Flight time from Los Angeles to San Francisco

A nonstop flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to San Francisco (SFO) takes about 1 h 30 min. Flying back from San Francisco to Los Angeles takes about 1 h 25 min. The two airports are 338 miles (543 km) apart.

Example arrival times are for a departure on November 18, 2026. Times are estimates of gate-to-gate block time, from the great-circle distance, typical jet cruising speeds, average upper-level winds and about 45 minutes for taxi, take-off, climb and landing. They are not airline schedules, and we don't track which airlines fly this route nonstop. Real flights vary by aircraft, routing, season and the day's wind; check your airline for the exact time.

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Time difference

San Francisco and Los Angeles are on the same clock time right now. See the time now in Los Angeles and San Francisco, or compare them in the time zone converter.

Questions people ask

How long is the flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco?

A nonstop flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to San Francisco (SFO) takes about 1 h 30 min, gate to gate. The return flight takes about 1 h 25 min.

How far is San Francisco from Los Angeles?

338 miles (543 km) along the great-circle route, the shortest path over the Earth between LAX and SFO airports.

What is the time difference between Los Angeles and San Francisco?

San Francisco and Los Angeles are on the same clock time right now. The difference can change by an hour during the year when one city changes its clocks for daylight saving time and the other does not.

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Last updated October 21, 2026. Airport locations: OurAirports via airportsdata; time zones: IANA time zone database 2026.