Travelling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Philadelphia: what you need to know
Take a direct flight from San Francisco International Airport to Philadelphia and you'll be in the air for an average of 6 hours 10 minutes.
The timezone in Philadelphia is UTC-4. The city is 3 hours ahead of San Francisco, where San Francisco International Airport is located.
With 42 weekly flights between the two airports, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is the most popular route. American Airlines operates the earliest flight at 01:38. If you'd like to make the most of your day before jetting off, the last flight from SFO to PHL is with United at 23:59.
To ensure you get on your flight from SFO to Philadelphia, allow plenty of time to check in and find your gate. Arriving two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
If you're travelling during a popular month like August, head to the airport even earlier. It's smart to arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours ahead of a domestic departure. Check-in and security lines are longer during peak periods like summer, Christmas and New Year.
You can catch a nonstop flight from San Francisco International Airport to Philadelphia that touches down at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
American Airlines is a leading airline that operates direct flights from San Francisco International Airport to Philadelphia.
After booking your cheap tickets from San Francisco International Airport to Philadelphia, get your travel documents in order. A passport or visa isn't required since you're travelling within United States. As long as you have some other valid form of identification, such as an ID card or driver's licence, you're ready to go.
Located around 21 kilometres from the centre of San Francisco, SFO can be reached in about 20 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The same journey on public transport will take roughly 47 minutes.
Booked an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to Philadelphia? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the airport (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by choosing one of these stays near SFO:
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Philadelphia
79 € is the cheapest price we've found for a one-way ticket from San Francisco International Airport to Philadelphia. For a return flight on this route, the best price is 158 €. Depending on when and how early you book, these fares may change.
Book 9 months before you want to fly. After looking at the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to find cheap tickets from SFO to Philadelphia.
Organise your trip for May. That's the cheapest month for tickets from San Francisco International Airport to Philadelphia. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest price across every month.
Log into your online account or use the app to create a Price Alert. We'll get in touch straight away if there's a better deal on this route. It doesn't take long, and it'll save you the hassle of searching for cheap tickets from SFO to Philadelphia every day.
Make the most of the filters to find your ideal journey. To see the 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from San Francisco International Airport to Philadelphia, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter results by airline, departure and arrival times, and journey duration.
Airports in Philadelphia
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to central Philadelphia is roughly 19 kilometres. It'll take you around 17 minutes to get to the centre driving.
Travelling on public transport takes about 44 minutes.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from San Francisco International Airport to Philadelphia. Book one of these accommodation options near PHL instead:
Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN)
The centre of Philadelphia is located around 56 kilometres from Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN). After your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Philadelphia has hit the runway and you've made your way through the terminal, expect a drive of about 39 minutes.
The journey will take about 1 hour and 43 minutes on public transport.
You'll find some great places to call home for the night near TTN. Settle in and get cosy after your flight from SFO to Philadelphia at any of these perfectly located options:
Best time to go to Philadelphia
It's time to figure out your dates for your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Philadelphia. August is the most popular month to travel to Philadelphia. If you like a quieter atmosphere, go in February.
The warmest month in Philadelphia is July, with temperatures ranging between 18ºC and 32ºC. Lock in your flights from San Francisco International Airport to Philadelphia in this month if you enjoy this type of weather.
January sees average temperatures of between -7ºC and 9ºC. Search for cheap flights from SFO to Philadelphia sometime around then if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.
More about Philadelphia
After locking in your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Philadelphia, think about where to rest your head in this city. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Philadelphia:
There are so many things to do and see in this city it can be tricky to know where to start. Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Philadelphia Museum of Art are top sights which should be on every Philadelphia itinerary.
Complete your Philadelphia trip with a car rental
Select one of our car rentals in Philadelphia and explore the city at your leisure. Easily compare companies in one place to find your ideal ride once you've locked in your hotel and cheap flights from San Francisco International Airport to Philadelphia.