flight Wi-Fi. Pricing depends on fare class.

  • How are flight prices from Indianapolis to San Francisco looking right now?

    One-way fares from Indianapolis to San Francisco are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $209, which is 24% below the typical average for this route.

  • What car rental options are available at San Francisco Airport (SFO)?

    San Francisco Airport (SFO) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $15 for economy cars. Top options include:

    • Europcar
    • Thrifty
    • Dollar
    • Hertz
    • Fox

  • Which airports can I use when flying from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

    Flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco usually depart from Indianapolis (IND) and arrive at San Francisco (SFO).

  • Which airports do connecting flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco pass through?

    One-stop flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco most commonly connect through:

    • Denver Intl (DEN) - 46% of one-stop connections
    • Los Angeles (LAX) - 10% of one-stop connections
    • Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) - 8% of one-stop connections
    • Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) - 7% of one-stop connections

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 24% on flights from Indianapolis to San Francisco. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at $381 round-trip on average, while Monday is the most expensive at $497, a difference of $116.

    KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

  • What airlines fly from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

    Only United Airlines operates flights between Indianapolis and San Francisco.

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different layover airport from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

    Flying via Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 6h 44m, compared with 6h 46m via Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) and 7h 03m via Salt Lake City (SLC).

  • What is the time difference between Indianapolis and San Francisco?

    San Francisco is 3 hours behind Indianapolis (Pacific Time vs Eastern Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

  • What popular places can I visit in San Francisco?

    Some of the most popular sights in San Francisco are Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square and Moscone Center. These are among the most viewed places in San Francisco on KAYAK.

  • Which airlines offer extra legroom and free seat selection on Indianapolis to San Francisco flights?

    Among airlines operating Indianapolis to San Francisco flights:

    • United Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection

    Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

  • Which airlines include bags at no extra cost on Indianapolis to San Francisco flights?

    Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

    • United Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
    • JetBlue: a cabin bag in Economy Class class

    Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.

  • Which is the quickest way from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to the city center of San Francisco?

    The BART system which stands for Bay Area Rapid Transit is the best way to get from SFO to the city. It's quick, easy, and low-cost. BART trains are a great way to avoid traffic and connect to different parts of the Bay Area. With trains departing from the SFO International Terminal, you can be in the heart of San Francisco in approximately 30 minutes.

  • Where is the best place to smoke at the airports?

    Smoking is not allowed in any public space at either of the airports, including inside the airport. This also includes the use of e-cigarettes and perfumed vapes. However, there are designated areas outside the terminals where smoking is allowed. If you have a connecting flight, you must smoke outside the terminal and go through security before boarding your next flight.

  • Are there any car parking facilities at Indianapolis International Airport (IND)?

    The Indianapolis Airport offers both long-term and short-term parking options for travelers. The Terminal Garage on level 3 is the best option for short-term parking, with rates around $4 per hour. For long-term parking, there are several options available. The long-term parking options available at the airport include valet parking, a terminal garage, the Park & Walk, and the economy lot. There are also privately owned parking lots available.

  • Are there car rental centers at San Francisco Airport (SFO)?

    Yes. In order to reach the Rental Car Center from the airport terminals, you must take the AirTrain Blue Line. The Rental Car Center at San Francisco International Airport is convenient for picking up and dropping off rental cars. KAYAK is a booking agency that can help you find the best car rental options.

Your guide to booking Indianapolis to San Francisco flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Wednesday departure and avoid flying on Monday. On this route, Wednesday flights average $381, about $116 less than Monday fares (23% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 20 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 37% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Indianapolis to San Francisco trip for April. Fares historically average $360 round-trip in that month - typically $111 less than the most expensive month, which is March (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through Seattle/Tacoma Intl Airport (SEA) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest layover option averages $319 round-trip on this route - about $104 less than direct flights (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, check out these hotels close to San Francisco Airport.

    • Grand Hyatt At Sfo
  • Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is a major commercial hub for various airlines, including Frontier Airlines and United Airlines. Because of this, you will find that it is not uncommon for these airlines to operate many departing flights from this transportation center.
  • If you need to spend a night at the Indianapolis Airport, you'll be pleased to know that plenty of comfortable couches are located throughout the airport. The terminal lounge and baggage claim are good places to find a seat. Remember that the airport can get cold and noisy, so bring earplugs, noise-canceling headphones and warm clothes or travel blankets. Unfortunately, there is no on-site hotel, but some hotels are within a quick shuttle ride away.
  • For those traveling with families, after a long flight, you can relax and let your kids have fun at The SFO Kids’ Spot. This interactive children’s area features weather-related exhibits from the Exploratorium of San Francisco and a crawling apparatus. It is located on Terminal 3, Boarding Area F near Gate 87A, post-security.
  • The Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra are great options for those with a long layover at Indianapolis International Airport (IND). The Museum of Art has a variety of African, Asian, and European pieces on display, making it a unique option among nearby museums. The Symphony Orchestra is known for putting on excellent performances and strives to educate and entertain children of all ages about the world of symphony music.
  • The Berman Reflection Room is a great place to go if you want a moment of peace before heading into downtown San Francisco. It's located in the International Terminal, Main Hall, and it's open every day from 7 am to 11 pm.

Prefer to fly direct from Indianapolis to San Francisco?

 
Find which airlines fly direct from Indianapolis Airport to San Francisco Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Indianapolis to San Francisco

Monday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Tuesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Wednesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Thursday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Friday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Sunday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

San Francisco to Indianapolis

Monday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Tuesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Wednesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Thursday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Friday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Sunday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more direct flights

More options for your flight from Indianapolis to San Francisco

Complete your trip to San Francisco with a hotel stay or car rental