The flight distance from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, South Africa to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, United States is 16,497 kilometers (10,251 miles / 8,908 nautical miles). The estimated flight time for this route is approximately 20h, flying west northwest at a heading of 288°.

This is an ultra-long-haul route, one of the longest in aviation. It requires wide-body aircraft with extended range capability such as the Airbus A350-900ULR or Boeing 777-200LR. Passengers should prepare for an extended flight with multiple meal services.

This is an international route connecting South Africa with United States. It is an intercontinental flight between Africa and North America. Travelers should check visa requirements, customs regulations, and any travel advisories before booking.

Time zone information: When it's 10:28 in Cape Town, it's 00:28 in San Francisco. With a 10-hour time difference, travelers should plan for significant jet lag. It typically takes one day per hour of time difference to fully adjust.

The return flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Cape Town (CPT) follows a heading of 95° (east). Actual flight times may vary depending on wind conditions, air traffic, and the specific aircraft used.

For more information about these airports, visit the Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) detail pages, or use our flight duration calculator to compare other routes.