$134 Cheap Flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Washington (IAD)

View $134 flight on Sat, Dec 6, 2025Opens in a new window

Popular airlines from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles Intl. Airport (IAD)

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Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Washington (SFO-IAD)

Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $134 for one-way flights and $257 for round trip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change. Additional terms apply.

United
Wed, Oct 29 - Wed, Nov 5
SFO
San Francisco
IAD
Washington
$257 Roundtrip, just found
$257
Roundtrip
just found
Select United flight, departing Wed, Oct 29 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Wed, Nov 5, priced at $257 just found
Bargain Flight
Tue, Oct 28 - Wed, Oct 29
SFO
San Francisco
IAD
Washington
$268 Roundtrip, found 13 hours ago
$268
Roundtrip
found 13 hours ago
Select Bargain Flight flight, departing Tue, Oct 28 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Wed, Oct 29, priced at $268 found 13 hours ago
Frontier Airlines
Wed, Aug 13 - Sat, Aug 16
SFO
San Francisco
IAD
Washington
$268 Roundtrip, found 1 hour ago
$268
Roundtrip
found 1 hour ago
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Wed, Aug 13 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Sat, Aug 16, priced at $268 found 1 hour ago
Alaska Airlines
Tue, Oct 28 - Wed, Oct 29
SFO
San Francisco
IAD
Washington
$271 Roundtrip, found 13 hours ago
$271
Roundtrip
found 13 hours ago
Select Alaska Airlines flight, departing Tue, Oct 28 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Wed, Oct 29, priced at $271 found 13 hours ago
United
Fri, Oct 31 - Sat, Nov 1
SFO
San Francisco
IAD
Washington
$272 Roundtrip, found 3 hours ago
$272
Roundtrip
found 3 hours ago
Select United flight, departing Fri, Oct 31 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Sat, Nov 1, priced at $272 found 3 hours ago
Alaska Airlines
Tue, Aug 26 - Sat, Aug 30
SFO
San Francisco
IAD
Washington
$272 Roundtrip, found 6 hours ago
$272
Roundtrip
found 6 hours ago
Select Alaska Airlines flight, departing Tue, Aug 26 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Sat, Aug 30, priced at $272 found 6 hours ago
Bargain Flight
Tue, Sep 30 - Wed, Oct 1
SFO
San Francisco
IAD
Washington
$274 Roundtrip, found 13 hours ago
$274
Roundtrip
found 13 hours ago
Select Bargain Flight flight, departing Tue, Sep 30 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Wed, Oct 1, priced at $274 found 13 hours ago
Alaska Airlines
Tue, Oct 28 - Tue, Nov 4
SFO
San Francisco
IAD
Washington
$277 Roundtrip, just found
$277
Roundtrip
just found
Select Alaska Airlines flight, departing Tue, Oct 28 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Tue, Nov 4, priced at $277 just found
American Airlines
Tue, Sep 2 - Sat, Sep 6
SFO
San Francisco
IAD
Washington
$277 Roundtrip, just found
$277
Roundtrip
just found
Select American Airlines flight, departing Tue, Sep 2 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Sat, Sep 6, priced at $277 just found
Delta
Wed, Oct 29 - Wed, Nov 5
SFO
San Francisco
IAD
Washington
$277 Roundtrip, just found
$277
Roundtrip
just found
Select Delta flight, departing Wed, Oct 29 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Wed, Nov 5, priced at $277 just found

Find the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco (SFO) to Washington (IAD)

April is typically the cheapest month to fly

From $140 - $397 per traveler.

Graph displaying average flight prices per month

Alternative airports near Washington

Prices were available within the past 7 days. Prices and availability are subject to change.

Select flight to Ronald Reagan Washington National DCA. Closest option available. Average driving time to city center is 8 minutes. Flights from $408
DCA
Ronald Reagan Washington National
Closest
Average driving time to city center8 min
Flights from $408
Flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Washington (IAD)
Origin airport
San Francisco Intl.
Destination airport
Washington Dulles Intl.
Airlines serving
Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, United
Roundtrip price
$257
Distance
2413 mi
Average flight time
8 hours 36 mins

San Francisco to Washington Flights

The cheapest times to fly from San Francisco to Washington

On average, Thursday can be the cheapest time to fly, according to data from the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), one of the world's biggest databases for global airline sales. The data reveals that you could save up to 16% by flying on a Thursday—the cheapest day to travel on average—instead of a Sunday—the most expensive. Some of the most affordable flights from San Francisco to Washington are during the month of October. You can find some of the cheapest flights from San Francisco to Washington with Expedia's search tool and vast selection of airlines.

 

The best time to book a flight from San Francisco to Washington

Sunday is one of the best days to book for cheap flights from San Francisco to Washington: Tickets reserved on a Sunday cost between 6% and 13% less than those reserved on a Friday, according to ARC data. The data also suggests booking early can also lead to cheaper airfares. You could save 24% by buying your tickets for domestic flights at least a month in advance and 10% by booking international flights 2 months in advance.

