Photo: Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the city skyline are visible from approaches to SFO from the south and on many Bay Area overflights. The long peninsula and distinctive bay shape are iconic from above.
786Flight Routes
OverheadClosest Pass
🌉 CityType
Routes that pass it786
ACV → SFO
Both Sides
BUR → SJC
Both Sides
SFO → ACV
Both Sides
SJC → BUR
Both Sides
SJC → SNA
Both Sides
SNA → SJC
Both Sides
BLR → SFO
Both Sides
BWA → SFO
Both Sides
CCR → IMT
Both Sides
FAI → SFO
Both Sides
IMT → CCR
Both Sides
OAK → PHX
Both Sides
PHX → OAK
Both Sides
SFO → BLR
Both Sides
SFO → BWA
Both Sides
SFO → FAI
Both Sides
ANC → SFO
Both Sides
BOM → SFO
Both Sides
DEL → SFO
Both Sides
EDF → SFO
Both Sides
JNU → SFO
Both Sides
LGB → SJC
Both Sides
NMI → SFO
Both Sides
SAN → SJC
Both Sides
SFO → ANC
Both Sides
SFO → BOM
Both Sides
SFO → DEL
Both Sides
SFO → EDF
Both Sides
SFO → JNU
Both Sides
SFO → NMI
Both Sides
SJC → LGB
Both Sides
SJC → SAN
Both Sides
LAX → SJC
Both Sides
OAK → OKA
Both Sides
OKA → OAK
Both Sides
PIT → HNL
Both Sides
SJC → LAX
Both Sides
HNL → PHL
Both Sides
LAX → PEK
Both Sides
MEX → OAK
Both Sides
OAK → MEX
Both Sides
OTH → SFO
Both Sides
PEK → LAX
Both Sides
PHL → HNL
Both Sides
SBP → SFO
Both Sides
SFO → OTH
Both Sides
SFO → SBP
Both Sides
SJC → SJD
Both Sides
SJD → SJC
Both Sides
HRB → LAX
Both Sides
LAS → OAK
Both Sides
LAX → HRB
Both Sides
LAX → SCL
Both Sides
OAK → LAS
Both Sides
OAK → PSP
Both Sides
PSP → OAK
Both Sides
SBA → SFO
Both Sides
SCL → LAX
Both Sides
SFO → SBA
Both Sides
AUS → OAK
Both Sides
DCA → LIH
Both Sides
HKT → SJC
Both Sides
HOU → OAK
Both Sides
LIH → DCA
Both Sides
LSV → OAK
Both Sides
OAK → AUS
Both Sides
OAK → HOU
Both Sides
OAK → LSV
Both Sides
ONT → SJC
Both Sides
SJC → HKT
Both Sides
SJC → ONT
Both Sides
CSW → SFO
Both Sides
EUG → SFO
Both Sides
GMP → OAK
Both Sides
IAD → LIH
Both Sides
LIH → IAD
Both Sides
MFR → SFO
Both Sides
OAK → GMP
Both Sides
SFO → CSW
Both Sides
SFO → EUG
Both Sides
SFO → MFR
Both Sides
ABQ → OAK
Both Sides
LAX → SFO
Both Sides
NZY → SFO
Both Sides
OAK → ABQ
Both Sides
PEK → SFO
Both Sides
PKX → SFO
Both Sides
SAN → SFO
Both Sides
SCL → SFO
Both Sides
SFO → LAX
Both Sides
SFO → NZY
Both Sides
SFO → PEK
Both Sides
SFO → PKX
Both Sides
SFO → SAN
Both Sides
SFO → SCL
Both Sides
SFO → SJD
Both Sides
SFO → YVR
Both Sides
SJD → SFO
