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PHL to SFO: distance & flight time
Philadelphia (Philadelphia International Airport) → San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport)
2,515 mi
4,048 km · 2,186 nm
5h 24m
estimated nonstop flight time
-3h
time difference · heading west
See live PHL→SFO fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
2,515 miles nonstop takes roughly 5h 24m 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
- PHL — Philadelphia International Airport · Philadelphia, 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 PHL
- BBX · Wings Field18 mi away
- PNE · Northeast Philadelphia Airport19 mi away
- LLY · South Jersey Regional Airport22 mi away
- NXX · Willow Grove Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base23 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 PHL from SFO?
The flight distance from Philadelphia (PHL) to San Francisco (SFO) is 2,515 miles (4,048 km, 2,186 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from PHL to SFO?
A nonstop flight takes about 5h 24m 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 Philadelphia and San Francisco?
San Francisco is 3 hours behind Philadelphia.
What is the cheapest way to fly from PHL to SFO?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on PHL–SFO that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.