Cheap flights from Washington to San Francisco from $466 DCA, IAD → SFO
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) → San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
The cheapest return found recently is $466 with Frontier Airlines, 19 Nov – 25 Nov, found yesterday.
- Cheapest return found recently
- $466, 19 Nov to 25 Nov
- Usual return price
- $392 to $478
- Cheapest month to fly
- January 2027, return fares from $330 found in the last 7 days
- Airlines with nonstop flights
- United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines
Return
The cheapest return fare on each of 9 departure dates is usually $392 to $478.
Cheapest return found recently
$466
19 Nov – 25 Nov · Frontier Airlines
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) → San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Leaves 6:00 p.m. · Return leaves 9:23 p.m. · 21 h 56 min of travel, both ways together
out 1 stop, back 1 stop · via Denver International Airport (DEN) · overnight connection · 7 h connection
found yesterday
Cheapest nonstop return
$1,044
19 Nov – 26 Nov · United Airlines
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) → San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Leaves 9:25 a.m. · Return leaves 2:43 a.m. · 11 h 13 min of travel, both ways together
out nonstop, back nonstop
found yesterday
Found recently, and the cheapest we hold
$466 19 Nov – 25 Novfound yesterdaySee prices for these dates
$330 9 Jan 2027 – 27 Jan 2027found 6 days agoSee prices for these dates
What have prices looked like?
Over 50 days, 24 Sept to 12 Nov, the cheapest return we saw each day was $193 to $514.
Those were the prices on those days, not today's.
Is this a good return price?
Compared with the cheapest return fare on each of 9 departure dates from 14 Nov to 17 Jan 2027, found by travelers' searches in the last 7 days (economy, the price the seller showed on Aviasales). The usual range is the middle half of those prices.
Could nearby dates be cheaper?
Yes. Among 6-night return fares leaving within 3 days of 19 Nov, 18 Nov – 24 Nov costs $461: $5 less than the cheapest found recently.
Frontier Airlines · Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) → San Francisco International Airport (SFO) · out 1 stop, back 1 stop · found 4 days ago
Every date we hold
149 fares on 9 departure dates
See the chart as a table
| Dates | From | Airline | Airports | Stops | Found | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Nov – 22 Nov | $491 | Frontier Airlines | Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) → San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | out 1 stop, back 1 stop | found 4 days ago | See prices for these dates |
| 15 Nov – 21 Nov | $519 | Frontier Airlines | Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) → San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | out 1 stop, back 1 stop | found yesterday | See prices for these dates |
| 16 Nov – 24 Nov | $478 | Frontier Airlines | Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) → San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | out 1 stop, back 1 stop | found 4 days ago | See prices for these dates |
| 17 Nov – 25 Nov | $392 | Frontier Airlines | Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) → San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | out 1 stop, back 1 stop | found 4 days ago | See prices for these dates |
| 18 Nov – 24 Nov | $461 | Frontier Airlines | Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) → San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | out 1 stop, back 1 stop | found 4 days ago | See prices for these dates |
| 19 Nov – 25 Nov | $466 | Frontier Airlines | Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) → San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | out 1 stop, back 1 stop | found yesterday | See prices for these dates |
| 24 Nov – 30 Nov | $417 | Frontier Airlines | Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) → San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | out 1 stop, back 1 stop | found 7 days ago | See prices for these dates |
| 9 Jan 2027 – 27 Jan 2027 | $330 | Frontier Airlines | Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) → San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | out 1 stop, back 3 stops | found 6 days ago | See prices for these dates |
| 17 Jan 2027 – 31 Jan 2027 | $343 | Frontier Airlines | Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) → San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | out 3 stops, back 3 stops | found 6 days ago | See prices for these dates |
Which month looks cheapest?
January 2027 is the cheapest month — from $330.
Airlines on the cheapest dates: Frontier Airlines.
Premium cabin fares from Washington to San Francisco
We hold no premium economy, business or first-class fares for this route: we collect them for the busiest routes, and this one is not among them yet.
Today's prices for 19 Nov – 25 Nov in another cabin: Premium economy · Business · First
How far ahead were prices cheapest for Washington to San Francisco?
Return
Fares 14 to 29 days before departure were typically 37% lower than 0 to 6 days before departure.
From the cheapest return each day between 24 Sept and 12 Nov (50 days), grouped by how many days ahead the flight left; one adult in economy.
Each range covers different departure dates, so this compares typical fares, not the same trip priced twice.
Prices reflect recent searches — current fares may differ.
See these ranges as a table
| Booked ahead by | Typical fare | Cheapest day | Above the cheapest | Days of prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–6 days | $459 | $392 | +58% | 30 |
| 7–13 days | $380 | $334 | +31% | 28 |
| 14–29 days | $290 | $260 | Cheapest seen | 32 |
| 30–59 days | $319 | $193 | +10% | 36 |
| 60–89 days | $371 | $286 | +28% | 24 |
| 90–179 days | $591 | $591 | +104% | 7 |
Could a nearby airport be cheaper?
A different airport at either end can change the fare — sometimes a lot.
Return
Washington → San Jose
67 km from San Francisco
$487
$21 more than flying to San Francisco
19 Nov – 25 Nov · IAD → SJC · out 1 stop, back 1 stop
found yesterday
Baltimore → San Francisco
57 km from Washington
$494
$28 more than flying from Washington
19 Nov – 25 Nov · BWI → SFO · out 1 stop, back 1 stop
found yesterday
Washington → Sacramento
121 km from San Francisco
$607
$141 more than flying to San Francisco
1 Jul 2027 – 4 Jul 2027 · IAD → SMF · out 1 stop, back 1 stop
found 6 days ago
Cheapest recent price on each route — round trip, per traveler in Economy. Distances are in a straight line.
One-way
Washington → San Jose
67 km from San Francisco
$160
7 Dec · DCA → SJC · 1 stop
found yesterday
Cheapest recent price on each route — one way, per traveler in Economy. Distances are in a straight line.
Live price for these dates
The cheapest return found recently is for 19 Nov – 25 Nov. A live search on this page shows what those dates cost now, for one adult in economy.
Questions about this trip
How much is a return flight from Washington to San Francisco?
The cheapest return found recently is $466 with Frontier Airlines, 19 Nov to 25 Nov, found yesterday. The cheapest return we hold, of any age, is $330 with Frontier Airlines, 9 Jan 2027 to 27 Jan 2027, found 6 days ago. The cheapest return fare on each of 9 departure dates is usually $392 to $478.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Washington to San Francisco?
January 2027 is the cheapest month for a return, from $330, 9 Jan 2027 to 27 Jan 2027, found 6 days ago.
How far ahead should I book a flight from Washington to San Francisco?
In 50 days of prices between 24 Sept and 12 Nov, return fares 14 to 29 days before departure were typically 37% lower than 0 to 6 days before departure.
Is there a direct flight from Washington to San Francisco?
Yes, the cheapest nonstop return found recently is $1,044 with United Airlines, 19 Nov to 26 Nov, found yesterday.
Which airlines have the cheapest flights from Washington to San Francisco?
Between 14 Nov and 17 Jan 2027, Frontier Airlines has the cheapest return on all 9 departure dates we hold.
Prices are what travelers' searches on Aviasales found in the last 7 days, in US dollars: the price the seller showed on Aviasales; bags may cost extra. Fares change, so check today's price before you book. How our prices work