San Francisco International to Charleston International
2390 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 5h 13m with 7 airlines operating direct service from San Francisco International (SFO) to Charleston International (CHS). 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 Charleston
Charleston International is 12 miles north of downtown Charleston. CARTA bus 11 runs the route in 45 minutes for $2; rideshare to the Historic District costs around $30. Fares to CHS peak sharply during the Spoleto Festival (late May–early June) and during the autumn wedding season (October–November); January and August are the cheapest months despite summer heat.
Who flies SFO to CHS?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| United Airlines | UA | 5h 13m | Economy |
| Alaska Airlines | AS | 5h 13m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 5h 13m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 5h 13m | Economy |
| Southwest Airlines | WN | 5h 13m | Economy |
| JetBlue Airways | B6 | 5h 13m | Economy |
| Hawaiian Airlines | HA | 5h 13m | 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→CHS
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 Charleston FAQs
Direct flights from San Francisco International (SFO) to Charleston International (CHS) take approximately 5h 13m for the 2390-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 Charleston International (CHS): 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.
Charleston International (CHS) is the primary international airport for Charleston. 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.