$156 Find Cheap Flights from Washington Dulles Airport to San Francisco - 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 Dulles Intl to San Francisco departing on 10/28. 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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Everything you should know
Cheapest round-trip
$373
Typical prices: $382-$623
Frontier
Wed 9/19Thu 9/27
IAD - SFO • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$457
Typical prices: $394-$634
United Airlines
Sun 9/16Sat 9/22
IAD - SFO • Non-stop
Advice from real travelers
AI-powered summary based on content written by KAYAK users. AI can make mistakes.
United Economy Plus adds up to 6 inches more legroom than standard economy.
Alaska Premium Class adds priority boarding; bring a device for entertainment.
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Flight Deals
Cheap Flights from Dulles Intl to San Francisco (IAD-SFO)
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Dulles Intl to San Francisco 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.
Round-trip
One-way
Last minute
Direct
Recent round-trip flight deals from Dulles Intl to San Francisco
Wed, Sep 16 - Sun, Sep 20
4:36 pm - 10:28 pmIAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco
Price, demand and travel trends for Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco flights
Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco with more confidence.
Prices
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How much is a round-trip flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco departing in September.
Round-trip flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco start at $373. Prices are below average for this route right now, with typical round-trip fares ranging from $382 to $623. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $373 on Frontier.
What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
Wednesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco, it is 9% cheaper than the average day. Monday is the most expensive day with flight prices 21% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
KAYAK internal proprietary data takes all prices for each month over the last 12 months for round-trip flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers and then takes the median of all values for each month.
February is the cheapest month to fly from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco at $364 round-trip.
June ($583) and July ($532) are the most expensive months.
The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 60% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.
When are prices from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco the cheapest?
Flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco are cheapest 22 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 51% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.
What is the cheapest airline to fly from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
Frontier ($373) and American Airlines ($379) are the cheapest airlines to fly round-trip from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco according to KAYAK data over the last 5 days.
Which airline offers the most nonstop flights between Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport and San Francisco?
United Airlines has the most frequent nonstop flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco with 56 flights per week. Based on KAYAK flight data over the last 3 months.
How often are flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco delayed?
Over the last 12 months Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco flights were delayed in 17% of cases. Delayed flights averaged 92 minutes behind schedule.
What is the most punctual time of day to fly from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
Morning flights have the fewest delays. Evening departures experience delays most often. Based on KAYAK data over the past 3 months.
Which day of the week has the fewest delays on Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco flights?
Tuesday has the fewest flight delays on the Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco route, at only 12% of flights delayed.
Friday has the most delays at 21%. Based on KAYAK data over the past 3 months.
Which airline is the most punctual on Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco flights?
United Airlines is the most punctual airline on Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco flights, KAYAK's system tracked that 83% of flights were on time in the past 3 months.
What is the most popular layover airport when flying from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
KAYAK data for 1-stop round-trips over the past 3 months. Only counts itineraries with the same layover on both legs.
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) is the most popular layover for the Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco route. 35% of KAYAK users who booked 1-stop round-trips over the past 3 months connected via ATL.
What is the cheapest layover airport when flying from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
Flights via San Diego (SAN) offer the most affordable fares, with an average round-trip price of $314. Based on KAYAK data over the past 3 months.
Which route, including a layover, takes the shortest amount of time from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
Dallas Love Field (DAL) offers the shortest 1-stop connection from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco at 7h 45m one-way, 1h 50m longer than the 5h 55m direct flight. Based on KAYAK data over the past 3 months.
When flying from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco which airport offers the shortest layover?
Salt Lake City (SLC) had the shortest average connection time for Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco layovers at 259 minutes over the past 3 months.
How many nonstop flights run daily between Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport and San Francisco?
There are 7 to 9 flights per day from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco, about 56 flights per week. Monday has the most departures, with 16% of weekly flights.
What time of day do most flights depart from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
Based on KAYAK flight schedules for the upcoming 3 months.
