SFO - TYS

$116 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Knoxville

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from San Francisco to Knoxville departing on 5/18. 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.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Knoxville

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Francisco to Knoxville, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Francisco to Knoxville, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$282
Typical prices: $453-$308
Frontier
Tue 8/11Wed 8/19
SFO - TYS • 2 stops
Cheapest one-way
$116
Typical prices: $174-$357
Frontier
Mon 5/18
SFO - TYS • 1 stop
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $282 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.9 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
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Airline reviews
Airline reviews
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Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between San Francisco and Knoxville. You'll need at least 1 connection.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $390 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 7h 00m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 3 weeks in advance save around 25% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 18% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
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Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Knoxville (SFO-TYS)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Knoxville that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from San Francisco to Knoxville

Tue, Aug 11 - Wed, Aug 19
Frontier Logo
5:11 pm - 7:36 pm
SFO
-
TYS
23h 25m
2 stops
Frontier Logo
8:32 pm - 8:50 pm
TYS
-
SFO
27h 18m
1 stop
$282Frontier
Tue, Jun 9 - Wed, Jun 24
Frontier Logo
11:13 am - 7:37 pm
SFO
-
TYS
29h 24m
2 stops
Frontier Logo
8:32 pm - 11:43 am
TYS
-
SFO
18h 11m
1 stop
$289Frontier
Tue, Aug 11 - Mon, Aug 17
Multiple Airlines Logo
5:11 pm - 7:36 pm
SFO
-
TYS
23h 25m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:47 pm - 10:27 am
TYS
-
SFO
22h 40m
1 stop
$290Multiple Airlines
Sun, May 24 - Fri, May 29
Multiple Airlines Logo
5:25 pm - 11:37 pm
SFO
-
TYS
27h 12m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:19 pm - 8:01 am
TYS
-
SFO
14h 42m
1 stop
$301Multiple Airlines
Tue, Aug 11 - Wed, Aug 19
Frontier Logo
12:33 pm - 7:36 pm
SFO
-
TYS
28h 03m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
8:32 pm - 8:50 pm
TYS
-
SFO
27h 18m
1 stop
$303Frontier
Tue, Aug 11 - Mon, Aug 17
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:33 pm - 7:36 pm
SFO
-
TYS
28h 03m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:47 pm - 10:27 am
TYS
-
SFO
22h 40m
1 stop
$311Multiple Airlines
Wed, Jun 10 - Wed, Jun 24
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:45 pm - 10:16 pm
SFO
-
TYS
22h 31m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:32 pm - 11:43 am
TYS
-
SFO
18h 11m
1 stop
$314Multiple Airlines
Thu, Jun 11 - Wed, Jun 24
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 4:40 pm
SFO
-
TYS
31h 40m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:32 pm - 11:43 am
TYS
-
SFO
18h 11m
1 stop
$317Multiple Airlines
Fri, Jun 12 - Wed, Jun 24
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:45 pm - 10:53 pm
SFO
-
TYS
23h 08m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:32 pm - 11:43 am
TYS
-
SFO
18h 11m
1 stop
$328Multiple Airlines
Wed, Jun 10 - Wed, Jun 24
Frontier Logo
6:00 am - 7:37 pm
SFO
-
TYS
10h 37m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
8:32 pm - 8:58 pm
TYS
-
SFO
27h 26m
1 stop
$331Frontier
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for San Francisco to Knoxville flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from San Francisco to Knoxville to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

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

This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from San Francisco to Knoxville departing in August.

What is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to Knoxville?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Knoxville, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from San Francisco to Knoxville is August, where tickets cost $388 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are November and April, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $573 and $557 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from San Francisco to Knoxville?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Knoxville, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from San Francisco to Knoxville, you should book around 3 weeks before departure, which saves you about 25% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 22 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$116
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 9% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 9% increase in price.
Flight from San Francisco to Knoxville

When to book flights from San Francisco to Knoxville

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from San Francisco to Knoxville based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking flights from San Francisco to Knoxville

  • What are the transportation options to get from the McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) to downtown Knoxville?

    Since there are no public transportation options that offer service from the airport to the downtown area, the best choice for most travelers is to take one of the readily available taxis outside of the terminal building that will make the trip in about 18min.

  • Where should I be looking for my rental car company when I arrive at the airport in Knoxville?

    There are roughly 8 different rental car companies that operate at this airport, and every one of them has a customer service counter on the lower level of the airport terminal building adjacent to the baggage claim area. All vehicles for rent sit just outside of the exit doors from the baggage claim area in the adjacent parking lots.

  • Where should I plan on meeting my rideshare ride after my flight to Knoxville?

    All rideshare companies do their pick-ups on the lower level of the terminal building just outside of the baggage claim area. When you exit the baggage claim area of the terminal building, you will see signage for pick-up locations just to the right.

  • Are there any hotels that have a convenient location close to the terminal buildings at the airport in Knoxville?

