HNL to SFO Turbulence Forecast
Is the Honolulu to San Francisco flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.
Typical turbulence along the route
Historical average pattern for HNL–SFO
About the HNL–SFO route
The Honolulu to San Francisco route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 2,758 miles. The Pacific jet stream creates moderate turbulence, typically around 3–7 hours into the flight. The sheer length of the route means passengers experience varying conditions: calm stretches punctuated by bumpy patches.
The route is served by Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines on Boeing 737 · Airbus A330 · Boeing 767 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 36,000 feet over a distance of 2,758 miles (2,397 nautical miles).
💡 Tip: Long flight — turbulence varies throughout. Wing seats significantly reduce motion.
Honolulu to San Francisco Flight Time
How long is the flight from HNL to SFO?
The Honolulu (HNL) to San Francisco (SFO) flight takes approximately 6h 15m, covering 2,758 miles (2,397 nautical miles) at 36,000 feet. The route is operated by Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines. Return flights (SFO to HNL) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.
Turbulence levels on HNL–SFO
What to expect at each phase of the flight
Get minute-by-minute timing for your specific flight
Best time to fly HNL–SFO
Turbulence by month
Best seat on HNL–SFO
Boeing 767
What you'll see in the app
Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations
Similar routes
Other popular routes with turbulence data
Related guides
Learn more about flight turbulence
Passenger Reports
Frequently asked questions
Data Sources
- PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
- SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
- EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
- Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route
Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data