Most nonstop flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco depart in the morning, accounting for 34% of nonstop departures. Around 3 flights are scheduled in that window over the next three months.
Expert advice for your flight from Dulles Intl to San Francisco
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Stefanie Waldek
Expert on United Airlines and IAD
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 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 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 Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco flights
Low season
February
High season
June
Cheapest flight
$156
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 23% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 23% increase in price.
Flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco
When to book flights from Dulles Intl to San Francisco
Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Dulles Intl 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
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.
Flights from Dulles Intl to San Francisco: the best tips from KAYAK users' own experiences
Insights shared by verified travelers who flew the route from Dulles Intl to San Francisco
Don't take too much stuff. Make sure to have the necessary documents or boarding pass ready.
NoamFlew with Alaska Airlines-Aug 2024
Flying to the Ronald Reagan airport is closer and faster to D.C. than the Dulles airport.
DeniseFlew with Alaska Airlines-May 2024
Bring your own device. No screens on the seatbacks.
Your Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco flight questions, answered
Find helpful route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking questions.
Does IAD have a pet relief area?
If you’re traveling with your pet to SFO, at IAD, you can visit the designated pet relief airports present at the airport. The pet relief areas are located at Door 16 near the United Airlines counter, Door 1 near Carousel 1, and Gates D1 and A32.
Does IAD have smoking lounges?
If you’d like to smoke at IAD, you should know that IAD does not permit smoking within its terminals. To smoke at this airport, you must head to one of its smoking lounges. The said smoking lounges are near Gates B37, C2, and D30.
Where are the baby care facilities at SFO?
SFO has four baby care facilities. Terminals 1 and 3 have baby care facilities on their Airside, while Terminal 2 has baby care facilities on both its Airside and Landside. At any, you can breastfeed your baby privately and comfortably.
Where can I eat in SFO?
If you’re hungry, you can grab a drink or a small bite at Briggo Coffee Haus near gate F3 in Terminal 3, Roasting Plant Coffee in Boarding Area A in the International Terminal, and Green Beans Coffee in Terminal 1C.
Which airlines offer extra legroom and free seat selection on Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco flights?
Among airlines operating Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport 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.
What airlines are available from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
Only United Airlines operates flights between Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport and San Francisco.
Which airports can I use when flying from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
Flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco usually depart from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl (IAD) and arrive at San Francisco (SFO).
Which airlines include bags at no extra cost on Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport 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 travelers should check the fare details before booking.
What cabin classes can I book on flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
Four cabin classes are available on flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco:
• Economy Class • Premium Economy Class • Business Class • First Class
Prices vary by airline.
How much can I save by taking a layover when flying from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $314 round-trip via San Diego (SAN), compared to $485 for nonstop.
What is the standard checked-bag allowance on flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport 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 Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
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 757-200 variants.
Which airports do connecting flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco pass through?
One-stop flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco most commonly connect through:
• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) - 35% of one-stop connections • Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) - 29% of one-stop connections • Denver Intl (DEN) - 18% of one-stop connections • Charlotte Douglas (CLT) - 7% of one-stop connections
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.
Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 25% on the Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco route. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at $434 round-trip on average, while Monday is the most expensive at $576, a difference of $142. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.
At what point is a flight considered delayed from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
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 Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco route, 17% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 1 hour 32 minutes.
How are flight departures from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco spread across the day?
Morning is the busiest departure period on Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco flights, with 34% of flights leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 33%, evening flights for 22%, and night flights for 11%.
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.
What are the earliest and latest flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco:
• Earliest: departs at 6:15 am and lands at 12:10 pm • Latest: departs at 10:20 pm and lands at 4:15 am.
The flight takes about 5h 55m.
How expensive are last-minute Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco flights?
Last-minute fares on this route - booked within 2 weeks of departure - run 80% above the route average of $476. Book 22 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.
How long is a flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
A nonstop flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco takes 5h 55m, covering 2,412 miles.
Do I need a passport to fly from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport 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.
