Flight time: Seattle to San Francisco

Route details

Distance breakdown: Seattle to San Francisco

The 1,093-km great-circle distance between Seattle (47.45°N, 122.31°W) and San Francisco (37.62°N, 122.38°W) spans 9.8° of latitude and 0.1° of longitude, trending primarily west. In miles, this is 679 mi or 590 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 Seattle to San Francisco (1,093 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 57m to 2h 31m estimate for this route.

Ground time and routing overhead

Our 30–50 minutes overhead allowance covers: taxi-out at SEA, takeoff and initial climb, descent and approach at SFO, and taxi-in to the gate. SEA 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 Seattle 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 → Seattle

The return flight from San Francisco to Seattle 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 1,093-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. SEA and SFO each have their own seasonal delay patterns that affect overall travel time more than en-route conditions.

Airport information

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is a major international hub in Seattle, 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 Seattle to other destinations

Flight time FAQ: Seattle to San Francisco