San Francisco International to Vancouver International
801 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 2h 01m with 7 airlines operating direct service from San Francisco International (SFO) to Vancouver International (YVR). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around $119 return), with peak prices in August (around $357). 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 Vancouver
Vancouver International is 13 km south of downtown Vancouver, with the Canada Line SkyTrain running from the airport's underground station directly to downtown in 26 minutes for CA$10.95 (off-peak CA$5.05). Fares from US West Coast hubs are competitive with mid-distance domestic prices. Peak demand is summer (July–August) and ski-season weekends (December–March); January–February sees the cheapest fares.
Who flies SFO to YVR?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| United Airlines | UA | 2h 01m | Economy |
| Alaska Airlines | AS | 2h 01m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 2h 01m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 2h 01m | Economy |
| Southwest Airlines | WN | 2h 01m | Economy |
| JetBlue Airways | B6 | 2h 01m | Economy |
| Hawaiian Airlines | HA | 2h 01m | 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→YVR
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 Vancouver FAQs
Direct flights from San Francisco International (SFO) to Vancouver International (YVR) take approximately 2h 01m for the 801-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 $119. 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 Vancouver International (YVR): 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 eTA required for US citizens, but a US passport (or NEXUS card / Enhanced Driver License) is required for air travel. Always check travel.state.gov for the latest entry requirements before booking.
Vancouver International (YVR) is the primary international airport for Vancouver. 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.