San Francisco to Seoul
11h 42m The flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Incheon International Airport (ICN) covers 9,085 km (5,645 miles) and takes approximately 11h 42m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-west on an initial great-circle bearing of 312°, passing near 53.7° N, 178.0° W at its midpoint.
The route
The great-circle path — the shortest line between the two airports across the curve of the earth. On a flat map it looks bent; on a globe it is straight.
Flight time at different cruise speeds
Aircraft type, winds and routing all move the real number. This is the same distance flown at different speeds, plus the 25-minute ground and climb allowance.
| Typical of | Cruise speed | Airborne | Gate to gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop / regional | 550 km/h | 16h 31m | 16h 56m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 11h 39m | 12h 04m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 10h 06m | 10h 31m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 10h 41m | 11h 07m |
Headwinds on an eastbound long-haul routinely add 30–60 minutes; the same route westbound can be quicker. Airlines publish schedules with padding built in.
Both airports
| SFO | ICN | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | San Francisco International Airport | Incheon International Airport |
| City | San Francisco | Seoul |
| Country | United States | South Korea |
| ICAO | KSFO | RKSI |
| Coordinates | 37.6198, -122.3748 | 37.4691, 126.451 |
| Elevation | 13 ft | 23 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from San Francisco to Seoul?
A non-stop flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Seoul (ICN) takes about 11h 42m. The great-circle distance is 9,085 km (5,645 miles, 4,906 nautical miles), flying north-west on an initial bearing of 312°.
How far is San Francisco from Seoul?
9,085 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 5,645 miles or 4,906 nautical miles. Actual flown distance is usually 2–5% longer because aircraft follow airways, avoid weather and route around restricted airspace.
Is there a non-stop flight between SFO and ICN?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 9,085 km the route is comfortably within range of a non-stop service if an airline chooses to fly it. Check an airline or booking site for what is actually scheduled.
What should I expect on a 11h 42m flight?
Anything past six hours is a long-haul flight: expect at least one meal service, a significant time-zone shift, and enough sitting that circulation and hydration start to matter. Cabin altitude, dry air and disrupted sleep do more damage to a training routine than the flight itself.
Other routes from San Francisco
Airport coordinates from OurAirports (public domain). Distance is a great-circle calculation; flight time uses the model described on the method page. Flight times are great-circle estimates for planning only — always check the airline's published schedule.