Travelling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD): what you need to know
Around 5 hours 10 minutes is how long you can expect to be travelling on a direct flight from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport.
The timezone in Washington DC is UTC-4, which is three hours ahead of San Francisco.
Flights from SFO to IAD start at 06:30 — the earliest with United Airlines. The latest departure is at 23:20 with United Airlines. In total, there are 70 weekly San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport flights.
To ensure you catch your SFO to IAD flight, leave plenty of time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Turning up two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
During popular months like August, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier than normal. Plan to arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead for an international flight when you fly during a peak period in general.
Alaska Airlines has direct flights from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport. Book with this popular carrier, then get ready to tick off the sights in Washington DC — and maybe even more of United States if you have time.
The airline that passengers book most often on this route is Alaska Airlines.
United Airlines leads the way as the most punctual carrier for SFO to IAD flights, with 84.28% of services arriving as scheduled.
We make it easy to book a flight with a stopover. To see your options for tickets from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, pick a flight offering a stop long enough to tour your chosen city. Popular stopovers between SFO and IAD include:
Denver International Airport
Harry Reid Airport (formerly McCarran Airport)
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
ج.م. 4,880 is the best price for a one-way San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport flight. Return flights start from ج.م. 9,761. These fares can change depending on demand and availability.
Book six months before you want to fly. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to find cheap tickets from SFO to IAD.
May is the cheapest month for flights from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport. If you'd like to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest airfares for each month.
You won't have to check every day to see if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll send you an update as soon as a special offer becomes available on cheap flights from SFO to IAD.
Discover the perfect flight for you by using the filters. To see the 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' flights from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter results by airline, arrival and departure times, and journey duration.
Handy information about San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
When it comes to San Francisco International Airport's on-time performance, data shows 77.36% of flights complete their journey on time.
San Francisco International Airport is about 21 kilometres from central San Francisco. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take you 20 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic.
You can expect a journey time of around 45 minutes on public transport.
Have an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport? Avoid the last-minute rush to the airport (and enjoy a little extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays near SFO:
Arriving at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Reserve a hotel near IAD if you have a late San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport flight. Choose one of these options and skip the long transfer after landing:
Explore without limits with a Washington Dulles International Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Dollar, Thrifty or Sixt and venture far and wide through Washington DC and beyond.
Lock in the best deal by booking your vehicle from Washington Dulles International Airport around one week ahead of your departure.
Getting from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to central Washington DC
The address for IAD is 1 Saarinen Circle.
Washington Dulles International Airport to the centre of Washington DC has a drive time of about 50 minutes. It's approximately 56 kilometres away.
It takes around 3 hours 25 minutes if you're travelling by public transport.
When to fly to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
The quietest month for a flight from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport is January, while April is the most popular. Pick the best time to visit Washington DC based on whether you prefer a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.
The warmest month in Washington DC is July, with the temperature ranging between 19ºC and 33ºC. Book your flights from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport in this month if this is the type of weather you like.
If you want cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from SFO to IAD in January. Average temperatures are between -6ºC and 10ºC then.
Explore more of United States
Washington DC has plenty to offer, but there are so many other corners of United States you should also see. Around 322 kilometres north-east of Washington DC, a visit to New York will keep your itinerary packed. Don't miss top attractions like Statue of Liberty, Central Park and Empire State Building.
Philadelphia is another standout destination in United States and is around 193 kilometres north-east of Washington DC. No trip is complete without a visit to Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Philadelphia Museum of Art.
