IAD - SFO

$175 Find Cheap Flights from Washington Dulles Airport to San Francisco - Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$388
Typical prices: $382-$623
Frontier
Thu 11/8Fri 11/16
IAD - SFO • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$417
Typical prices: $394-$634
United Airlines
Wed 10/17Sat 10/20
IAD - SFO • Non-stop
Advice from real travelers
United Economy Plus adds up to 6 inches more legroom than standard economy.
Alaska Premium Class adds priority boarding; bring a device for entertainment.
Expert advice
+1
Expert advice
+1
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with United Airlines. Average duration is 5h 58m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
Avoid delays
Most punctual • 84% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 22 weeks in advance save around 51% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 23% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $316 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 7h 56m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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We hope you love your trip to San Francisco!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Dulles Intl to San Francisco (IAD-SFO)

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

Recent round-trip flight deals from Dulles Intl to San Francisco

Sun, Nov 8 - Mon, Nov 16
Frontier Logo
7:40 am - 8:40 pmIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco
16h 00m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
Frontier Logo
10:17 pm - 5:12 pmSFO  San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
15h 55m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
$388Frontier
Fri, Sep 25 - Thu, Oct 1
Frontier Logo
6:00 am - 1:19 pmIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco
10h 19m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Frontier Logo
11:58 pm - 11:33 amSFO  San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
8h 35m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
$388Frontier
Sat, Oct 31 - Wed, Nov 4
Delta Logo
7:23 am - 12:20 pmIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco
7h 57m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
Delta Logo
6:20 am - 8:06 pmSFO  San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
10h 46m1 stop Seattle/Tacoma Intl
$390Delta
Sun, Nov 8 - Sat, Nov 14
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:46 pm - 8:52 amIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco
17h 06m1 stop San Diego
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:52 pm - 11:36 amSFO  San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
8h 44m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
$390Multiple Airlines
Thu, Oct 1 - Sat, Oct 3
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:30 pm - 10:28 pmIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco
12h 58m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:00 am - 11:59 pmSFO  San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
9h 59m1 stop Seattle/Tacoma Intl
$390Multiple Airlines
Tue, Feb 2 - Mon, Feb 8
American Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 12:42 pmIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco
8h 42m1 stop Charlotte Douglas
American Airlines Logo
8:30 am - 6:45 pmSFO  San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
7h 15m1 stop Charlotte Douglas
$391American Airlines
Sat, Oct 17 - Tue, Oct 20
American Airlines Logo
5:01 am - 9:51 amIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco
7h 50m1 stop Charlotte Douglas
American Airlines Logo
8:00 am - 6:23 pmSFO  San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
7h 23m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
$391American Airlines
Thu, Dec 3 - Sun, Dec 6
Delta Logo
3:00 pm - 11:38 pmIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco
11h 38m2 stops Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Seattle/Tacoma Intl
Delta Logo
10:38 am - 12:31 amSFO  San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
10h 53m1 stop Seattle/Tacoma Intl
$393Delta
Mon, Nov 9 - Wed, Nov 18
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:46 pm - 12:37 pmIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco
20h 51m1 stop San Diego
Alaska Airlines Logo
3:08 pm - 4:14 pmSFO  San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
22h 06m1 stop Seattle/Tacoma Intl
$393Alaska Airlines
Mon, Nov 9 - Tue, Nov 17
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:46 pm - 12:37 pmIAD  Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl-SFO San Francisco
20h 51m1 stop San Diego
Alaska Airlines Logo
5:42 pm - 5:44 amSFO  San Francisco-IAD Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
9h 02m1 stop Seattle/Tacoma Intl
$393Alaska Airlines
Booking Insights

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.

How much is a round-trip flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco?

Round-trip flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco start at $388. Prices are typical 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 $388 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?

  • 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.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Dulles Intl to San Francisco

 
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 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 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 Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco flights

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

$175
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

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 
PhallyFlew with Alaska Airlines-Oct 2024
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?

    Three cabin classes are available on flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San Francisco:

    • Economy Class
    • Business Class
    • First Class

  • 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 $316 round-trip via Seattle/Tacoma Intl (SEA), 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:

    • Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) - 41% of one-stop connections
    • Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) - 40% of one-stop connections
    • Charlotte Douglas (CLT) - 6% of one-stop connections
    • Denver Intl (DEN) - 4% of one-stop connections

    Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) 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, 16% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 2 hours 43 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 12:13 pm
    • Latest: departs at 10:20 pm and lands at 4:18 am.

    The flight takes about 5h 58m.

  • 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 58m, 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 $388 to $2,600. 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 $191, which is 39% 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 Denver Intl (DEN) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 7h 56m, compared with 8h 16m via Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW) and 8h 52m 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. 84% 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 84%. When flights on this route do arrive late, the average delay is 2 hours 43 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 Seattle/Tacoma Intl Airport (SEA) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest layover option averages $316 round-trip on this route - about $169 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?

 
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

See more direct flights

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

More options for your flight from Dulles Intl to San Francisco

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