Flight time: Los Angeles to San Francisco

Route details

Distance breakdown: Los Angeles to San Francisco

The 544-km great-circle distance between Los Angeles (33.94°N, 118.41°W) and San Francisco (37.62°N, 122.38°W) spans 3.7° of latitude and 4.0° of longitude, trending primarily west. In miles, this is 338 mi or 294 nautical miles. The great-circle path — the shortest distance over Earth's curved surface — is calculated using the Haversine formula from the two airports' precise coordinates.

Cruise speed and flight phases

Short-haul flights like Los Angeles to San Francisco (544 km) spend a proportionally larger amount of time climbing to and descending from cruise altitude. Aircraft typically reach an effective cruise speed of 650–750 km/h, lower than on long-haul routes where most time is spent at optimal altitude. The climb phase alone takes 15–20 minutes, during which the aircraft covers only about 150–200 km. Combined with descent and approach, the effective average speed drops significantly from the theoretical cruise speed, yielding the 1h 14m to 1h 40m estimate for this route.

Ground time and routing overhead

Our 30–50 minutes overhead allowance covers: taxi-out at LAX, takeoff and initial climb, descent and approach at SFO, and taxi-in to the gate. LAX is a major international hub where taxi times of 15–25 minutes are common during peak periods. At SFO, arrival taxi and gate assignment can add 10–20 minutes, especially during busy arrival banks. Continental air traffic corridors between Los Angeles and San Francisco may add 3–8% beyond the great-circle distance. Standard instrument departures and arrivals at both airports use predefined routing that adds distance but ensures safe separation.

Return flight: San Francisco → Los Angeles

The return flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles is generally similar in duration to the outbound — typically within 10–20 minutes. Continental routes like this one are less affected by the jet stream asymmetry that makes oceanic east-west routes so uneven. The main variables affecting any difference are: prevailing winds at these latitudes (modest effect), different standard instrument departures/arrivals at each airport (minor effect), and air traffic congestion patterns that vary by time of day and direction.

Seasonal variation in flight times

On this short 544-km route, seasonal flight time variation is minimal — typically under 10 minutes. The main seasonal factor is not wind (which has less effect on short flights) but weather-related delays: winter fog, de-icing procedures, and thunderstorm diversions in summer can extend actual gate-to-gate times. LAX and SFO each have their own seasonal delay patterns that affect overall travel time more than en-route conditions.

Airport information

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is a major international hub in Los Angeles, United States. As a tier-1 airport, it handles high traffic volumes, which means longer average taxi times but also higher flight frequency and competition that can benefit travelers on pricing. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a major international hub in San Francisco, United States. As a tier-1 airport, it handles high traffic volumes, which means longer average taxi times but also higher flight frequency and competition that can benefit travelers on pricing.

Flight times from Los Angeles to other destinations

Flight time FAQ: Los Angeles to San Francisco