San Francisco International to Nashville International
1964 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 4h 21m with 7 airlines operating direct service from San Francisco International (SFO) to Nashville International (BNA). 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 San Francisco International
San Francisco International is United's main Pacific hub and Alaska Airlines' largest non-Seattle base. Four terminals form a single ring connected by the AirTrain shuttle, with BART running from the dedicated airport station directly to Powell Street downtown in around 30 minutes for $10. Heavy fog from May through August causes chronic morning delays — book mid-day departures during summer where possible. International long-haul to Asia and Europe is the deepest on the West Coast.
Arriving in Nashville
Nashville International is 8 miles east of downtown Nashville. WeGo Route 18 runs every 30 minutes between the airport and downtown for $2. Fares to Nashville peak around CMA Fest (early June), bachelor/bachelorette weekends (basically every weekend April–October) and major SEC football. January and February are the cheapest months, despite winter weather disruption.
Who flies SFO to BNA?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| United Airlines | UA | 4h 21m | Economy |
| Alaska Airlines | AS | 4h 21m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 4h 21m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 4h 21m | Economy |
| Southwest Airlines | WN | 4h 21m | Economy |
| JetBlue Airways | B6 | 4h 21m | Economy |
| Hawaiian Airlines | HA | 4h 21m | Economy |
7 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly SFO→BNA
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.
San Francisco to Nashville FAQs
Direct flights from San Francisco International (SFO) to Nashville International (BNA) take approximately 4h 21m for the 1964-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.
7 carriers operate direct service from San Francisco International (SFO) to Nashville International (BNA): United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and 2 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.
Nashville International (BNA) is the primary international airport for Nashville. 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.