When is the New York to San Francisco route most turbulent?

Check the monthly chart for exact patterns. Transatlantic and mountain routes are typically roughest in winter (Dec–Mar). Tropical routes peak during monsoon season.

JFK to SFO Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the New York to San Francisco flight turbulent?

The JFK–SFO route typically experiences light turbulence. Light turbulence may occur — mostly smooth with occasional bumps.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on JFK to SFO?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 757 · Airbus A321 · Boeing 737, that's rows 14–24. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from JFK to SFO?

The JFK to SFO flight takes approximately 5h 45m, covering 2,565 miles at 36,000 feet.

Is the New York to San Francisco flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

JFK

→

SFO

New York · San Francisco · 5h 45m

Turb Score

5h 45m

Duration

2,227 nm

Distance

36,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for JFK–SFO

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h5h 45m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the JFK–SFO route

The New York to San Francisco domestic route is generally one of the smoother flights in the US network, covering 2,565 miles at around 36,000 feet. Turbulence is most common when weather systems cross the Midwest or when the flight path skirts the Rocky Mountains. Short duration means any rough patches pass quickly.

The route is served by Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue, American Airlines on Boeing 757 · Airbus A321 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 36,000 feet over a distance of 2,565 miles (2,227 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Domestic routes are generally smoother. Mountain crossings are the main turbulence source.

New York to San Francisco Flight Time

How long is the flight from JFK to SFO?

5h 45m

Flight Time

2,565 mi

Distance

36,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 757

Aircraft

The New York (JFK) to San Francisco (SFO) flight takes approximately 5h 45m, covering 2,565 miles (2,227 nautical miles) at 36,000 feet. The route is operated by Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue, American Airlines. Actual flight time may vary by 10–20 minutes depending on wind conditions and routing.

Turbulence levels on JFK–SFO

What to expect at each phase of the flight

SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm

LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady

ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause

HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible

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Best time to fly JFK–SFO

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on JFK–SFO

Boeing 757

Front

Rows 1–13

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 14–24

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 25+

Rougher

Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

JFK → LAX

New York → Los Angeles

Light

SFO → NRT

San Francisco → Tokyo

Chicago → Los Angeles

See all us domestic flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

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Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

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When Does Turbulence Happen?

Phases of flight explained

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Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

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Passenger Reports

There was some noticeable movement on descent that made me grip the armrest. My seatmate (clearly a regular) didn't even look up from their book. Perspective.

First-time flyer · April

Flew New York–San Francisco in August, had some light turbulence in the middle portion of the flight. Brief and nothing concerning. This route is usually fine.

Business traveler · August

Some light chop over the Midwest — seatbelt sign came on for maybe 20 minutes but nothing to worry about. Typical for this route in January.

Regular traveler · January

All JFK routes→ All SFO routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the New York to San Francisco flight turbulent?

The JFK–SFO route typically experiences light turbulence. Light turbulence may occur — mostly smooth with occasional bumps. The turbulence score for this route is 47/100.

When is turbulence worst on JFK to SFO?

Domestic routes are generally smoother. Mountain crossings are the main turbulence source. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on JFK to SFO?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 757 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 14–24. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from JFK to SFO?

The JFK to SFO flight takes approximately 5h 45m, covering 2,565 miles (2,227 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly JFK to SFO?

The main airlines operating this route are Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue, American Airlines, flying Boeing 757 · Airbus A321 · Boeing 737 aircraft.

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