Miami International to San Francisco International
2581 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 5h 36m with 6 airlines operating direct service from Miami International (MIA) to San Francisco International (SFO). Cheapest fares are usually in Jun (around $130 return), with peak prices in Jun (around $130). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from Miami International
Miami International is American Airlines' largest hub for Latin American flying — over 60% of all US-to-Latin America traffic routes through here. Three terminals N, S and CW are connected by the MIA Mover people mover, with Metrorail Orange Line and Tri-Rail commuter trains both running from the airport to downtown and Fort Lauderdale. International long-haul east-coast schedules favour MIA over JFK; Caribbean and Latin connections are the deepest of any US airport.
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 MIA to SFO?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| American Airlines | AA | 5h 36m | Economy |
| Frontier Airlines | F9 | 5h 36m | Economy |
| Spirit Airlines | NK | 5h 36m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 5h 36m | Economy |
| United Airlines | UA | 5h 36m | Economy |
| JetBlue Airways | B6 | 5h 36m | Economy |
6 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly MIA→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.
Miami to San Francisco FAQs
Direct flights from Miami International (MIA) to San Francisco International (SFO) take approximately 5h 36m for the 2581-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 $130. 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.
6 carriers operate direct service from Miami International (MIA) to San Francisco International (SFO): American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and 1 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.