Need help booking?
Unpublished phone-only deals available
SFO to DCA: distance & flight time
San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport) → Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport)
2,436 mi
3,921 km · 2,117 nm
5h 15m
estimated nonstop flight time
+3h
time difference · heading east
See live SFO→DCA fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
2,436 miles nonstop takes roughly 5h 15m gate to gate, flying east. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 3-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- SFO — San Francisco International Airport · San Francisco, United States
- DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport · Washington, 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 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
Near DCA
Frequently asked questions
How far is SFO from DCA?
The flight distance from San Francisco (SFO) to Washington (DCA) is 2,436 miles (3,921 km, 2,117 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from SFO to DCA?
A nonstop flight takes about 5h 15m 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 San Francisco and Washington?
Washington is 3 hours ahead of San Francisco.
What is the cheapest way to fly from SFO to DCA?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on SFO–DCA that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.