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Flight Time from New York to San Francisco

Search New York to San Francisco flightsLive fares on Trip.com for your dates
By Sophie1 min readPublished
Table of contents
Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
Photo: Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0

Flight time

5h 47m

estimated nonstop

Distance

2,580 mi

Time difference

San Francisco is 3 hours behind New York.

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Estimated nonstop time from great-circle distance and typical airline block speeds. Actual times vary about ±30 min with winds, routing and aircraft - eastbound is usually faster than westbound. Times shown for direct flights; connections add layover time.

In Brief

How long is the flight from New York to San Francisco?

The flight from New York (JFK) to San Francisco (SFO) takes approximately 5h 47m nonstop, covering a great-circle distance of 2,580 mi (4,152 km). San Francisco is 3 hours behind New York. Actual times vary by about 30 minutes with winds, air-traffic routing and aircraft type, and connecting flights take longer once you add layover time.

Key takeaways

  • Flight time: about 5h 47m nonstop (JFK → SFO).
  • Distance: 2,580 mi / 4,152 km great-circle.
  • San Francisco is 3 hours behind New York.
  • Eastbound is usually 30-60 min faster than westbound on long routes.
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New York to San Francisco flight: FAQ

Flight time, distance and time difference for this route.

The nonstop flight from New York (JFK) to San Francisco (SFO) takes about 5h 47m, covering a great-circle distance of 2,580 mi (4,152 km). Actual times vary by roughly 30 minutes with winds, routing and aircraft; connecting flights take longer once you add the layover.

New York and San Francisco are about 2,580 mi (4,152 km) apart as the crow flies - the great-circle distance airlines fly close to. San Francisco is 3 hours behind New York.

Roughly, but not exactly. The distance is identical, so the estimate is the same both ways, but in reality one direction is usually 30-60 minutes faster because of high-altitude winds - eastbound flights ride the jet stream while westbound flights fight a headwind.

San Francisco is 3 hours behind New York. That's based on standard time-zone offsets and doesn't account for daylight saving, so it can shift by an hour around DST changeovers. Use the calculator above with your departure time to see your local arrival time.

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