Detroit Metropolitan to San Francisco International
2074 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 4h 34m with 5 airlines operating direct service from Detroit Metropolitan (DTW) to San Francisco International (SFO). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around $249 return), with peak prices in August (around $747). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from Detroit Metropolitan
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County is Delta's principal Midwest hub. Two terminals — McNamara (Delta) and North Terminal (Spirit, AA, UA, others) — are connected airside through the post-security ExpressTram. There is no commuter rail to downtown Detroit; DDOT bus 125 runs from the airport to Rosa Parks Transit Center in around 60 minutes. International long-haul to Europe is dense (Air France, KLM, Lufthansa) and to Asia (Delta direct to Tokyo Narita) — making DTW one of the strongest secondary US gateways for transpacific travel.
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 DTW to SFO?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 4h 34m | Economy |
| Spirit Airlines | NK | 4h 34m | Economy |
| Southwest Airlines | WN | 4h 34m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 4h 34m | Economy |
| United Airlines | UA | 4h 34m | Economy |
5 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly DTW→SFO
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
Detroit to San Francisco FAQs
Direct flights from Detroit Metropolitan (DTW) to San Francisco International (SFO) take approximately 4h 34m for the 2074-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.
January is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $249. August is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
5 carriers operate direct service from Detroit Metropolitan (DTW) to San Francisco International (SFO): Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and United Airlines. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — Delta Air Lines 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.