San Francisco International to Los Angeles International
337 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 1h 05m with 7 airlines operating direct service from San Francisco International (SFO) to Los Angeles International (LAX). Cheapest fares are usually in Jun (around $43 return), with peak prices in Jun (around $43). 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 Los Angeles
Los Angeles International serves the broader LA basin from its central position near El Segundo, 18 miles southwest of downtown LA. Ground transfers depend on Metro K Line shuttle to Crenshaw, FlyAway buses to Union Station ($9.75) or rideshare via the LAX-it lot. Fares to LAX from US East Coast bases run cheapest in January–February and September–October; June through August see Pacific-summer demand peaks tied to Asia connection traffic.
Who flies SFO to LAX?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| United Airlines | UA | 1h 05m | Economy |
| Alaska Airlines | AS | 1h 05m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 1h 05m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 1h 05m | Economy |
| Southwest Airlines | WN | 1h 05m | Economy |
| JetBlue Airways | B6 | 1h 05m | Economy |
| Hawaiian Airlines | HA | 1h 05m | 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→LAX
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 Los Angeles FAQs
Direct flights from San Francisco International (SFO) to Los Angeles International (LAX) take approximately 1h 05m for the 337-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 $26. 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.
7 carriers operate direct service from San Francisco International (SFO) to Los Angeles International (LAX): 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.
Los Angeles International (LAX) is the primary international airport for Los Angeles. 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.