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SFO to YOW: distance & flight time
San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport) → Ottawa (Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport)
2,440 mi
3,927 km · 2,121 nm
5h 15m
estimated nonstop flight time
+3h
time difference · heading northeast
See live SFO→YOW fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
2,440 miles nonstop takes roughly 5h 15m gate to gate, flying northeast. 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
- YOW — Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport · Ottawa, Canada
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 YOW
- YRO · Ottawa / Rockcliffe Airport10 mi away
- YND · Ottawa / Gatineau Airport15 mi away
- YSH · Smiths Falls-Montague (Russ Beach) Airport29 mi away
- OGS · Ogdensburg International Airport45 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is SFO from YOW?
The flight distance from San Francisco (SFO) to Ottawa (YOW) is 2,440 miles (3,927 km, 2,121 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from SFO to YOW?
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 Ottawa?
Ottawa is 3 hours ahead of San Francisco.
What is the cheapest way to fly from SFO to YOW?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on SFO–YOW that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.