$94 Cheap Flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Washington (DCA)

View $94 flight on Tue, May 20, 2025Opens in a new window

  • Plan, book, fly with confidence

  • trending down icon
    Be in the know
    Get alerts if flight prices drop or rise*
  • bex rewards loyalty icon
    Book smarter
    Save up to 30% on select hotels after you book a flight*
  • one key icon
    Earn twice
    Earn your airline miles on top of our OneKeyCash
    Learn about One Key
Find available prices by choosing your travel dates.

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Washington (SFO-DCA)

Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $94 for one-way flights and $188 for round trip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change. Additional terms apply.

Frontier Airlines
Sat, May 24 - Sat, May 31
SFO
San Francisco
DCA
Washington
$188 Roundtrip, just found
$188
Roundtrip
just found
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Sat, May 24 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Sat, May 31, priced at $188 just found
Frontier Airlines
Wed, May 14 - Mon, Jun 2
SFO
San Francisco
DCA
Washington
$198 Roundtrip, just found
$198
Roundtrip
just found
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Wed, May 14 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Mon, Jun 2, priced at $198 just found
Frontier Airlines
Sat, May 24 - Sat, May 31
SFO
San Francisco
DCA
Washington
$208 Roundtrip, just found
$208
Roundtrip
just found
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Sat, May 24 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Sat, May 31, priced at $208 just found
Frontier Airlines
Tue, May 13 - Sat, May 24
SFO
San Francisco
DCA
Washington
$213 Roundtrip, just found
$213
Roundtrip
just found
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Tue, May 13 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Sat, May 24, priced at $213 just found
Frontier Airlines
Sat, May 24 - Sat, May 31
SFO
San Francisco
DCA
Washington
$218 Roundtrip, just found
$218
Roundtrip
just found
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Sat, May 24 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Sat, May 31, priced at $218 just found
Alaska Airlines
Tue, May 20 - Sat, May 24
SFO
San Francisco
DCA
Washington
$222 Roundtrip, found 1 hour ago
$222
Roundtrip
found 1 hour ago
Select Alaska Airlines flight, departing Tue, May 20 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Sat, May 24, priced at $222 found 1 hour ago
Alaska Airlines
Tue, May 20 - Sat, May 24
SFO
San Francisco
DCA
Washington
$228 Roundtrip, found 1 hour ago
$228
Roundtrip
found 1 hour ago
Select Alaska Airlines flight, departing Tue, May 20 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Sat, May 24, priced at $228 found 1 hour ago
United
Sat, May 17 - Tue, May 20
SFO
San Francisco
DCA
Washington
$237 Roundtrip, just found
$237
Roundtrip
just found
Select United flight, departing Sat, May 17 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Tue, May 20, priced at $237 just found
American Airlines
Sat, May 17 - Tue, May 20
SFO
San Francisco
DCA
Washington
$257 Roundtrip, just found
$257
Roundtrip
just found
Select American Airlines flight, departing Sat, May 17 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Tue, May 20, priced at $257 just found
Southwest Airlines
Wed, May 14 - Wed, May 21
SFO
San Francisco
DCA
Washington
$257 Roundtrip, found 6 hours ago
$257
Roundtrip
found 6 hours ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Wed, May 14 from San Francisco to Washington, returning Wed, May 21, priced at $257 found 6 hours ago
Flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Washington (DCA)
Origin airport
San Francisco Intl.
Destination airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National
Airlines serving
Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United
Roundtrip price
$182
Distance
2436 mi

San Francisco to Washington Flights

The cheapest times to fly from San Francisco to Washington

On average, Thursday can be the cheapest time to fly, according to data from the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), one of the world's biggest databases for global airline sales. The data reveals that you could save up to 16% by flying on a Thursday—the cheapest day to travel on average—instead of a Sunday—the most expensive. Some of the most affordable flights from San Francisco to Washington are during the month of May. You can find some of the cheapest flights from San Francisco to Washington with Expedia's search tool and vast selection of airlines.

The best time to book a flight from San Francisco to Washington

Sunday is one of the best days to book for cheap flights from San Francisco to Washington: Tickets reserved on a Sunday cost between 6% and 13% less than those reserved on a Friday, according to ARC data. The data also suggests booking early can also lead to cheaper airfares. You could save 24% by buying your tickets for domestic flights at least a month in advance and 10% by booking international flights 2 months in advance.

