Los Angeles to San Francisco: what the LAX to SFO corridor looks like
- Departure
- Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, the United States
- Arrival
- San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, the United States
- Great-circle distance
- 544 km (294 nm)
- Typical airborne time
- 1h 08m
- Usual cruise levels
- FL280 to FL360
- Initial track
- northwest bound
Route overview
The LAX to SFO sector connects Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, the United States, with San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, the United States. Measured along the great circle the two airports are 544 km apart, roughly 294 nautical miles, which is close to 1h 08m in the air before winds and routing are taken into account. The initial track is northwest bound, and the middle of the route sits in subtropical latitudes.
A short, generally settled sector
This is one of the calmer sectors in its region. With a brief cruise segment, the ride is shaped mainly by conditions near the two airports rather than by anything at altitude.
Cruise altitudes on this sector
Short sectors like this one spend a large share of the flight climbing and descending, so cruise is brief and usually sits in the FL280 to FL360 band. Choice of level matters because turbulence is layered: a change of two or three thousand feet often puts the aircraft into calmer air, and that is one of the first adjustments a crew will request.
Seasonal pattern
Any month works on this sector. Early departures avoid the afternoon thermals that cause most of the low level movement.
Flying this route with less worry
It is worth remembering that turbulence of the kind found on the LAX to SFO track is uncomfortable and entirely within what the aircraft is built for. Wings are designed to flex, the flight is planned around the forecast, and the crew adjusts level or track when it helps. The live forecast above shows the current picture for this corridor so there are fewer surprises on the day.