Both Sides
YVR → SFO
Both Sides
BFI → SFO
Both Sides
BUR → OAK
Both Sides
BUR → SFO
Both Sides
CLD → SFO
Both Sides
DAL → OAK
Both Sides
DFW → OAK
Both Sides
OAK → BUR
Both Sides
OAK → DAL
Both Sides
OAK → DFW
Both Sides
OAK → SNA
Both Sides
PAE → SFO
Both Sides
PDX → SFO
Both Sides
SEA → SFO
Both Sides
SFO → BFI
Both Sides
SFO → BUR
Both Sides
SFO → CLD
Both Sides
SFO → PAE
Both Sides
SFO → PDX
Both Sides
SFO → SEA
Both Sides
SFO → SNA
Both Sides
SNA → OAK
Both Sides
SNA → SFO
Both Sides
BKK → SFO
Left
DWC → SFO
Right
DXB → SFO
Right
EZE → SFO
Right
LAX → OAK
Left
LGB → OAK
Left
LIM → NUQ
Right
NUQ → LIM
Left
OAK → LAX
Right
OAK → LGB
Right
OAK → SAN
Right
PVR → SFO
Right
RDD → SFO
Right
SAN → OAK
Left
SFO → BKK
Right
SFO → DWC
Left
SFO → DXB
Left
SFO → EZE
Left
SFO → PVR
Left
SFO → RDD
Left
SFO → VVO
Right
SFO → WUH
Right
VVO → SFO
Left
WUH → SFO
Left
CAN → SFO
Left
CJJ → SFO
Left
DOH → SFO
Right
GMP → SFO
Left
ICN → SFO
Left
JAX → OAK
Right
LIM → SFO
Right
OAK → JAX
Left
ONT → SFO
Right
PVG → SFO
Left
SFO → CAN
Right
SFO → CJJ
Right
SFO → DOH
Left
SFO → GMP
Right
SFO → ICN
Right
SFO → LIM
Left
SFO → ONT
Left
SFO → PVG
Right
SFO → SHA
Right
SHA → SFO
Left
AKJ → SFO
Left
BFL → SFO
Right
BKK → ONT
Right
CTS → SFO
Left
HKG → SFO
Left
KWI → SFO
Right
MXL → SFO
Right
ONT → BKK
Left
PSP → SFO
Right
RDM → SFO
Right
SFO → AKJ
Right
SFO → BFL
Left
SFO → CTS
Right
SFO → HKG
Right
SFO → KWI
Left
SFO → MXL
Left
SFO → PSP
Left
SFO → RDM
Left
ATL → OAK
Right
FUK → SFO
Left
ITM → SFO
Left
KIX → SFO
Left
MEX → SFO
Right
OAK → ATL
Left
OAX → SFO
Right
OGG → ORD
Left
ORD → OGG
Right
SFO → FUK
Right
SFO → ITM
Right
SFO → KIX
Right
SFO → MEX
Left
SFO → OAX
Left
SFO → SGN
Right
SFO → TPE
Right
SFO → TSA
Right
SFO → TXG
Right
SGN → SFO
Left
SJC → TPE
Right
SJC → ZCL
Left
TPE → SFO
Left
TPE → SJC
Left
TSA → SFO
Left
TXG → SFO
Left
ZCL → SJC
Right
FLN → SFO
Right
HND → SFO
Left
JFK → OGG
Right
NRT → SFO
Left
OAK → SBA
Right
OGG → JFK
Left
SBA → OAK
Left
SFO → FLN
Left
SFO → HND
Right
SFO → NRT
Right
SFO → SIN
Right
SFO → XSP
Right
SIN → SFO
Left
XSP → SFO
Left
ANC → OAK
Right
HEL → SFO
Right
IQT → SFO
Right
LIR → SFO
Right
MNL → SFO
Left
OAK → ANC
Left
SAL → SFO
Right
SFO → HEL
Left
SFO → IQT
Left
SFO → LIR
Left
SFO → MNL
Right
SFO → SAL
Left
SFO → SJO
Left
SFO → YYH
Left
SJO → SFO
Right
YYH → SFO
Right
DEN → OAK
Right
DMA → SFO
