Cheap flights from Denver International to San Francisco International from $119
Updated 2026-07-26
965 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 2h 20m with 6 airlines operating direct service from Denver International (DEN) to San Francisco International (SFO). Fares on this corridor stay relatively stable across the year — booking 4–8 weeks ahead and choosing a midweek departure typically secures the best price.
Flying from Denver International
Denver International sits 25 miles northeast of downtown Denver — a deliberately remote site that allows for six runways and almost unlimited expansion. The A Line commuter train runs every 15 minutes from the airport directly to Union Station downtown in 37 minutes for $10.50. United dominates the schedule with its largest non-Newark hub; Southwest and Frontier add heavy domestic capacity. Snow disruption is common between November and March, but the airport's ground-stop policy is faster than ORD's.
Arriving in San Francisco
San Francisco International sits 13 miles south of the city, with BART running directly from the international terminal station to Powell Street in 30 minutes for $10. Morning summer fog (May–August) routinely causes ground delays; book afternoon departures or mid-day arrivals during that window. Fares from US East Coast peak around tech-conference weeks (Apple WWDC in June, Salesforce Dreamforce in September) and are cheapest in February.
Who flies DEN to SFO?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| United Airlines | UA | 2h 20m | Economy |
| Southwest Airlines | WN | 2h 20m | Economy |
| Frontier Airlines | F9 | 2h 20m | Economy |
| Spirit Airlines | NK | 2h 20m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 2h 20m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 2h 20m | Economy |
6 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Denver to San Francisco FAQs
Direct flights from Denver International (DEN) to San Francisco International (SFO) take approximately 2h 20m for the 965-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
6 carriers operate direct service from Denver International (DEN) to San Francisco International (SFO): United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, American Airlines and 1 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — United Airlines typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
No — United States is domestic travel for US citizens. A US passport is not required for the 50 states, DC or US territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands), though Real ID-compliant ID is required at TSA from May 2025.
San Francisco International (SFO) is the primary international airport for San Francisco. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.