SFO to KOA Turbulence Forecast
Is the San Francisco to Kona flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.
Typical turbulence along the route
Historical average pattern for SFO–KOA
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.
San Francisco to Kona Flight Time
How long is the flight from SFO to KOA?
The San Francisco (SFO) to Kona (KOA) flight takes approximately 5h 20m, covering 2,707 miles (2,352 nautical miles) at 36,000 feet. The route is operated by Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines. Return flights (KOA to SFO) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.
Turbulence levels on SFO–KOA
What to expect at each phase of the flight
Get minute-by-minute timing for your specific flight
Best time to fly SFO–KOA
Turbulence by month
Best seat on SFO–KOA
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