Right
GEG → SFO
Right
GRU → SFO
Right
MCI → OAK
Right
NRT → SJC
Left
OAK → DEN
Left
OAK → MCI
Left
OAK → STL
Left
PTY → SFO
Right
SFO → DMA
Left
SFO → GEG
Left
SFO → GRU
Left
SFO → PTY
Left
SFO → TLV
Left
SFO → TUS
Left
SFO → YEG
Left
SFO → YYC
Left
SJC → NRT
Right
STL → OAK
Right
TLV → SFO
Right
TUS → SFO
Right
XLS → SLC
Left
YEG → SFO
Right
YYC → SFO
Right
ADB → SFO
Right
BOG → SFO
Right
BZE → SFO
Right
CAI → SFO
Right
CPH → SFO
Right
GIG → SFO
Right
HLP → SFO
Left
HNL → OAK
Left
IST → SFO
Right
LIH → OAK
Left
OAK → HNL
Right
OAK → LIH
Right
PHX → SFO
Right
RKE → SFO
Right
SAW → SFO
Right
SFO → ADB
Left
SFO → BOG
Left
SFO → BZE
Left
SFO → CAI
Left
SFO → CPH
Left
SFO → GIG
Left
SFO → HLP
Right
SFO → IST
Left
SFO → PHX
Left
SFO → RKE
Left
SFO → SAW
Left
WAW → SFO
Right
BUD → SFO
Right
CUN → SFO
Right
FAT → SFO
Right
FCA → SFO
Right
MDW → OAK
Right
OAK → MDW
Left
OAK → OGG
Right
OAK → ORD
Left
OAK → PHL
Left
OGG → OAK
Left
ORD → OAK
Right
PHL → OAK
Right
SFO → ATH
Left
SFO → BUD
Left
SFO → CUN
Left
SFO → FAT
Left
SFO → FCA
Left
SFO → VIE
Left
VIE → SFO
Right
AMS → SFO
Right
AVB → SFO
Right
CIA → SFO
Right
EDI → SFO
Right
FRA → SFO
Right
GRU → TUS
Right
KEF → SFO
Right
KOA → OAK
Left
MSO → SFO
Right
MUC → SFO
Right
NAP → SFO
Right
OAK → KOA
Right
OAK → SLC
Left
PPT → SFO
Left
SAT → SFO
Right
SFO → AMS
Left
SFO → AVB
Left
SFO → CIA
Left
SFO → EDI
Left
SFO → FRA
Left
SFO → KEF
Left
SFO → MSO
Left
SFO → MUC
Left
SFO → NAP
Left
SFO → PPT
Right
SFO → SAT
Left
SFO → SMF
Left
SFO → SZG
Left
SFO → ZRH
Left
SLC → OAK
Right
SMF → SFO
Right
SZG → SFO
Right
TUS → GRU
Left
ZRH → SFO
Right
AUS → SFO
Right
CDG → SFO
Right
DUB → SFO
Right
EMA → SFO
Right
FCO → SFO
Right
GVA → SFO
Right
HOU → SFO
Right
IAH → SFO
Right
LAS → SFO
Right
LBG → SFO
Right
LCY → SFO
Right
LGW → SFO
Right
LHR → SFO
Right
LSV → SFO
Right
LTN → SFO
Right
MAF → SFO
Right
MXP → SFO
Right
ORY → SFO
Right
SFO → AUS
Left
SFO → CDG
Left
SFO → DUB
Left
SFO → EMA
Left
SFO → FCO
Left
SFO → GVA
Left
SFO → HOU
Left
SFO → IAH
Left
SFO → LAS
Left
SFO → LBG
Left
SFO → LCY
Left
SFO → LGW
Left
SFO → LHR
Left
SFO → LSV
Left
SFO → LTN
Left
SFO → MAF
Left
SFO → MXP
Left
SFO → ORY
Left
SFO → THE
Left
THE → SFO
Right
ABQ → SFO
Right
BCN → SFO
Right
BOI → SFO
Right
CPT → SFO
Right
DAL → SFO
Right
DFW → SFO
Right
FLL → SFO
Right
KWE → LAX
Left
LAX → KWE
Right
MIA → SFO
