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Kona to San Francisco Flight Distance

Ellison Onizuka Kona International At Keahole Airport (KOA) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Medium HaulNortheast (51°)Direct flights available
Primary sources · 6
  1. [1] Vincenty (1975)Direct and Inverse Solutions of Geodesics on the Ellipsoid — the iterative formula used for distance · Survey Review XXIII (176), pp. 88–93 · April 1975 https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/PUBS_LIB/inverse.pdf
  2. [2] NGA.STND.0036_1.0.0_WGS84WGS-84 reference ellipsoid (a = 6,378,137 m, 1/f = 298.257223563) · NGA Standard · July 2014 https://earth-info.nga.mil/index.php?dir=wgs84&action=wgs84
  3. [3] DESNZ 2024 conversion factorsPer-km kg CO₂e factors for the three distance bands and four cabin classes · UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero · June 2024 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2024
  4. [4] Lee et al. (2021)Effective radiative forcing of aviation — the science behind the 1.9 × CO₂ → CO₂e uplift · Atmospheric Environment 244, 117834 · January 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117834
  5. [5] OpenFlightsAirport coordinates and IATA codes · openflights.org/data.php · Community-maintained https://openflights.org/data.php
  6. [6] Sack (2010)Jet-lag review — clinical chronobiology and asymmetric recovery rates · New England Journal of Medicine 362:440 · February 2010 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp0909838

Loading globe...

2,367
Miles
3,810
Kilometers
2,057
Nautical miles
5h 9m
Flight time
Route Distance Scale3,810 km of 18,000 km max
0Short <1,500kmMedium <4,000kmLong <12,000kmUltra-Long

Your Route Summary

KOA
Origin
Ellison Onizuka Kona International At Keahole Airport
Kona, United States
19.7388°, -156.0456°
SFO
Destination
San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco, United States
37.6190°, -122.3750°

What This Means For Your Trip

Flight Duration: At 2,367 miles, this medium-haul flight will take approximately 5h 9m. Consider bringing a book or downloading entertainment for the journey.

Time Adjustment: San Francisco is 3 hours ahead of Kona. Expect mild jet lag with 1-2 days to fully adjust.

Environmental Impact: An economy class seat produces approximately 572 kg of CO2. Consider carbon offset programs—planting 52 trees could offset this flight.

Flight Options: 1 airline serves this route, giving you options for schedule and price comparison.

Complete Flight Analysis

MetricValueCategory / Reference
Distance (Miles)2,367 miPrimary frequent flyer unit
Distance (Kilometers)3,810 kmInternational standard
Distance (Nautical Miles)2,057 nmAviation standard
Flight Time5h 9mBased on 850 km/h cruise + ground time
Route ClassificationMEDIUM HAULMedium-haul flight (1,500 - 4,000 km)
Flight Direction51° NENortheast
Cruising Altitude37,000 ftFL370 (11,278 m)
Time Difference+3hJet lag: mild
CO2 (Economy)572 kgDEFRA 2024 factors
CO2 (Business)1657 kg2.9x economy
CO2 (First Class)2286 kg4x economy
Trees to Offset52Economy class, per passenger
Fuel per Passenger114 L~20,520 L total (180 pax)
Operating Airlines1Direct flights available

Tips for This Route

Book Early
Book 3-6 weeks ahead for competitive fares on this route.
Best Window Seat
Choose the left side for views with less sun glare on this northeast flight.
Adjust Your Clock
Minimal time change—no special preparation needed.
Pack Smart
Bring entertainment, snacks, and a neck pillow for comfort.
Offset Your Impact
Consider offsetting 572 kg CO2 through verified programs—equivalent to planting 52 trees.
Compare Prices
Check multiple booking sites and set price alerts for the best fares.
KOA
DEPARTURE

Ellison Onizuka Kona International At Keahole Airport

Kona, United States

IATA / ICAO
KOA / PHKO
Elevation
47 ft (14 m)
Local Time
07:34 AM
GMT-10
Coordinates
19.7388°, -156.0456°
View full airport details
SFO
ARRIVAL+3h from departure

San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco, United States

IATA / ICAO
SFO / KSFO
Elevation
13 ft (4 m)
Local Time
10:34 AM
GMT-7
Coordinates
37.6190°, -122.3750°
View full airport details

Airlines Flying This Route

1 airline operate flights between Kona and San Francisco.

