SFO - TPA

$198 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Tampa - Compare and Save

1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

Save 21% 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
$379
Typical prices: $379-$596
Alaska Airlines
Mon 1/22Wed 1/24
SFO - TPA • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$399
Typical prices: $389-$623
United Airlines
Thu 11/1Thu 11/8
SFO - TPA • Non-stop
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with United Airlines. Average duration is 5h 09m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
Avoid delays
Most punctual • 89% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 25 weeks in advance save around 40% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 17% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $280 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 7h 19m (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 Tampa!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Tampa (SFO-TPA)

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

Recent round-trip flight deals from San Francisco to Tampa

Fri, Jan 22 - Sun, Jan 24
Alaska Airlines Logo
8:28 am - 6:16 pmSFO  San Francisco-TPA Tampa
6h 48m1 stop San Diego
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:19 pm - 8:52 amTPA  Tampa-SFO San Francisco
16h 33m1 stop San Diego
$379Alaska Airlines
Fri, Jan 22 - Mon, Jan 25
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:43 am - 6:16 pmSFO  San Francisco-TPA Tampa
8h 33m1 stop San Diego
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:19 pm - 8:52 amTPA  Tampa-SFO San Francisco
16h 33m1 stop San Diego
$379Alaska Airlines
Sat, Dec 19 - Tue, Jan 5
Frontier Logo
11:44 pm - 1:05 pmSFO  San Francisco-TPA Tampa
10h 21m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
Frontier Logo
2:15 pm - 8:49 amTPA  Tampa-SFO San Francisco
21h 34m2 stops Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$379Frontier
Fri, Nov 6 - Wed, Nov 11
Southwest Logo
11:35 pm - 12:50 pmSFO  San Francisco-TPA Tampa
10h 15m2 stops Chicago Midway Birmingham
Southwest Logo
7:10 am - 2:55 pmTPA  Tampa-SFO San Francisco
10h 45m2 stops Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Los Angeles
$380Southwest
Wed, Oct 21 - Tue, Oct 27
Frontier Logo
6:00 am - 4:52 pmSFO  San Francisco-TPA Tampa
7h 52m1 stop Denver Intl
Frontier Logo
1:05 pm - 12:20 amTPA  Tampa-SFO San Francisco
14h 15m2 stops Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Denver Intl
$380Frontier
Wed, Oct 21 - Wed, Oct 28
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 4:52 pmSFO  San Francisco-TPA Tampa
7h 52m1 stop Denver Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:00 am - 6:19 pmTPA  Tampa-SFO San Francisco
13h 19m2 stops Huntsville Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$380Multiple Airlines
Tue, Oct 20 - Wed, Oct 28
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:00 pm - 12:27 amSFO  San Francisco-TPA Tampa
9h 27m1 stop Denver Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:00 am - 6:19 pmTPA  Tampa-SFO San Francisco
13h 19m2 stops Huntsville Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$380Multiple Airlines
Mon, Oct 26 - Sun, Nov 1
Southwest Logo
7:25 pm - 11:30 amSFO  San Francisco-TPA Tampa
13h 05m2 stops Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl Denver Intl
Southwest Logo
5:25 am - 12:25 pmTPA  Tampa-SFO San Francisco
10h 00m2 stops Houston Hobby Lambert-St Louis
$385Southwest
Mon, Dec 21 - Thu, Jan 7
Delta Logo
6:58 pm - 6:02 amSFO  San Francisco-TPA Tampa
8h 04m1 stop Los Angeles
Delta Logo
7:35 am - 5:49 pmTPA  Tampa-SFO San Francisco
13h 14m1 stop Los Angeles
$388Delta
Mon, Dec 14 - Fri, Dec 18
Delta Logo
4:35 pm - 6:10 amSFO  San Francisco-TPA Tampa
10h 35m1 stop Los Angeles
Delta Logo
6:32 pm - 12:10 amTPA  Tampa-SFO San Francisco
8h 38m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
$388Delta
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for San Francisco to Tampa 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 San Francisco to Tampa?

Round-trip flights from San Francisco to Tampa typically range from $379 to $596. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $379, on Alaska Airlines.

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

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Wednesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from San Francisco to Tampa. It’s 13% cheaper than the average day, while Sunday is the most expensive, with prices 8% higher.

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

•January is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to Tampa at $391 round-trip.
•December ($531) and October ($522) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 35% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are flights from San Francisco to Tampa the cheapest?

Flights from San Francisco to Tampa are cheapest 25 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 40% 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 San Francisco to Tampa

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

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on United Airlines and TPA

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design writer based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her words have appeared in Space.com, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful, among other publications. An expert in aviation and expedition cruising, Stefanie is frequently up in the air or on the sea, likely en route to Antarctica or the Arctic.

Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on Alaska Airlines

Harriet is an award-winning journalist who is happiest in an airport or an unusual museum. Her stories about airports, air travel, and the business of travel have appeared on NBC News, CNBC, USA TODAY, The Points Guy and other outlets. She is the creator of the StuckatTheAirport.com blog and the author of nine books. When not out on the road or exploring the latest airport amenities, she’s home in Seattle getting ready for the next adventure.

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.

Key details for San Francisco to Tampa flights

Low season

September

Cheapest flight

$198
Beat the crowds with an average 57% drop in travelers.
One-way flight from San Francisco to Tampa

When to book flights from San Francisco to Tampa

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

Your San Francisco to Tampa 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 San Francisco to Tampa?

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

    • Earliest: departs at 7:00 am and lands at 12:09 pm
    • Latest: departs at 11:59 pm and lands at 5:08 am.

    The flight takes about 5h 09m.

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

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

    • Economy Class
    • Business Class
    • First Class

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

    A nonstop flight from San Francisco to Tampa takes 5h 09m, covering 2,387 miles.

