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LOU to SFO: distance & flight time
Louisville (Bowman Field) → San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport)
1,988 mi
3,199 km · 1,728 nm
4h 22m
estimated nonstop flight time
-3h
time difference · heading west
See live LOU→SFO fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
1,988 miles nonstop takes roughly 4h 22m 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
- LOU — Bowman Field · Louisville, 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 LOU
- SDF · Louisville International Standiford Field5 mi away
- FTK · Godman Army Air Field28 mi away
- FFT · Capital City Airport41 mi away
- LEX · Blue Grass Airport59 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 LOU from SFO?
The flight distance from Louisville (LOU) to San Francisco (SFO) is 1,988 miles (3,199 km, 1,728 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from LOU to SFO?
A nonstop flight takes about 4h 22m 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 Louisville and San Francisco?
San Francisco is 3 hours behind Louisville.
What is the cheapest way to fly from LOU to SFO?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on LOU–SFO that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.