 

How to find cheap round-trip tickets from San Francisco to Washington

Being flexible with your dates and using Expedia's Price Drop Protection and Price Tracking features are some of the best ways of finding a cheap ticket from San Francisco to Washington in 2025. You can also book with separate airlines for your outbound and return journeys, from $134 one-way. Expedia also offers Price Drop Protection, so if the cost of your airfare goes down after booking, you'll receive a credit for the difference*. This is available for a small fee, and is free to One Key Gold and Platinum tier members.

 

Expedia's Price Tracking feature means you can stay on top of airfares without manually checking every day. It sends you automated price alerts for cheap San Francisco to Washington flights and uses historical data to indicate when the best time to book is. Download Expedia's free app to activate this handy tool in a few easy taps.

 

You could also save big by booking one of Expedia's vacation packages. Bundling together your San Francisco to Washington airfare with your accommodations and car rental is often cheaper than booking everything separately. There’s also One Key, Expedia's generous rewards program. Join for free and you could earn One Key cash on most bookings to save on future adventures.

 

*Terms apply.

 

Disclaimer: ARC The statistics are based on average round-trip ticket prices between January and August 2023. The percentages you see are averages.

 

Frequently asked questions

How much does a flight from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles Intl. Airport (IAD) cost?
Find cheap return flights from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles Intl. Airport (IAD) starting at $257. Grab a seat and take off on your trip. This information is based on the cheapest price found on Expedia for this return journey departing within the next three months. This airfare is for a Alaska Airlines flight leaving SFO on August 12 2025 and touching down at IAD. The price was last updated on July 23 2025 and has not changed since.
What is the cheapest month to fly from SFO to IAD?
The cheapest flights from SFO to IAD are usually during off-peak season, when demand is lower. To save money, avoid flying during public holidays, school breaks and major local events.
Which airlines fly direct from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles Intl. Airport (IAD)?
Hop on a direct flight with United Airlines and head straight from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles Intl. Airport (IAD).
What is the cheapest airline that flies from SFO to IAD?
Currently, the cheapest carrier offering one-way flights from SFO to IAD is Alaska Airlines. You can take off on this route from $149. This fare is based on the lowest price found on Expedia departing within the next three months. The flight takes off from SFO on August 12 2025. Prices were last updated on July 23 2025 and have not changed since.
How many flights per day from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles Intl. Airport (IAD)?
Each day, an average of 5 direct flights operate from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles Intl. Airport (IAD). Choose the departure time that fits your schedule best.
What are the most popular departure times for flights from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles Intl. Airport (IAD)?
More travelers fly between SFO and IAD at 7 AM than at any other point in the day. Rather skip the crowds? Travel outside of rush hours and there's a chance you'll save on your fare as well.
What day of the week has the most flights from SFO to IAD?
If you jet off on a Friday, you'll get the largest range of options for flights from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles Intl. Airport (IAD).
What is the earliest flight from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles Intl. Airport (IAD)?
Take the earliest flight at around 7:00AM UTC-8, heading out of San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO). You'll be traveling for about 5h 6m, arriving at Washington Dulles Intl. Airport (IAD) at approximately 3:06PM UTC-5.
How long does it take to fly from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles Intl. Airport (IAD)?
Typically, it takes 5 hours and 6 minutes to travel the 2,400 mi from SFO to IAD.
What airline has the least delays from SFO to IAD?
Consider booking with United Airlines if you'd like to go straight from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles Intl. Airport (IAD) without any interruptions. This carrier has the best track record for punctuality, with an on-time performance of 80%. Want to be updated if anything changes? You can keep an eye on your flight status using the Expedia App.
What is the best time to fly from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles Intl. Airport (IAD)?
To land at Washington Dulles Intl. Airport (IAD) on schedule, book a flight that takes off from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) before 3 PM. The likelihood of cancellations is 22% higher, on average, for departures after this time.**Most reliable time of the day and month to travel recommendation is based on January through August 2024 flight status data sourced from OAG's global flight data platform.
What airports do you fly into for Washington from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO)?
San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) offers direct flights to Washington. Here are a few of the airports you can fly to without detours:

  • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
  • Washington Dulles Intl. Airport (IAD)
  • Baltimore Washington Intl. Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

Is it cheaper to buy a plane ticket from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles Intl. Airport (IAD) last-minute?
Last-minute fares from SFO to IAD are typically more expensive. To lock in the lowest prices, start looking for flights well ahead of time. That being said, if you can play around with your travel dates, you may land a cheap fare just before your departure.
Is it cheaper to book a SFO to IAD flight and hotel package?
Opting for a SFO to IAD flight and hotel package is usually cheaper than booking separately. With Expedia, you can enjoy the convenience of organizing your trip in one place. Choose from our extensive range of hotels and then add flights, activities and car rentals to your booking. Bundle everything together, and you could save hundreds of dollars.
Can I cancel or change the date of my flight from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles Intl. Airport (IAD)?
It's usually possible to reschedule or cancel your SFO to IAD flight. However, if the booking was made more than 24 hours ago, additional fees may apply. Check your airline's policies in your itinerary to see what changes are possible and if any costs are involved. You'll also find further details on our Customer Service portal.

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