Downtown San Francisco skyline with the Transamerica Pyramid. Flights from Denver to San Francisco

Route guide

Cheap Flights from Denver to San Francisco

Compare partner fares from Denver International (DEN) to San Francisco International (SFO), with tips on the DEN train to the gates and BART from SFO.

DEN to SFO · 965 mi · 2h 41m est.

DEN to SFO
965 miles
2h 41m nonstop (estimated)
5 airlines in our fare results

Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Denver to San Francisco flight insights

Average flight time

~2h 41m (estimated)

DEN → SFO

Cheapest cached price

$115

Checking live fares…

Prices shown may not be current. Last checked: Oct 20, 2026.

Planning a trip from Denver to San Francisco? The average flight time on this route is ~2h 41m (estimated). The lowest fare we recorded on this route recently was $115 (last checked Oct 20, 2026); today's live fare for your dates can differ.

Denver to San Francisco covers a straight-line distance of about 965 miles. Based on that distance, a nonstop flight would take approximately ~2h 41m (estimated). Actual flight time varies by airline, aircraft and routing.

Denver to San Francisco at a glance

DEN to SFO is about 965 miles in a straight line. The curved line is an illustration; the route your airline flies may differ.

Route Quick Facts

Quick facts for flights from Denver to San Francisco on Eazair
Origin	Denver (DEN)
Destination	San Francisco (SFO)
Average Flight Time	~2h 41m (estimated)
Current Lowest Fare	$115
Fares Last Checked	Oct 20, 2026
Distance	965 miles (DEN to SFO)
Time in San Francisco	1 hour behind Denver
Airlines in our fare results	5

Local time in San Francisco is 1 hour behind Denver. Denver is on Mountain Time, San Francisco on Pacific Time.

Flight deals from Denver to San Francisco

Searches here run from Denver International (DEN) to San Francisco International (SFO). Oakland (OAK) and San Jose (SJC) are separate airports in the same region, so make sure each result says SFO. United, American and Delta are the names EazAir's fare checks have returned for this trip. DEN places United at Concourses A and B, Delta at Concourse A and American at Concourse C. SFO terminal locations by airline are not listed here, so check your boarding pass or airline app.

Ride the RTD A Line from Union Station to Denver Airport Station; RTD says an Airport Fare applies. Both DEN security checkpoints, East and West, are on Level 6 and lead to every gate, and DEN said in August 2025 that both take TSA PreCheck and CLEAR. Afterwards, anyone bound for B or C gates takes the main escalators or elevators down to the Level 4 train platform. DEN recommends arriving at least two hours before your flight and points travelers to real-time wait times on its security page.

BART describes SFO as domestic Terminals 1, 2 and 3 plus the International Terminal, all linked by AirTrain. The SFO BART station is on Level 3 of the International Terminal, and BART says it is a short walk to United in Terminal 3, with the other domestic terminals one to three minutes away on AirTrain. BART says trains reach downtown San Francisco in about 30 minutes. SamTrans routes 292, 397 and the late-night ECR OWL also stop at the terminals.

EazAir's first 3 fare checks for DEN to SFO, spread from 17 Sep to 5 Oct 2026, each priced a one-way economy ticket for one adult 30 days ahead and kept the lowest fare. The highest result was at least double the lowest, but 3 checks are too few to show when prices dip. American Basic Economy includes a carry-on; United Basic Economy does not on domestic flights. Search your own dates, and check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

Airports for Denver to San Francisco flights

Departure · Denver

Denver International (DEN)

Mountain Time

Arrival · San Francisco

San Francisco International (SFO)

Pacific Time

Other airports near San Francisco Bay Area: Oakland International (OAK), Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International (SJC)

About San Francisco

Areas to know in San Francisco

Mission District
North Beach
Hayes Valley

Weather in San Francisco

A Mediterranean climate, though famously cool and foggy in summer due to marine influence.

Denver to San Francisco: airport and fare guide

Checked on 17 Oct 2026 against the airport, airline and transit pages listed under Sources. Airports and airlines change these details, so confirm them with your airline before you fly.

Oakland (OAK) and San Jose (SJC) are separate airports in the same region. Check that your ticket says SFO.

Leaving from Denver International (DEN)

Airline	DEN concourse
Delta	Concourse A
United	Concourses A and B
American	Concourse C
Other airlines	Check your boarding pass or airline app.

Ride the RTD A Line from Union Station to Denver Airport Station. RTD says an Airport Fare applies.
RTD also lists airport bus routes, including AB1 and AB2 from Boulder, AT and ATA from Arapahoe County and 145X from Brighton. RTD says SkyRide bus trips to or from DEN need an Airport Fare.
DEN's East and West security checkpoints are both on Level 6 and give access to all airline gates.
DEN said on 7 Oct 2026 that West Security is open from 3:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. and East Security from 3 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Both take TSA PreCheck and CLEAR.
DEN recommends arriving at least two hours before your flight to allow time for security, and its security page points travelers to real-time wait times.
The final phase of the Great Hall Program includes renovating airline check-in on the south end of Level 6, and DEN says the whole program will be done by the end of 2027.

Arriving at San Francisco International (SFO)

Airline terminal locations are not listed here. Check your boarding pass or airline app for your terminal.

BART describes SFO as having domestic Terminals 1, 2 and 3 plus the International Terminal.
The BART station is in the International Terminal on Level 3. BART says it is a short walk from Terminals 1 and 3.
AirTrain links all terminals with the BART station. BART says the domestic terminals are one to three minutes away on AirTrain.