Have flight prices from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport 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 $373 to $2,639. That means the highest observed fare was about 7x higher than the lowest one.
How are flight prices from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco looking right now?
One-way fares from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $196, which is 37% below the typical average for this route.
How do delay rates compare for morning and evening flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
Morning flights have the fewest delays on this route. Delays tend to pile up throughout the day as one late flight pushes the next, so earlier departures are usually more reliable.
How much time can I save by choosing a different layover airport from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?
Flying via Dallas Love Field (DAL) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 7h 45m, compared with 7h 48m via Salt Lake City (SLC) and 8h 12m via San Diego (SAN).
What is the time difference between Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport and San Francisco?
San Francisco is 3 hours behind Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport (Pacific Time vs Eastern Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.
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: · Thrifty · Europcar · Dollar · Hertz · Fox
How much should I expect to pay for a Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco flight?
Round-trip flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco range from $382 to $623, with an average of $476 over the past 12 months. Anything below $382 counts as a good deal.
Which airlines offer Wi-Fi on Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco flights?
JetBlue is the only airline on the Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco route offering in-flight Wi-Fi. Pricing depends on fare class.
Your guide to booking Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco flights
Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
If your dates can be flexible, aim for a Wednesday departure instead of Monday. On this route, Wednesday flights average $434 - about $142 less than Monday (25% savings) based on the last 12 months.
For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 22 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 51% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
If you can choose when to travel, plan your Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco trip for February. Fares historically average $364 round-trip in that month - typically $219 less than the most expensive month, which is June (based on the last 12 months).
If arriving on time is high on your priority list, United Airlines is the strongest pick on this route. 83% of United Airlines flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco arrived on time in the past 3 months, slightly above the route's average on-time arrival rate of 83%. When flights on this route do arrive late, the average delay is 1 hour 32 minutes, so choosing a carrier with strong on-time performance can make a difference on tight schedules.
If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through San Diego Airport (SAN) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest layover option averages $314 round-trip on this route - about $172 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
Washington is home to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), and Dulles International Airport (IAD). Only IAD offers flights to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) among the three. Thus, you’ll have to head to IAD to board your flight to San Francisco.
The means of travel you use to travel to IAD will depend on how quickly you want to get to the airport and how much you can afford as fare. If you want to get to this airport quickly, you should catch a taxi, whereas if you’d like to travel economically to the airport, you should travel by bus. The metro trains that serve the station are a little slower than the taxis and a bit more expensive than the buses. As this is the case, if you’d like to balance the cost and speed of your journey to IAD, you should board a train.
Before entering IAD, one must go through several security checkpoints. These checkpoints are usually characterized by long queues. Because of the queues, these checkpoints usually take a lot of time to clear. On numerous occasions, passengers have missed their flights at IAD after being unable to go through the airport’s security checkpoints in time. To avoid such a fate, on your departure date to SFO, you should reach IAD at least 1h 30min before your flight so that you have enough time to go through the checkpoints.
At SFO, if you’d like to charge your phone, you can do so at one of the power outlets spread across the airport for free. However, these outlets charge phones slowly. If you’re willing to pay a small fee to charge your phone quickly, you can visit the quick-charge stations near Gate 23 in Terminal 1, near Gate 61 in Terminal 2, and Gate 87 in Terminal 3.
If you require medical assistance while at SFO, visit the SFO Medical Clinic on the Boarding Area A side of the International Terminal. On Monday to Friday, it is normally open from 7 am to 7 pm, while on Saturdays, it is usually open from 9 am to 4 pm.
Prefer to fly direct from Washington Dulles Airport to San Francisco?
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl to San Francisco.
Find which airlines fly direct from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.
Direct departures
Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl 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
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Direct returns
San Francisco to Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
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
Everything you need to know for your flight from Dulles Intl to San Francisco
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Cabin classes available on flights to San Francisco. Prices are the lowest found on KAYAK over the last 7 days. Price and availability is not guaranteed.
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