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DTW to SFO: distance & flight time
Detroit (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport) → San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport)
2,074 mi
3,337 km · 1,802 nm
4h 32m
estimated nonstop flight time
-3h
time difference · heading west
See live DTW→SFO fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
2,074 miles nonstop takes roughly 4h 32m gate to gate, flying west. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 3-hour time set-back when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport · Detroit, United States
- SFO — San Francisco International Airport · San Francisco, United States
Distances are great-circle ("as the crow flies") — the same basis airlines use for frequent-flyer miles.
Alternate airports can cut this fare
Flying from or into a nearby airport is the #1 trick our agents use to beat online prices. Call and we'll compare every combination on one call.
Near DTW
- YIP · Willow Run Airport9 mi away
- ARB · Ann Arbor Municipal Airport20 mi away
- YQG · Windsor Airport21 mi away
- DET · Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport22 mi away
Near SFO
- SQL · San Carlos Airport10 mi away
- HAF · Half Moon Bay Airport10 mi away
- OAK · Metropolitan Oakland International Airport11 mi away
- NGZ · Alameda Naval Air Station12 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is DTW from SFO?
The flight distance from Detroit (DTW) to San Francisco (SFO) is 2,074 miles (3,337 km, 1,802 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from DTW to SFO?
A nonstop flight takes about 4h 32m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
What is the time difference between Detroit and San Francisco?
San Francisco is 3 hours behind Detroit.
What is the cheapest way to fly from DTW to SFO?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on DTW–SFO that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.