    One of the most convenient choices is Hilton Knoxville Airport, which has a location right on the airport property. When you walk out of the terminal building, you will see this hotel just a few steps from the terminal building to your right just before the Economy Parking Lot B.

  • What is the cheapest flight from San Francisco to Knoxville?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Francisco to Knoxville was $116 for a one-way ticket and $282 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between San Francisco and Knoxville?

    No

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from San Francisco to Knoxville?

    San Francisco airport is called San Francisco and the only airport in Knoxville is Knoxville McGhee Tyson.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from San Francisco to Knoxville?

    The Embraer 175 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the San Francisco to Knoxville flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from San Francisco to Knoxville?

    Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and oneworld are the airline alliances operating flights between San Francisco and Knoxville, with Star Alliance being the most commonly used for this route.

  • What is the most popular layover when flying to Knoxville from San Francisco?

    Dallas is the most popular layover city among KAYAK users traveling from San Francisco to Knoxville.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from San Francisco to Knoxville, Delta or United Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from San Francisco to Knoxville are Delta and United Airlines. With an average price for the route of $466 and an overall rating of 7.9, Delta is the most popular choice. United Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $529 and an overall rating of 7.4.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from San Francisco to Knoxville?

    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 San Francisco to Knoxville.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from San Francisco to Knoxville?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Knoxville from San Francisco 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 San Francisco to Knoxville?

    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 to Knoxville with an airline and back to San Francisco with another airline. Booking your flights between San Francisco and TYS can sometimes prove cheaper using this method.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from San Francisco to Knoxville?

    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 to Knoxville from San Francisco up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from San Francisco to Knoxville

  • A fantastic way to get to the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) from the downtown area without having to drive your own car is to take the BART Yellow Line light rail train that can make the trip from the downtown area to the airport in 29 minutes.
  • If you plan on getting dropped off at the San Francisco International Airport before your flight, a good choice for a drop-off point is the Kiss and Fly location adjacent to the rental car center at the airport. This allows passengers to take their time getting dropped off, and then they can ride aboard the AirTrain Blue Line to the terminal building from the rental car center.
  • Parents who plan on taking their kids through the San Francisco International Airport before a flight to Knoxville should know that the airport offers an interactive play area in terminal two that lets kids have some fun and expend some energy before a long flight.
  • Travelers making their way to Knoxville with a pet or a service animal should know that the San Francisco International Airport offers seven different pet relief areas both outside and inside the terminal buildings at the airport. All of the relief areas have things like drinking bowls and waste gloves with disposal areas.
  • If you plan on flying to Knoxville from the San Francisco International Airport and want a comfortable place to wait for your flight, the San Francisco International Airport offers airline lounges from United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta Airlines, and American Airlines that all offer plenty of comfortable seating options as well as a wide selection of food and beverage choices.

Reviews of the top 4 airlines serving from San Francisco to Knoxville

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San Francisco to Knoxville. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from San Francisco to Knoxville? 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
DeltaOverall score based on 8459 reviews
7.2Food
7.8Entertainment
7.9Comfort
8.5Crew
8.1Boarding
Airline reviews

While they turned off most cabin lights to allow people to sleep, I was bothered by how bright the side lights still were. It was still quite bright for me in a window seat, when I wish I could have slept!

10.0 ExcellentTeresa, Apr 2026
SMF - LAX
Read more Delta reviews

While they turned off most cabin lights to allow people to sleep, I was bothered by how bright the side lights still were. It was still quite bright for me in a window seat, when I wish I could have slept!

Generally on time departures and arrivals, clean planes, sky miles membership provides great benefits (complimentary upgrades, etc).

N Everything was perfect from boarding to assistance to baggage in Tampa

Loved the crew! Sucks that we went from 1 hour and 8 minute layover to a 3 hour layover. But weather sucks like that.

Fast, lovely scenery, great info on the Delta flight screen about landmarks we were flying over. Great landing!

Long flight but comfortable and not freezing as I have experienced on Hawaiian flights to the islands. They gave us blankets just in case. Nice touch.

I took seat 15A in anticipation of window seat, there is no window.

Flight late, the waited for a long time for “personal” to arrive at gate to dock the plane in Rochester. So annoying. This flight was expected, why aren’t personel available for the jet bridge?

My recent experience was excellent on Delta! I flew with Delta Comfort and I was really comfortable in my seat. I enjoyed the in-flight service. The flight attendants were so friendly and hospitable. I love the snack on the flight as well. This was my first time flying on Delta and I will definitely consider flying with them again.

My flight was canceled on Sunday. Rebooking took three hours. Had to pay for accommodations another night. New flight was delayed for 5 hours, all that was sent was a 12 dollar food voucher, which doesn’t tell you how to use it. Then when we landed we had to sit on the plane for an hour before we could get off.

Outstanding service, efficient & friendly crew, flight was safe, comfortable & on time

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.

Boarding was again a "free for all". We were boarding group 4, and almost the entire plane was able to board before us. It's a shame that someone who follows the rules, gets the short end of the stick. Not fair.