UA
United Airlines
United States

Flight Details

Cruising Altitude
37,000 ft (11,278 m)
FL370
Flight Direction
Northeast
Initial bearing: 51°
Route Type
Medium-haul flight (1,500 - 4,000 km)
Typical Aircraft
Airbus A321Boeing 737 MAXAirbus A320neo
Fuel Consumption
114 L per passenger
~20,520 L total (180 passengers)
Geographic Context
Route stays within the Northern Hemisphere
Both airports are in the Northern Hemisphere. Both airports are in the Western Hemisphere.

Flight Midpoint

The geographic midpoint of this flight is located at:

Latitude
29° 44' 22.4" N
29.7396°
Longitude
140° 42' 6.6" W
-140.7018°
Halfway Point
1,184 mi
155 min into flight

Carbon Emissions by Cabin Class

CO2 emissions vary by cabin class due to seat space allocation. Based on DEFRA 2024 emission factors.

Economy
572 kg
CO2e: 1086 kg
Premium Economy
914 kg
CO2e: 1737 kg
Business
1657 kg
CO2e: 3149 kg
First Class
2286 kg
CO2e: 4343 kg
Carbon Offset
To offset an economy class seat, plant approximately 52 trees.Equivalent to 1.1 months of average person's carbon footprint

Jet Lag & Travel Tips

Jet Lag Severity
mild
Recovery time: ~2 days
Time Zone Change
3 hours forward
Flying eastward
Tips for This Journey
  • Adjust sleep schedule 1-2 hours before departure
  • Stay hydrated during the flight
  • Get sunlight exposure at destination

Seat Recommendations

Best Window for Views
left Side
Sun will be on the right (south) side during daytime
Recommendation
Left window for views away from sun glare, right for warmth

Distance in Perspective

1
9.5% of Earth's circumference
2
101 flights of this distance would reach the Moon
3
Similar to Los Angeles to New York (3,944 km)
4
3.1 hours at the speed of sound

Distance & Speed Reference

MeasurementValue
Statute Miles2,367 mi
Kilometers3,810 km
Nautical Miles2,057 nm
Meters3,810,000 m
Feet12,497,760 ft
Flight Time (850 km/h)5h 9m

Travel Speed Comparison

How long would it take to cover the 3,810 km between Kona and San Francisco at different speeds?

ModeSpeedTime
Commercial Jet850 km/h5h 9m
Turboprop Aircraft500 km/h7h 37m
Bullet Train320 km/h11h 54m
Car (highway)100 km/h38h 6m
Walking5 km/h762h (32 days)
Speed of Sound1,235 km/h3h 5m

Round Trip Summary

4,734
total miles
7,620
total km
10h 18m
total flight time
1,144
kg CO2 (economy)
View Return Flight: SFO to KOA

Quick Facts

Distance2,367 mi
Flight Time5h 9m
Route Typemedium haul
DirectionNE
AltitudeFL370
Time Diff+3h
CO2 (Economy)572 kg
Airlines1

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Kona from San Francisco?

The flight distance from Ellison Onizuka Kona International At Keahole Airport (KOA) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is 2,367 miles (3,810 km). This is the great circle distance calculated using the Vincenty formula.

How long is the flight?

A direct flight takes approximately 5h 9m. This is a medium-haul flight typically cruising at 37,000 feet (FL370).

What is the time difference?

San Francisco is 3 hours ahead of Kona. Expect mild jet lag with ~2 days recovery time.

What airlines fly this route?

1 airline operate this route: United Airlines.

What is the carbon footprint?

Economy class: 572 kg CO2 per passenger. Business class: 1657 kg. First class: 2286 kg. Offset with ~52 trees.

Which seat side is best?

For this Northeast flight, the left side offers the best views away from sun glare.

Can I drive from Kona to San Francisco instead of flying?

Driving is not practical for this 3,810 km distance. It would theoretically take over 48 hours of driving. Flying at 5h 9m is the recommended option.

What aircraft typically fly this route?

This medium-haul route is typically served by Airbus A321, Boeing 737 MAX, Airbus A320neo aircraft. A mix of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft may operate this route depending on demand.

How can I offset the carbon from this flight?

An economy class seat on this route produces 572 kg CO2. You can offset this by planting approximately 52 trees, purchasing verified carbon credits through programs like Gold Standard or Verra, or supporting renewable energy projects. Many airlines also offer built-in carbon offset options during booking.

External Resources & References

Learn more about the airports, aviation data, and carbon emissions methodology used in this calculation.

Dig deeper on this route