Right
MSY → SFO
Right
RAR → SFO
Left
RSW → SFO
Right
SFO → ABQ
Left
SFO → BCN
Left
SFO → BOI
Left
SFO → CPT
Left
SFO → DAL
Left
SFO → DFW
Left
SFO → FLL
Left
SFO → MIA
Left
SFO → MSY
Left
SFO → RAR
Right
SFO → RSW
Left
AKL → SFO
Left
CHC → SFO
Left
JAN → SFO
Right
LIS → SFO
Right
MAD → SFO
Right
MCF → SFO
Right
MCO → SFO
Right
OAK → PDX
Left
ORL → SFO
Right
PDX → OAK
Right
RNO → SFO
Right
SAF → SFO
Right
SFO → AKL
Right
SFO → CHC
Right
SFO → JAN
Left
SFO → LIS
Left
SFO → MAD
Left
SFO → MCF
Left
SFO → MCO
Left
SFO → ORL
Left
SFO → RNO
Left
SFO → SAF
Left
SFO → TPA
Left
SFO → VLC
Left
SFO → ZQN
Right
TPA → SFO
Right
VLC → SFO
Right
ZQN → SFO
Left
ATL → SFO
Right
BNA → SFO
Right
CDC → SFO
Right
CLT → SFO
Right
HSV → SFO
Right
JAC → SFO
Right
OAK → SEA
Left
OKC → SFO
Right
SEA → OAK
Right
SFO → ATL
Left
SFO → BNA
Left
SFO → CDC
Left
SFO → CLT
Left
SFO → HSV
Left
SFO → JAC
Left
SFO → OKC
Left
SFO → TUL
Left
TUL → SFO
Right
ADL → SFO
Left
ALB → SFO
Right
ASE → SFO
Right
ASP → SFO
Left
BDL → SFO
Right
BJC → SFO
Right
BJL → SFO
Right
BNE → SFO
Left
BOS → SFO
Right
BWI → SFO
Right
BWU → SFO
Left
CLE → SFO
Right
CMH → SFO
Right
COS → SFO
Right
CVG → SFO
Right
DCA → SFO
Right
DEN → SFO
Right
DPA → SFO
Right
DTW → SFO
Right
DUR → SFO
Right
EWR → SFO
Right
GRR → SFO
Right
HNL → SFO
Left
IAD → SFO
Right
IND → SFO
Right
JFK → SFO
Right
KOA → SFO
Left
LCK → SFO
Right
LGA → SFO
Right
LIH → SFO
Left
MCI → SFO
Right
MDW → SFO
Right
MEB → SFO
Left
MEL → SFO
Left
MPV → SFO
Right
MSP → SFO
Right
NAN → SFO
Left
NGU → SFO
Right
OGG → SFO
Left
OMA → SFO
Right
ORD → SFO
Right
ORF → SFO
Right
PHL → SFO
Right
PIT → SFO
Right
PIX → SFO
Right
RDU → SFO
Right
RIC → SFO
Right
ROC → SFO
Right
SBO → SFO
Right
SFO → ADL
Right
SFO → ALB
Left
SFO → ASE
Left
SFO → ASP
Right
SFO → BDL
Left
SFO → BJC
Left
SFO → BJL
Left
SFO → BNE
Right
SFO → BOS
Left
SFO → BWI
Left
SFO → BWU
Right
SFO → CLE
Left
SFO → CMH
Left
SFO → COS
Left
SFO → CVG
Left
SFO → DCA
Left
SFO → DEN
Left
SFO → DPA
Left
SFO → DTW
Left
SFO → DUR
Left
SFO → EWR
Left
SFO → GRR
Left
SFO → HNL
Right
SFO → IAD
Left
SFO → IND
Left
SFO → JFK
Left
SFO → KOA
Right
SFO → LCK
Left
SFO → LEX
Left
SFO → LGA
Left
SFO → LIH
Right
SFO → MBW
Right
SFO → MCI
Left
SFO → MDW
Left
SFO → MEB
Right
SFO → MEL
Right
SFO → MPV
Left
SFO → MSP
Left
SFO → NAN
Right
SFO → NGU
Left
SFO → OGG
Right
SFO → OMA