How to find cheap round-trip tickets from San Francisco to Washington

Being flexible with your dates and using Expedia's Price Drop Protection and Price Tracking features are some of the best ways of finding a cheap ticket from San Francisco to Washington in 2025. You can also book with separate airlines for your outbound and return journeys, from $94 one-way. Expedia also offers Price Drop Protection, so if the cost of your airfare goes down after booking, you'll receive a credit for the difference*. This is available for a small fee, and is free to One Key Gold and Platinum tier members.

Expedia's Price Tracking feature means you can stay on top of airfares without manually checking every day. It sends you automated price alerts for cheap San Francisco to Washington flights and uses historical data to indicate when the best time to book is. Download Expedia's free app to activate this handy tool in a few easy taps.

You could also save big by booking one of Expedia's vacation packages. Bundling together your San Francisco to Washington airfare with your accommodations and car rental is often cheaper than booking everything separately. There’s also One Key, Expedia's generous rewards program. Join for free and you could earn One Key cash on most bookings to save on future adventures.

*Terms apply.

Disclaimer: ARC The statistics are based on average round-trip ticket prices between January and August 2023. The percentages you see are averages.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a flight from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) cost?
You can land cheap return fares from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) starting from $237. Snag a seat and be on your way. This information is based on the cheapest price found on Expedia for this return journey departing within the next three months. This airfare is for a United flight leaving SFO on May 17 2025 and touching down at DCA. The price was last updated on April 22 2025 and has not changed since.
What is the cheapest month to fly from SFO to DCA?
The cheapest flights from SFO to DCA are usually during off-peak season, when demand is lower. To save money, avoid flying during public holidays, school breaks and major local events.
Which airlines fly direct from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)?
Take a nonstop flight with United Airlines and head straight from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
What is the cheapest airline that flies from SFO to DCA?
With tickets starting at $119 for a one-way flight from SFO to DCA, United is currently the cheapest carrier flying this route. This fare is based on the lowest price found on Expedia departing within the next three months. The flight takes off from SFO on June 4 2025. Prices were last updated on April 22 2025 and have not changed since.
How many flights per day from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)?
When departing from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO), you’ll have your pick from an average of 2 daily direct flights to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
What are the most popular departure times for flights from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)?
The 8 AM departures from SFO to DCA are the top choice for many travelers. These flights can come with a higher price due to their popularity. If you’re looking to save, choose a less crowded time to fly.
What day of the week has the most flights from SFO to DCA?
If you travel on a Saturday, you’ll get the biggest range of choices for flights from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
What is the earliest flight from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)?
The first flight of the day out of San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) is at around 8:20AM UTC-8. Board this flight and you’ll arrive at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) at approximately 4:32PM UTC-5. The overall travel time is 5h 12m.
How long does it take to fly from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)?
The average flight duration from SFO to DCA is 5 hours and 14 minutes, covering a total distance of 2,400 mi.
What airline has the least delays from SFO to DCA?
With 89% of journeys usually arriving as scheduled, United Airlines has the best on-time performance for direct flights from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). To check your flight status and receive notifications if anything changes, simply head to the Expedia App.
What is the best time to fly from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)?
To touch down at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on time, select a flight that takes off from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) before 3 PM. The likelihood of cancellations is 22% higher, on average, for departures after this hour.**Most reliable time of the day and month to travel recommendation is based on January through August 2024 flight status data sourced from OAG’s global flight data platform.
What airports do you fly into for Washington from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO)?
Book a direct flight from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Washington and land at one of these airports:

  • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
  • Washington Dulles Intl. Airport (IAD)
  • Baltimore Washington Intl. Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

Is it cheaper to buy a plane ticket from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) last-minute?
Waiting until just before your trip to book your flight from SFO to DCA generally means paying more. While you may find some last-minute offers, there’s no guarantee. Allow some flexibility in your schedule to maximize your chances of snagging a bargain.
Is it cheaper to book a SFO to DCA flight and hotel package?
Compared with arranging hotels and flights separately, booking a SFO to DCA flight and hotel package with Expedia could result in significant savings. Better still, managing everything in one place will take the stress out of travel planning. Just pick your flights and choose from our wide range of stays, then tailor your trip with extras like tours and car rentals.
Can I cancel or change the date of my flight from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)?
You can usually cancel or reschedule your SFO to DCA flight. However, for bookings made more than 24 hours ago, additional fees may apply. Refer to your airline’s policies in your itinerary to see what changes are possible and if any costs are involved. You’ll also find more information on our Customer Service portal.

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

*Available to One Key members.