Getting from SFO	Where to board	Where it goes
BART	SFO station, International Terminal, Level 3. From Terminals 1, 2 and 3, walk or take the AirTrain Red Line, BART says.	BART lists two lines here, Antioch to SFIA/Millbrae and Richmond to Millbrae/SFIA. About 30 minutes to downtown San Francisco, according to BART.
AirTrain	All terminals, BART says.	Terminals 1, 2 and 3 and the BART station in the International Terminal.
Caltrain via Millbrae	Take BART from the SFO station to Millbrae, a 4-minute ride, according to BART.	Caltrain, through the cross-platform connection BART lists at Millbrae.
SamTrans buses	Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 on the Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level, and the International Terminal on Level 1 at Courtyard A or curbside next to Courtyard G, SamTrans says.	Routes 292, 397 and late-night ECR OWL stop at the terminals and serve San Mateo County and San Francisco, according to SamTrans.

What the lowest fares include

Fare	Carry-on	Checked bag	Seat	Changes
Delta Main Basic	Delta says every passenger can bring one carry-on and one personal item free.	Delta charges for checked bags on domestic flights unless you qualify for a waiver, such as Medallion status or an eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express card.	Assigned after check-in. You may be able to buy a seat ahead of time for a fee.	Refunds are not allowed after the 24-hour risk-free cancellation window. Delta says a change or cancellation may be possible for a fee, with any value left as an eCredit.
American Basic Economy	Included, plus a personal item.	Not included, except for some AAdvantage status members and eligible cardmembers.	A free seat is assigned at check-in, or you can pay to choose one.	Generally not allowed. American describes a 24-hour window and some credit options on its Basic Economy page.
United Basic Economy	Not included on domestic flights. One personal item only, unless you are a MileagePlus Premier member, travel with one, or hold a qualifying MileagePlus card.	Not included; check United's bag fee calculator.	Assigned by United before boarding.	Changes may not be allowed. Refund if cancelled within 24 hours of booking, under United's 24-hour policy; after that, partial travel credit.

Based on the airlines' own pages, checked on 17 Oct 2026. Fees are left out because they change often. Check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

How EazAir measured fares on this route

EazAir's first 3 fare checks from Denver to San Francisco ran from 17 Sep to 5 Oct 2026. Each check asked partner travel sites for the lowest one-way economy fare for one adult, departing 30 days after the check. Results can include connecting flights. The highest result was at least double the lowest. With only 3 checks, this cannot show a pattern. Search your own dates for current prices.

Sources

DEN: Airlines (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DEN: Security (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DEN: Great Hall Program (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DEN: East security checkpoint opens (4 Aug 2025, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DEN: Passenger surge during Fall Break travel rush (7 Oct 2026, accessed 26 Oct 2026)
RTD: Airport (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
BART: San Francisco International Airport (SFO) station (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
BART: Getting to SFO (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
BART: Millbrae station (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SamTrans: Airport service (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Delta Main Basic (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Fares and discounts (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Carry-on baggage (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Bags (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
American Airlines: Basic Economy (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
United: Basic Economy FAQ (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
EazAir fare checks for DEN to SFO, 17 Sep 2026 to 5 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

Which San Francisco airport does this page search?

It searches San Francisco International (SFO). Oakland (OAK) and San Jose (SJC) are separate airports in the same region, so check that your ticket says SFO.

How do I get from SFO to downtown San Francisco?

Take AirTrain or walk to the BART station on Level 3 of the International Terminal. BART says trains take about 30 minutes to downtown San Francisco.

Can I reach Caltrain from SFO?

Yes, by BART. BART says Millbrae is a 4-minute ride from SFO and has a cross-platform connection to Caltrain.

How do I get to the B and C gates at DEN?

After security, take the main escalators or elevators down to the Level 4 train platform. DEN says the train links Jeppesen Terminal with all three concourses.

Do the lowest fares on this route include a carry-on?

Delta says every passenger can bring a carry-on free, and American Basic Economy includes one. United Basic Economy allows only a personal item on domestic flights, unless a MileagePlus exception applies.

How far apart are DEN and SFO?

DEN and SFO are about 965 miles apart in a straight line. Flight times vary by airline, direction and routing, so check the scheduled time shown with each result.

Airline bag fees

Baggage allowances differ significantly between fare classes (Basic/Light vs. Standard/Flex) and can change over time. Always verify the exact allowance for your specific fare with the airline before you fly.

Checked bag fees from each airline's own website
Airline	Carry-on, basic economy	1st checked bag	2nd checked bag	Source
American Airlines	Included	$45	$55	aa.com, Sep 24, 2026
United Airlines	Not included	$40	$50	united.com, Sep 24, 2026
Delta Air Lines	Included	$45	$55	delta.com, Sep 24, 2026
Southwest Airlines	Included	$45	$55	southwest.com, Oct 27, 2026
JetBlue	Included	$45	$59	jetblue.com, Sep 24, 2026
Alaska Airlines	Included	$45	$55	alaskaair.com, Sep 24, 2026
Frontier Airlines	Not included	Varies	Varies	flyfrontier.com, Sep 24, 2026
Sun Country Airlines	Not included	Varies	Varies	suncountry.com, Sep 24, 2026

Domestic US fees per bag, each way, when paid online in advance. "Varies" means the airline prices bags by route and date.

Travel tips

Arrive early for domestic flights

TSA generally recommends arriving at least 2 hours before a domestic departure, more at larger hub airports during peak travel periods.

Pack a mixed carry-on

Keep a change of clothes, chargers, and any essentials in your carry-on rather than only your checked bag, in case of a delay or a bag that doesn't arrive with you.

Screenshot your confirmation

Save a screenshot or PDF of your booking confirmation and boarding pass before you travel, in case you lose signal or battery at the airport.

Check in online when it opens

Most airlines open online check-in 24 hours before departure. Checking in early can help with seat selection and, on some airlines, boarding group assignment.