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

    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 San Francisco to Tampa flight?

    Round-trip flights from San Francisco to Tampa range from $379 to $596, with an average of $469 over the past 12 months. Anything below $379 counts as a good deal.

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

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 26% above the $469 route average. Book 25 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

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

    On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $280 round-trip via Boston Logan Intl (BOS), compared to $488 for nonstop.

  • How does on-time performance compare across airlines flying from San Francisco to Tampa?

    United Airlines is the only airline operating San Francisco to Tampa flights. 89% of its flights are on time.

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

    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 San Francisco to Tampa?

    The Boeing 737 MAX 9 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 San Francisco to Tampa spread across the day?

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

  • Have flight prices from San Francisco to Tampa 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 $379 to $2,209. That means the highest observed fare was about 6x higher than the lowest one.

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

    One-way fares from San Francisco to Tampa are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $205, which is 28% below the typical average for this route.

  • What car rental options are available at Tampa Airport (TPA)?

    Tampa Airport (TPA) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $1 for economy cars. Top options include:

    • Dollar
    • Priceless
    • Hertz
    • Thrifty
    • Alamo

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

    Flights from San Francisco to Tampa usually depart from San Francisco (SFO) and arrive at Tampa (TPA).

  • What time of day has the fewest delays on flights from San Francisco to Tampa?

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

  • At what point is a flight considered delayed from San Francisco to Tampa?

    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 Tampa route, 11% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 2h 21m.

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

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

    • Denver Intl (DEN) - 22% of one-stop connections
    • San Diego (SAN) - 20% of one-stop connections
    • Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) - 13% of one-stop connections
    • Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) - 11% of one-stop connections

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

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 19% on flights from San Francisco to Tampa. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at $411 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $507, a difference of $96.

    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 San Francisco to Tampa?

    Only United Airlines operates flights between San Francisco and Tampa.

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

    Flying via Austin Bergstrom (AUS) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 7h 19m, compared with 7h 36m via Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) and 7h 36m via Houston George Bush Intcntl (IAH).

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

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

  • What popular places can I visit in Tampa?

    Some of the most popular sights in Tampa are Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Convention Center and Tampa Riverwalk. These are among the most viewed places in Tampa on KAYAK.

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

    Among airlines operating San Francisco to Tampa 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 San Francisco to Tampa 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.

  • What can I do while waiting on my plane to leave the San Francisco Airport (SFO)?

    The San Francisco Airport has many things for passengers to enjoy. There is a museum with art, culture, historical, and scientific exhibits. It is located in the MLK terminal. In the international terminal, there is also an aviation museum and library where you can learn about aircraft and more.

  • Where can I eat at these two airports?

    At the San Francisco Airport (SFO), there is a tapas restaurant, a Mexican bar, and a grill. While you're at the Tampa Airport (TPA), you can grab a quick bite from Chick-fil-A or Wendy's, or you can enjoy a sit-down meal at the Hard Rock Cafe or P.F. Chang's.

  • Is it easy to get around the Tampa Airport (TPA)?

    Although the Tampa Airport is quite large, its automated people mover system (known as SkyConnect) makes it easy to get from one concourse to another. The tram also stops at other parts of the airport such as the rental car center, parking garages, and parking lots.

  • How far is the Tampa airport from the city and other popular tourist destinations?

    The Tampa Airport is just 17min from downtown Tampa. It is also a short drive from other towns like Citrus Bay (22min), Clearwater (45min), and Treasure Island (45min). There is an area bus that goes from the Tampa Airport to downtown Tampa and other neighborhoods such as the Coquina Key neighborhood and the Tinney Park neighborhood. You can also take the bus to downtown St. Petersburg and Gulfport. It picks up passengers at the rental car center.

Your guide to booking San Francisco to Tampa 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 Sunday. On this route, Wednesday flights average $411, about $96 less than Sunday fares (19% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 25 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 40% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your San Francisco to Tampa trip for January. Fares historically average $391 round-trip in that month - typically $140 less than the most expensive month, which is December (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through Boston Logan Intl Airport (BOS) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest layover option averages $280 round-trip on this route - about $207 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 Tampa Airport.

    • La Quinta Inn Tampa Airport Stadium Westshore
    • Marriott Tampa Westshore
    • Hampton Inn Tampa-International Airport/Westshore
  • If you have a really late flight or should your flight back to San Francisco be delayed, the Tampa Airport (TPA) has its own hotel. It rents rooms during the day or at night. Other amenities that you can enjoy while staying at the Tampa Marriott Hotel include an outdoor pool and onsite dining.
  • Your flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) might include a layover in another city like Las Vegas, Detroit, Salt Lake City, or Denver. This could be a quick stop of about 30min or for a full day (24h) layover.
  • Several rental car agencies have offices at the Tampa Airport (TPA). This includes Enterprise, Hertz, Budget, and Alamo. There are on-site car rental offices but some are off-site. For the off-site locations, you can take the tram there.
  • Get dropped off at the San Francisco Airport (SFO) for your travels. You can get dropped off curbside for convenience. Curbside check-in and baggage assistance are offered at the San Francisco Airport. If you need a little extra time, there is a dropoff lane at the Domestic Parking Garage at the airport.
  • Along with information boards that show lists of arrival and departure flights, the Tampa Airport (TPA) has an information kiosk. It is located in the main terminal on the third floor. At this kiosk, you can talk with someone who can help you find your way around the airport, find places to eat, and catch the bus into the city.

Prefer to fly direct from San Francisco to Tampa?

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

Direct departures

San Francisco to Tampa

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

Tampa 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

More options for your flight from San Francisco to Tampa

Complete your trip to Tampa with a hotel stay or car rental