Nonstop flight route between New York City, New York, United States and San Francisco, California, United States:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from JFK to SFO:
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- About this route
- JFK Airport Information
- SFO Airport Information
- Facts about JFK
- Facts about SFO
- Map of Nearest Airports to JFK
- List of Nearest Airports to JFK
- Map of Furthest Airports from JFK
- List of Furthest Airports from JFK
- Map of Nearest Airports to SFO
- List of Nearest Airports to SFO
- Map of Furthest Airports from SFO
- List of Furthest Airports from SFO
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York City, New York, United States and San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Francisco, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,580 miles (or 4,152 kilometers).
A Great Circle is the shortest distance between 2 points on a sphere. Because most world maps are flat (but the Earth is round), the route of the shortest distance between 2 points on the Earth will often appear curved when viewed on a flat map, especially for long distances. If you were to simply draw a straight line on a flat map and measure a very long distance, it would likely be much further than if you were to lay a string between those two points on a globe. Because of the large distance between John F. Kennedy International Airport and San Francisco International Airport, the route shown on this map most likely appears curved because of this reason.
Try it at home! Get a globe and tightly lay a string between John F. Kennedy International Airport and San Francisco International Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | JFK / KJFK |
Airport Name: | John F. Kennedy International Airport |
Location: | New York City, New York, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 40°38'22"N by 73°46'44"W |
Area Served: | New York City |
Operator/Owner: | City of New York |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 13 feet (4 meters) |
# of Runways: | 4 |
View all routes: | Routes from JFK |
More Information: | JFK Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | SFO / KSFO |
Airport Name: | San Francisco International Airport |
Location: | San Francisco, California, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 37°37'8"N by 122°22'30"W |
Area Served: | San Francisco |
Operator/Owner: | City & County of San Francisco |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 13 feet (4 meters) |
# of Runways: | 4 |
View all routes: | Routes from SFO |
More Information: | SFO Maps & Info |
Facts about John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK):
- The terminal was recently expanded.
- Because of John F. Kennedy International Airport's relatively low elevation of 13 feet, planes can take off or land at John F. Kennedy International Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- Airlines began scheduling jets into JFK in 1958–59.
- Dedicated as New York International Airport in 1948, the airport was more commonly known as Idlewild Airport until 1963, when it was renamed in memory of John F.
- The Port of New York Authority originally planned a single 55-gate terminal, but the major airlines did not agree with this plan, arguing that the terminal would be far too small for future traffic.
- The furthest airport from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,764 miles (18,933 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) has 4 runways.
- JFK has six terminals containing 151 gates, numbered 1–8, but skipping Terminal 6 and Terminal 3.
- The closest airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is Flushing Airport (closed 1984) (FLU), which is located only 10 miles (16 kilometers) NNW of JFK.
- John F. Kennedy International Airport handled 50,423,765 passengers last year.
- JFK opened with six runways and a seventh under construction.
Facts about San Francisco International Airport (SFO):
- Since the mid-2000s recovery at SFO has been evident.
- The furthest airport from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,365 miles (18,290 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- All international Star Alliance members aside from Air Canada, Asiana, and TACA use Boarding Area G.
- San Francisco International Airport handled 44,477,209 passengers last year.
- The closest airport to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is Half Moon Bay AirportHalf Moon Bay Flight Strip (HAF), which is located only 10 miles (16 kilometers) SW of SFO.
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has 4 runways.
- United Airlines used Mills Field as well as the Oakland Municipal Airport starting in the 1930s.
- Formerly known as the "South Terminal," Terminal 1 has Boarding Area B and Boarding Area C.
- Because of San Francisco International Airport's relatively low elevation of 13 feet, planes can take off or land at San Francisco International Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.