When is the Los Angeles 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.

LAX to SFO Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Los Angeles to San Francisco flight turbulent?

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

Q: Which seat is smoothest on LAX to SFO?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 737 · Airbus A320, that's rows 8–14. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

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

The LAX to SFO flight takes approximately 1h 15m, covering 388 miles at 22,000 feet.

Is the Los Angeles to San Francisco flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

LAX

→

SFO

Los Angeles · San Francisco · 1h 15m

Turb Score

1h 15m

Duration

337 nm

Distance

22,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

⚠️ Light turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for LAX–SFO

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h1h 15m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the LAX–SFO route

The Los Angeles to San Francisco domestic route is generally one of the smoother flights in the US network, covering 388 miles at around 22,000 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 Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines on Boeing 737 · Airbus A320 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 22,000 feet over a distance of 388 miles (337 nautical miles).

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

Los Angeles to San Francisco Flight Time

How long is the flight from LAX to SFO?

1h 15m

Flight Time

388 mi

Distance

22,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 737

Aircraft

The Los Angeles (LAX) to San Francisco (SFO) flight takes approximately 1h 15m, covering 388 miles (337 nautical miles) at 22,000 feet. The route is operated by Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines. Actual flight time may vary by 10–20 minutes depending on wind conditions and routing.

Turbulence levels on LAX–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 LAX–SFO

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on LAX–SFO

Boeing 737

Front

Rows 1–7

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 8–14

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 15+

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

LAX → JFK

Los Angeles → New York

Light

SFO → NRT

San Francisco → Tokyo

Moderate

SFO → HNL

San Francisco → Honolulu

Light

LAX → HNL

Los Angeles → Honolulu

Light

SEA → LAX

Seattle → 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

→

Passenger Reports

Kids barely noticed the turbulence — just some mild bumps over the Midwest. Seatbelt sign was on and off a couple times. Nothing dramatic.

Parent traveling with kids · April

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

First-time flyer · July

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

Regular traveler · January

All LAX routes→ All SFO routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Los Angeles to San Francisco flight turbulent?

The LAX–SFO route typically experiences light turbulence. Light turbulence may occur — mostly smooth with occasional bumps. The turbulence score for this route is 35/100.

When is turbulence worst on LAX 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 LAX to SFO?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 737 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 8–14. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from LAX to SFO?

The LAX to SFO flight takes approximately 1h 15m, covering 388 miles (337 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly LAX to SFO?

The main airlines operating this route are Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, flying Boeing 737 · Airbus A320 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