Left
SFO → ORD
Left
SFO → ORF
Left
SFO → PHL
Left
SFO → PIT
Left
SFO → PIX
Left
SFO → RDU
Left
SFO → RIC
Left
SFO → ROC
Left
SFO → SBO
Left
SFO → SLC
Left
SFO → STL
Left
SFO → SYD
Right
SFO → YHU
Left
SFO → YKZ
Left
SFO → YTZ
Left
SFO → YUL
Left
SFO → YYZ
Left
SLC → SFO
Right
STL → SFO
Right
SYD → SFO
Left
YHU → SFO
Right
YKZ → SFO
Right
YTZ → SFO
Right
YUL → SFO
Right
YYZ → SFO
Right
AMS → OAK
Right
BCN → OAK
Right
LHR → OAK
Right
OAK → AMS
Left
OAK → BCN
Left
OAK → LHR
Left
BFI → DXB
Right
DXB → BFI
Left
DXB → SEA
Left
LAX → STS
Left
SEA → DXB
Right
STS → LAX
Right
FAI → SJC
Right
NUQ → PHX
Left
PHX → NUQ
Right
SAN → STS
Left
SJC → FAI
Left
STS → SAN
Right
LUF → SJC
Right
PHX → SJC
Right
SJC → LUF
Left
SJC → PHX
Left
SNA → STS
Left
STS → SNA
Right
CAI → SMF
Right
PDX → STS
Left
SMF → CAI
Left
STS → PDX
Right
SEA → STS
Left
STS → SEA
Right
ONT → STS
Left
STS → ONT
Right
DXB → YXX
Left
YXX → DXB
Right
AUS → SJC
Right
SJC → AUS
Left
DAD → ONT
Left
ONT → DAD
Right
HNL → MDW
Right
HOU → SJC
Right
IAH → SJC
Right
LAS → SJC
Right
MDW → HNL
Left
OGG → SLC
Right
SJC → HOU
Left
SJC → IAH
Left
SJC → LAS
Left
SLC → OGG
Left
LSV → SJC
Right
SJC → LSV
Left
DEN → LIH
Right
LIH → DEN
Left
PDX → SJC
Right
PUJ → SJC
Right
SJC → PDX
Left
SJC → PUJ
Left
GEG → SMF
Right
HNL → SAC
Right
MIA → SJC
Right
SAC → HNL
Left
SJC → MIA
Left
SMF → GEG
Left
CLE → HNL
Left
DAL → SJC
Right
DFW → SJC
Right
HAN → LAX
Left
HNL → CLE
Right
LAX → HAN
Right
SEA → SJC
Right
SJC → DAL
Left
SJC → DFW
Left
SJC → SEA
Left
KOA → MCC
Right
MCC → KOA
Left
BKK → LAX
Left
EZE → LGB
Right
LAX → BKK
Right
LGB → EZE
Left
MSP → SMF
Left
SMF → MSP
Right
ATL → SJC
Right
HNL → ORD
Right
NUQ → RKV
Left
ORD → HNL
Left
PHX → STS
Left
PSC → SMF
Right
RKV → NUQ
Right
SJC → ATL
Left
SMF → PSC
Left
STS → PHX
Right
BWI → HNL
Right
HNL → BWI
Left
BNA → SJC
Right
DEN → SAC
Left
SAC → DEN
Right
SGF → SJC
Right
SJC → BNA
Left
SJC → SGF
Left
BOS → SMF
Left
EZE → LAX
Right
GEG → SJC
Right
KOA → SMF
Right
LAX → EZE
Left
SAC → STL
Right
SJC → GEG
Left
SMF → BOS
Right
SMF → KOA
Left
STL → SAC
Left
MHR → STL
Right
STL → MHR
Left
BJC → SJC
Right
CVG → SJC
Right
DEN → SJC
Right
LAS → STS
Left
LIH → SJC
Left
SJC → BJC
Left
SJC → CVG
Left
SJC → DEN
Left
SJC → LIH
Right
STS → LAS
Right
BFL → SCL
Right
BWI → SJC
Right
HNL → SJC
Left
IAD → SJC
Right
LAS → SUU
Left
OGG → SMF
Right
SCL → BFL
