Los Angeles International to San Francisco International
338 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 1h 05m with 8 airlines operating direct service from Los Angeles International (LAX) to San Francisco International (SFO). Cheapest fares are usually in Jun (around $61 return), with peak prices in Jun (around $61). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from Los Angeles International
Los Angeles International spreads across nine terminals arranged in a U around the central hub, with the inter-terminal LAX-it shuttle and the new Automated People Mover (opening late 2026) connecting them. Metro Rail does not yet enter the airport directly — the K Line shuttle and FlyAway bus to Union Station are the rail-adjacent options. American, Delta, United, Southwest and Alaska all run major operations here; international long-haul fills T2 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
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 LAX to SFO?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| American Airlines | AA | 1h 05m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 1h 05m | Economy |
| United Airlines | UA | 1h 05m | Economy |
| Southwest Airlines | WN | 1h 05m | Economy |
| Alaska Airlines | AS | 1h 05m | Economy |
| JetBlue Airways | B6 | 1h 05m | Economy |
| Spirit Airlines | NK | 1h 05m | Economy |
| Hawaiian Airlines | HA | 1h 05m | Economy |
8 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly LAX→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.
Los Angeles to San Francisco FAQs
Direct flights from Los Angeles International (LAX) to San Francisco International (SFO) take approximately 1h 05m for the 338-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.
Jun is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $35. Jun 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.
8 carriers operate direct service from Los Angeles International (LAX) to San Francisco International (SFO): American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines and 3 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — American 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.