San Diego (SAN) to San Francisco (SFO) is 447 miles in a straight line, about 1h 24m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 6 air traffic control facilities along the way.
Who handles your flight
Every airliner is passed from one air traffic control facility to the next. On the most direct path, these are the teams that guide you, in order. Weather and traffic can send a flight through other centers, so your actual flight may differ a little.
- SANTowerSan Diego Tower (SAN)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
- SCTTRACONSouthern California TRACON (SCT)Guides the climb outThank them →
- ZLACenterLos Angeles ARTCC (ZLA)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
- ZOACenterOakland ARTCC (ZOA)Starts your descentThank them →
- NCTTRACONNorthern California TRACON (NCT)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
- SFOTowerSan Francisco Tower (SFO)Clears you to landThank them →
Flying the other way
San Francisco (SFO) to San Diego (SAN)
SFO → NCT → ZOA → ZLA → SCT → SAN
About the airports
San Diego International Airport
San Diego, CA
Codes: SAN · KSAN
Time zone: Pacific
Control tower: San Diego Tower (SAN)
San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco, CA
Codes: SFO · KSFO
Time zone: Pacific
Control tower: San Francisco Tower (SFO)
More routes
- San Diego (SAN) to Atlanta (ATL)
- San Diego (SAN) to Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW)
- San Diego (SAN) to Denver (DEN)
- San Diego (SAN) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
- San Diego (SAN) to New York JFK (JFK)
- San Diego (SAN) to Las Vegas (LAS)
- San Diego (SAN) to Orlando (MCO)
- San Diego (SAN) to Miami (MIA)
- San Diego (SAN) to Charlotte (CLT)
- San Diego (SAN) to Seattle (SEA)
- San Diego (SAN) to Phoenix (PHX)
- San Diego (SAN) to Newark (EWR)
- San Diego (SAN) to Houston (IAH)
- San Diego (SAN) to Boston (BOS)
- San Diego (SAN) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
- San Diego (SAN) to Minneapolis (MSP)
How we figure this out
Distance is the great-circle distance between the two airports, the shortest path over the curved Earth. Flight time assumes an average airliner speed of about 500 mph plus about 30 minutes for taxi, takeoff and landing. The list of facilities follows the same path, using each airport's tower and approach control and the FAA's en route center boundaries.
Say thanks to the controllers who got you there. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and every post is checked before it goes up.
Common questions
How long is the flight from San Diego (SAN) to San Francisco (SFO)?
About 1h 24m gate to gate for the 447-mile trip. Flying west, you often fight a headwind, so it can take a little longer.
How far is San Diego (SAN) from San Francisco (SFO)?
447 miles (388 nautical miles, 719 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.
Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from San Diego (SAN) to San Francisco (SFO)?
Usually 6 facilities: San Diego Tower (SAN), Southern California TRACON (SCT), Los Angeles ARTCC (ZLA), Oakland ARTCC (ZOA), Northern California TRACON (NCT) and San Francisco Tower (SFO). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.
Is there a time change between San Diego (SAN) and San Francisco (SFO)?
No. San Diego (SAN) and San Francisco (SFO) are in the same time zone.