Travelling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Los Angeles: what you need to know
Expect to be in the air for 1 hour 25 minutes. On average, that's the duration of a direct flight from San Francisco International Airport to Los Angeles.
San Francisco (the location of San Francisco International Airport) and Los Angeles are in the same timezone — UTC-7.
The most popular flight route is from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). There are 551 services between these airports every week.
Leave enough time to catch your flight from SFO to Los Angeles. A good rule of thumb is to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Hopping on a plane during a peak time like August? Popular periods (like summer, Christmas/New Year and spring break) can add another hour at check-in and security. Be extra safe and arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
Direct flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Los Angeles are available for booking. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is where you'll be landing.
These are some of the most well-known carriers operating direct flights from San Francisco International Airport to Los Angeles:
You don't need your passport or a visa to fly within United States. You will need a valid form of identification however, like a driver's licence or ID card. Add them to your packing list after booking your cheap tickets from San Francisco International Airport to Los Angeles.
SFO is about 21 kilometres from central San Francisco. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take you 20 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the trip time to be around 47 minutes.
After a leisurely start to your journey? Stay near SFO. Whether you have an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to Los Angeles or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are ideal:
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Los Angeles
37 € is the best price for a one-way ticket from San Francisco International Airport to Los Angeles. A return flight starts at 74 €. These prices can change depending on demand and availability.
Book 8 months before travelling. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you'll want to book ahead to find cheap tickets from SFO to Los Angeles.
Organise your trip for April. That's the cheapest month for tickets from San Francisco International Airport to Los Angeles. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across every month.
Set up a Price Alert for cheap tickets from SFO to Los Angeles. You don't need to check back in every day to find out if fares have dropped. We'll let you know as soon as there's a change in price.
Tailor your travel plans with filters. Pick your departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' flights from San Francisco International Airport to Los Angeles.
Airports in Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is around 32 kilometres from central Los Angeles. With a car rental or if you're catching a cab, the drive is around 32 minutes.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey of around 54 minutes.
If you're coming in on a late flight from San Francisco International Airport to Los Angeles, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and sleeping soon after at one of these accommodation options near LAX:
Van Nuys Airport (VNY)
As soon as your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Los Angeles has hit the tarmac, you can reach the city centre in around 34 minutes by car. Central Los Angeles is approximately 32 kilometres from Van Nuys Airport (VNY).
You can also travel by public transport, which will take around 1 hour and 41 minutes.
After your flight from SFO to Los Angeles, tuck yourself in at a hotel near VNY. These are some comfortable accommodation options that'll help you slip into relaxation mode:
Best time to go to Los Angeles
July is the most popular month to board a flight from San Francisco International Airport to Los Angeles while May is the quietest. To work out the ideal time to visit Los Angeles, consider the pace you like to travel at.
Lock in your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Los Angeles for August to visit the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures to range from 16ºC to 32ºC.
If you want to travel in cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from SFO to Los Angeles in February when temperatures average between 6ºC and 26ºC.
More about Los Angeles
After booking your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Los Angeles, think about where you want to stay in this city. Make one of these options your base for exploring Los Angeles:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be difficult to know where to begin. Griffith Observatory, The Broad and La Brea Tar Pits & Museum are major attractions which should feature on any good Los Angeles itinerary.
Complete your Los Angeles trip with a car rental
We use the same magic that helped you find your cheap flight from San Francisco International Airport to Los Angeles to track down incredible deals on car rentals. Search for your ride in seconds and easily compare your options. Plus we give you all the info you need on car rentals in Los Angeles, from the most popular rental company to the best time to book.
