San Francisco (SFO) to Orlando (MCO)

Distance, flight time and the air traffic controllers who guide you.

Quick answer

San Francisco (SFO) to Orlando (MCO) is 2,442 miles in a straight line, about 5h 23m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 12 air traffic control facilities along the way.

2,442miles
2,122nautical miles
3,929kilometers
~5h 23mestimated flight time
+3 htime change on arrival
Eastinitial heading

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.

  1. SFOTowerSan Francisco Tower (SFO)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
  2. NCTTRACONNorthern California TRACON (NCT)Guides the climb outThank them →
  3. ZOACenterOakland ARTCC (ZOA)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
  4. ZLACenterLos Angeles ARTCC (ZLA)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  5. ZDVCenterDenver ARTCC (ZDV)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  6. ZABCenterAlbuquerque ARTCC (ZAB)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  7. ZFWCenterFort Worth ARTCC (ZFW)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  8. ZMECenterMemphis ARTCC (ZME)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  9. ZHUCenterHouston ARTCC (ZHU)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  10. ZJXCenterJacksonville ARTCC (ZJX)Starts your descentThank them →
  11. F11TRACONCentral Florida TRACON (F11)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
  12. MCOTowerOrlando International Tower (MCO)Clears you to landThank them →

Flying the other way

Orlando (MCO) to San Francisco (SFO)

MCO → F11 → ZJX → ZHU → ZME → ZFW → ZAB → ZDV → ZLA → ZOA → NCT → SFO

About the airports

San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco, CA

Codes: SFO · KSFO

Time zone: Pacific

Control tower: San Francisco Tower (SFO)

Thank the tower →

Orlando International Airport

Orlando, FL

Codes: MCO · KMCO

Time zone: Eastern

Control tower: Orlando International Tower (MCO)

Thank the tower →

More routes

All flight routes →

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.

Find your airport or ATC facility →

Common questions

How long is the flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Orlando (MCO)?

About 5h 23m gate to gate for the 2,442-mile trip. Flying east, you often pick up a tailwind, so it can be a little shorter.

How far is San Francisco (SFO) from Orlando (MCO)?

2,442 miles (2,122 nautical miles, 3,929 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 Francisco (SFO) to Orlando (MCO)?

Usually 12 facilities: San Francisco Tower (SFO), Northern California TRACON (NCT), Oakland ARTCC (ZOA), Los Angeles ARTCC (ZLA), Denver ARTCC (ZDV), Albuquerque ARTCC (ZAB), Fort Worth ARTCC (ZFW), Memphis ARTCC (ZME), Houston ARTCC (ZHU), Jacksonville ARTCC (ZJX), Central Florida TRACON (F11) and Orlando International Tower (MCO). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.

Is there a time change between San Francisco (SFO) and Orlando (MCO)?

Yes. Orlando (MCO) is 3 hours ahead of San Francisco (SFO).

Updated October 2026

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