Travelling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Vancouver International Airport (YVR): what you need to know
Book a direct flight from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver International Airport and you'll be in the air for an average of 2 hours 20 minutes.
Vancouver's timezone is UTC-7, which is the same as San Francisco.
Choose from 85 weekly San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver International Airport flights. The 06:20 departure with Air Canada is the earliest available. United Airlines operates the latest service of the day at 21:05.
For a stress-free journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This will give you plenty of time to catch your SFO to YVR flight.
During popular months such as August, you'll want to get to the airport well in advance. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead of international flights when you fly during a high season in general.
A variety of airlines offer direct flights from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver International Airport, so jetting to Vancouver (and then exploring more of Canada!) is easy. Leading carriers that fly nonstop include:
The airline that passengers book most often on this route is Air Canada.
With a reliable 80.37% of services arriving on schedule, Air Canada is the most punctual carrier for SFO to YVR flights.
We make it a breeze to book a flight with a stopover. To see all your options for tickets from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver International Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, pick a flight offering a stop long enough to visit the city of your choice. Worthwhile stopovers between SFO and YVR include:
Portland International Airport
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Sacramento International Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
The lowest price we've found for a one-way San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver International Airport flight is 14 €. A round-trip fare right now is 92 €. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares may change.
To get cheap tickets from SFO to YVR, book your trip six months before your departure date.
May is the cheapest month for flights from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver International Airport. If you prefer to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest airfares for each month.
You won't have to check every day to see if fares have gone down when you create a Price Alert. We'll update you as soon as there's a new deal on cheap flights from SFO to YVR.
Tailor your trip with filters. Select your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort results by 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' flights from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver International Airport.
Handy information about San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
When it comes to the on-time performance of San Francisco International Airport, 77.36% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
Central San Francisco to San Francisco International Airport is around 21 kilometres. Depending on traffic, it'll take you about 20 minutes to get there if you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a cab.
Taking public transport? Expect a trip time of around 45 minutes.
Need a handy hotel close to SFO? If you're boarding an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver International Airport, these stays will have you sleeping moments from your departure gate:
Arriving at Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Consider staying in a hotel close to YVR if you have a late San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver International Airport flight. Pick one of these accommodation options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Pick up a Vancouver International Airport rental car and explore Vancouver and beyond with your own wheels. Routes Car Rentals, Thrifty and Avis are popular outlets you can book with here.
For the lowest price, book your vehicle from Vancouver International Airport around one week before your trip.
Getting from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to central Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport is approximately 14 kilometres from central Vancouver. The drive time takes around 25 minutes.
It'll take around 35 minutes if you're using public transport.
When to fly to Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
The quietest month for a flight from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver International Airport is May, while August is the most popular. Pick the best time to visit Vancouver based on whether you prefer a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.
The warmest month in Vancouver is August, with temperatures ranging between 13ºC (55ºF) and 24ºC (75ºF). Book your flights from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver International Airport in this month if this is the kind of weather you like.
Look for cheap tickets from SFO to YVR in December if you like cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest around then, ranging between -1ºC (30ºF) and 7ºC (45ºF) on average.
Explore more of Canada
You've seen Vancouver, now it's time to discover more of Canada. Travel about 32 kilometres south-east to Surrey to check off its leading attractions. From Senator Reid Park to Port Mann Park and Morgan Creek Park, you'll have a packed itinerary ahead.
Around 97 kilometres south of Vancouver, Victoria is another essential stop in Canada. Start your sightseeing at Royal BC Museum, Craigdarroch Castle and Inner Harbour.