$186 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Raleigh - Compare and Save

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

• Earliest: departs at 7:15 am and lands at 12:23 pm
• Latest: departs at 11:59 pm and lands at 5:07 am.

The flight takes about 5h 08m.

Two cabin classes are available on flights from San Francisco to Raleigh:

• Economy Class
• First Class

A nonstop flight from San Francisco to Raleigh takes 5h 08m, covering 2,393 miles.

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.

Round-trip flights from San Francisco to Raleigh range from $368 to $594, with an average of $470 over the past 12 months. Anything below $368 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 21% above the $470 route average. Book 25 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $268 round-trip via Seattle/Tacoma Intl (SEA), compared to $494 for nonstop.

United Airlines is the only airline operating San Francisco to Raleigh flights. 92% of its flights are on time.

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.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by United Airlines. Other aircraft seen on the route include Boeing 737 MAX 9 variants.

Morning is the busiest departure period on San Francisco to Raleigh flights, with 34% of flights leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 33%, night flights for 33%, and evening flights for 0%.

Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, round-trip prices on this route showed a wide range, from about $333 to $2,794. That means the highest observed fare was about 8x higher than the lowest one.

One-way fares from San Francisco to Raleigh are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $188, which is 37% below the typical average for this route.

Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $25 for economy cars. Top options include:

• Dollar
• Thrifty
• Hertz
• Alamo
• Budget

Flights from San Francisco to Raleigh usually depart from San Francisco (SFO) and arrive at Raleigh-Durham (RDU).

Morning flights have the fewest delays on this route, while afternoon departures tend to have the most.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the San Francisco to Raleigh route, 8% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 2h 24m.

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

• Charlotte Douglas (CLT) - 38% of one-stop connections
• Denver Intl (DEN) - 21% of one-stop connections
• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) - 11% of one-stop connections
• San Diego (SAN) - 5% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 20% on flights from San Francisco to Raleigh. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at $428 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $529, a difference of $101.

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

Only United Airlines operates flights between San Francisco and Raleigh.

Flying via Nashville Intl (BNA) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 7h 36m, compared with 7h 40m via Charlotte Douglas (CLT) and 7h 49m via Minneapolis St Paul (MSP).

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

Some of the most popular sights in Raleigh are Lenovo Center, Raleigh Convention Center and NC State Fairgrounds. These are among the most viewed places in Raleigh on KAYAK.

Among airlines operating San Francisco to Raleigh flights:

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

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

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

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

If you want to withdraw cash at SFO, there are various ATMs you can use. In Boarding Area A, there are ATMs near gate A10 and on its Departure level. On the other hand, in Boarding Area G, ATMs are found near gate G91 and the area’s food court.

At RDU, you can enjoy elite spa services by XpresSpa near gate C3 in Terminal 2 or Na’Sah’s Nail & Spa near gate A7 in Terminal 1. At either of these spas, you can rest assured of getting rejuvenating services.

If you want to charge your phone at RDU before leaving the airport, you should head to the seats in the gates and baggage claim area of Terminal 1 or at seating clusters with tables in Terminal 2. This is because these areas feature power outlets.

At RDU, you can get quality food, given that the airport offers several dining options. In Terminal 1, you can dine in restaurants such as ACC American Café, Char-Grill, La Tapenade, and Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina. In Terminal 2, you can dine at 42nd St. Oyster Bar, Bruegger’s Bagels, BurgerFi, and La Farm Bakery Café.