It was perfect! I've never flown with United before, but I definitely will in the future

They delayed the flight from 9:00 to 11:55 At 11:45 they canceled the flight. I paid a premium price for the tickets with poor service

Seats are uncomfortable. This has been a trend in the industry for decades. Trying to fit more seats on each plane to increase profits at the expense of the passenger.

The flight was delayed so we were dead tired, and after that the turbulence was horrible. I was very scared.

Staff were good. My seat was in need of repair, but for a short flight was not problematic. Usual basic snack and drink setup that you'll find on any US carrier. Over, a decent, basic flight.

Flight delayed for more than 16 hrs and no effort was spent to provide an alternate

it was a very short flight so my expectations were low.

Left early arrived early..right amount of talking from pilots..of course had to love the biscuit and water!

Boarding gate at LAX was too crowded—two gates next to one another

Flying in the United States with the major airlines has become so underwhelming. A 2-3hr flight in most other parts of the world with the major carriers of the area comes with newer, CLEANER aircraft and significantly better in flight service in terms of both staff attitude and a actual meal service.

On time departure and early arrival. Flight attendant very nice.

The SFO Lounge crew were amazing. The bartender Faris was great. Thanks!

Was not able to do a online check-in because the American Airlines system doesn't store our visa or other passport information, allowing us to have a trouble-free check-in. We were forced to have to check-in at the counter which Changes are upgrade status given that we were not able to check in much earlier.

Good flight, seated and had a water within 5 minutes. Crew was hospitable.

Delays experienced in boarding/take off due to incoming plane delayed. However, the boarding time/depart time in the app was significantly delayed in providing these updates. Usually not updated until an hour after we should have already boarded. Poorly managed.

We left at 1030 am pacific from LA and supposed to land at 7 pm Eastern in NY. They made a detour, stopped in Philadelphia and didn’t land till 1130 PM Eastern!!! Worst flight experience with no pilot communication with no explanation as to what was going on. Everyone was very frustrated to say the least.

Flight boarded from Gate 159B, the farthest gate in the LAX Bradley Terminal. While the flight operated on time, the first class cabin attendant made no recognition of my being an Advantage Executive Platinum member.

Frontier scheduled a 40 minute connection in DEN. What they failed to mention was that they “close the doors” 20 mins prior to departure, which means you only have 20 mins. Not enough time. Possibly against DOT regulations. Filing complaint.

Flight was scheduled at 9:40pm. Got delayed to 10 am, the next day. crazy

The bag check, flight check-in, and onboard experience convinced my wife and me that we will actively go out of our way to avoid flying Frontier Airlines in the future. At bag check, we were informed that check-in could only be completed via the Frontier mobile app. Unfortunately, the app was extremely frustrating—sending us through repetitive, confusing loops that repeatedly forced us to decline add-on services with nearly every click. While most airline apps upsell, this one felt intentionally exhausting. As the process dragged on, we became genuinely concerned that my phone battery would die before check-in could be completed. We approached the bag check staff—who were standing together talking—and explained both our frustration and our predicament. They laughed. Later, my wife described the interaction as “gaslighting,” which felt accurate. We were then informed it would cost $25 per person simply to have our boarding passes printed. From that point forward, the tone of the experience was consistently hostile. The bag check employees were condescending and combative, behaving more like bullies than customer service staff. Unfortunately, that same attitude continued onboard. One flight attendant argued with me when I attempted to stow my backpack in the overhead bin. I explained that we had each paid $75 to check our bags specifically so we would not need to use carry-on space and could have adequate legroom. She demanded to see my ticket, pointed out that it said “no carry-on”—which I acknowledged—and I reiterated that this was precisely why we paid to check our bags. Her response was, “I don’t make the rules.” She then walked away, but not before asking if I “truly wanted to fly back to Chicago today?”—an unnecessary and unmistakable threat. It is also worth noting that despite booking our tickets together in the same transaction, we were not seated together. Upon our return to Chicago—where we could once again sit together—we compared onboard experiences. We both remarked on how unhappy the flight attendants appeared and how each of us was separately asked whether we would like to purchase a beverage. We declined. At no point was water mentioned as an option, leaving us with the clear impression that even water came at a cost—or that complimentary water, if available at all, was deliberately left unmentioned. Overall, the experience was shocking and deeply disappointing, but it was also a profound learning experience—one we will not forget and will not repeat. -Steve

Plane was hot and miserable and the crew was rude!

12 hour delay required getting on and off plane 3 times - would have at least liked to have been offered a snack or drink

They didn’t offer a water, even after I asked

They switched our terminal 3 times and we were delayed for four plus hours!!!

Remind customers of the need to have passport or new ID for boarding.

The flight never took off and we spent 7 hours at the airport

It was ok. It was expensive to check 2 bags ($75.00 per bag), and then it took a long time to wait for shuttle to take us from one terminal to the terminal where the plane was taking off at LAX. And all of this for a flight where we had to pay for any food or drink that was not water.

Everything you need to know for your flight from San Francisco to Knoxville

Information on your arrival and departure airports