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SFO to KOA Turbulence Forecast

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

Live forecast
SFO
→
KOA
San Francisco · Kona · 5h 20m
36
Turb Score
5h 20m
Duration
2,352 nm
Distance
36,000 ft
Cruise Alt.
Light
Typical
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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SFO–KOA

Smooth Light Moderate
0h1h2h3h4h5h6h5h 20m
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Heavy

About the SFO–KOA route

The San Francisco to Kona route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 2,707 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, Alaska Airlines on Boeing 767 · Boeing 717 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 36,000 feet over a distance of 2,707 miles (2,352 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Long flight — turbulence varies throughout. Wing seats significantly reduce motion.

Turbulence levels on SFO–KOA

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 SFO–KOA

Turbulence by month

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Rough

Best seat on SFO–KOA

Boeing 767

Front
Rows 1–13
Light
✓ Wing
Rows 14–22
Smoothest
Rear
Rows 23+
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

SFO to KOA turbulence forecast app
Flight turbulence tracker
Real-time turbulence map

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

SFO → HNL
San Francisco → Honolulu
Light
SFO → OGG
San Francisco → Maui
Light
LAX → KOA
Los Angeles → Kona
Light
LAX → HNL
Los Angeles → Honolulu
Light
SEA → HNL
Seattle → Honolulu
Light
SFO → NRT
San Francisco → Tokyo
Moderate
See all transpacific flights →
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Frequently asked questions

Is the San Francisco to Kona flight turbulent?
The SFO–KOA route typically experiences light turbulence. Light turbulence may occur — mostly smooth with occasional bumps. The turbulence score for this route is 36/100.
When is turbulence worst on SFO to KOA?
Long flight — turbulence varies throughout. Wing seats significantly reduce motion. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.
Which seat is smoothest on SFO to KOA?
Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 767 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 14–22. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.
How long is the flight from SFO to KOA?
The SFO to KOA flight takes approximately 5h 20m, covering 2,707 miles (2,352 nautical miles).
Which airlines fly SFO to KOA?
The main airlines operating this route are Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines, flying Boeing 767 · Boeing 717 aircraft.