# Distance from Cape Town (CPT) to San Francisco (SFO)

> 16,497 km · estimated flight time 20h · Ultra-long-haul route.

## Summary

- **Distance**: 16,497 km / 10,251 mi / 8,908 nm
- **Estimated flight time**: 20h
- **Heading**: 288° (west northwest)
- **Return heading**: 95° (east)
- **Classification**: Ultra-long-haul
- **Type**: International (South Africa) → United States
- **Intercontinental**: Africa → North America
- **Time difference**: -9h (When it's 12:41 in Cape Town, it's 03:41 in San Francisco)
- **Elevation difference**: 138 ft (SFO is lower than CPT)

## Airports

### [Cape Town International Airport (CPT)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/cpt-cape-town-cape-town-international-airport/1ef266de-d135-6d22-8a64-06bb2780ed98)

- City: Cape Town, South Africa
- ICAO: FACT
- Timezone: Africa/Johannesburg
- Coordinates: -33.960000, 18.600000
- Elevation: 151 ft

### [San Francisco International Airport (SFO)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/sfo-san-francisco-san-francisco-international-airport/1ef266df-382a-66ea-a1cc-06bb2780ed98)

- City: San Francisco, United States
- ICAO: KSFO
- Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
- Coordinates: 37.620000, -122.380000
- Elevation: 13 ft

## Route notes

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.

Time-zone information: When it's 12:41 in Cape Town, it's 03:41 in San Francisco.
With a 9-hour time difference, expect significant jet lag.

## Related

- [Cape Town International Airport (CPT)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/cpt-cape-town-cape-town-international-airport/1ef266de-d135-6d22-8a64-06bb2780ed98)
- [San Francisco International Airport (SFO)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/sfo-san-francisco-san-francisco-international-airport/1ef266df-382a-66ea-a1cc-06bb2780ed98)
- [Flight duration calculator](/#calculator)