Left
SJC → BWI
Left
SJC → HNL
Right
SJC → IAD
Left
SMF → OGG
Left
SUU → LAS
Right
LIH → MCC
Right
MCC → LIH
Left
OGG → SJC
Left
SJC → OGG
Right
DTW → SJC
Right
EWR → SJC
Right
KOA → SJC
Left
MDW → SJC
Right
ORD → SJC
Right
SJC → DTW
Left
SJC → EWR
Left
SJC → KOA
Right
SJC → MDW
Left
SJC → ORD
Left
BOS → SJC
Right
DTW → SMF
Left
SJC → BOS
Left
SMF → DTW
Right
BNA → SAC
Left
EWR → SMF
Left
HNL → SMF
Right
ICN → LAX
Left
JFK → SMF
Left
LAX → ICN
Right
LGA → SMF
Left
SAC → BNA
Right
SJC → SLC
Left
SLC → SJC
Right
SLC → SMF
Left
SMF → EWR
Right
SMF → HNL
Left
SMF → JFK
Right
SMF → LGA
Right
SMF → SLC
Right
BOI → SJC
Right
CDG → SJC
Right
GMP → LAX
Left
LAX → GMP
Right
MSP → SJC
Right
ORD → SMF
Left
SJC → BOI
Left
SJC → MSP
Left
SMF → ORD
Right
DUB → SJC
Right
EWR → HNL
Left
HNL → EWR
Right
MDW → SMF
Left
RNO → SJC
Right
SJC → DUB
Left
SJC → RNO
Left
SMF → MDW
Right
HNL → JFK
Right
JFK → HNL
Left
MSP → RNO
Left
ONT → TPE
Right
PHL → SMF
Left
RNO → MSP
Right
SJC → WYS
Left
SMF → PHL
Right
TPE → ONT
Left
WYS → SJC
Right
BOI → LHR
Left
HNL → SLC
Right
LAX → SSN
Right
LIH → SMF
Right
SLC → HNL
Left
SMF → AUH
Left
SMF → LIH
Left
SSN → LAX
Left
DFW → STS
Left
STS → DFW
Right
BWI → SMF
Left
SMF → BWI
Right
EZE → SAN
Right
IAD → SMF
Left
SAN → EZE
Left
SMF → IAD
Right
DEN → MCC
Left
MCC → DEN
Right
CYI → ONT
Left
ONT → CYI
Right
HNL → LGA
Right
LGA → HNL
Left
ORD → KOA
Right
KIX → ONT
Left
ONT → KIX
Right
Tip: Visibility depends on cloud cover, time of day, and how close the flight path comes. Sit on the listed side for the best chance of a view. Morning and evening flights often offer the best lighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see San Francisco Bay & Golden Gate from a plane?
Yes — 786 flight routes pass within 80 km of San Francisco Bay & Golden Gate. The closest routes include Arcata/Eureka to San Francisco, Burbank to San Jose, San Francisco to Arcata/Eureka. The landmark is visible from both sides, passing directly overhead.
Which side of the plane is best for viewing San Francisco Bay & Golden Gate?
The best side varies by route. For the most common routes near San Francisco Bay & Golden Gate: on a Arcata/Eureka to San Francisco flight, visible from both sides; on a Burbank to San Jose flight, visible from both sides; on a San Francisco to Arcata/Eureka flight, visible from both sides.