Seattle to Phoenix Flight Time & Schedules

How Much Time Is Needed for a Flight from Seattle to Phoenix?

Flying from Seattle to Phoenix is a relatively short journey across the western United States. A nonstop flight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) generally takes around 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes.

The route covers approximately 1,106 to 1,113 miles (1,780 to 1,791 km), depending on the measurement used. Travellers have a strong choice of direct services, with Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines currently operating nonstop flights between Seattle and Phoenix.

Connecting flights are also available, although they add extra time to the journey. Depending on the airline and connection, travellers may change planes in cities such as Salt Lake City, Boise, Portland, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco or Denver.

What Is the Typical Flight Duration from Seattle to Phoenix?

A typical nonstop Seattle-to-Phoenix flight takes approximately 2 hours 50 minutes, although scheduled times can vary from about 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes.

The exact duration depends on the airline, aircraft, departure time, weather, air traffic and winds during the journey. For example, some morning services are scheduled at around 2 hours 50 minutes, while other flights can take slightly more than three hours.

Passengers choosing a one-stop itinerary should expect a longer total journey because the travel time includes the connection as well as both flight sectors.

Some connecting options may take approximately:

Via Salt Lake City (SLC): around 4 hours 15 minutes
Via Boise (BOI): about 4 hours 18 minutes
Via Portland (PDX): roughly 4 hours 19 minutes
Via Las Vegas (LAS): around 4 hours 25 minutes
Via Los Angeles (LAX): approximately 5 hours or longer
Via Denver (DEN): around 5 hours 10 minutes or more

Connection times can change considerably between schedules, so some itineraries may take much longer than these examples.

Because Seattle and Phoenix have frequent nonstop service, a direct flight will usually be the fastest and simplest option for this route.

SEA–PHX is the principal air route between Seattle and Phoenix and is served by several airlines every day.

The distance is approximately 1,106 miles (1,780 km), and the average flight time is close to 2 hours 49 minutes to 2 hours 50 minutes.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the main commercial airport for Seattle and the surrounding Puget Sound region. Travellers flying to Arizona can choose from multiple departures throughout the day, giving this route more flexibility than many similar domestic journeys.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is the main commercial airport serving Phoenix and the wider Valley of the Sun.

It is the primary arrival point for nonstop passengers coming from Seattle. The airport provides convenient access to central Phoenix as well as destinations such as Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa and Glendale.

Passengers may also see Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) when searching for Phoenix-area flights. However, there is currently no regular nonstop SEA–AZA service, so journeys to this airport involve a connection.

For most Seattle travellers, PHX is therefore the more practical airport because of the large number of nonstop services available.

Which Airports Handle Flights Between Seattle and Phoenix?

The main route is between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Departure Airport	Arrival Airport	Route Code	Approximate Flight Duration
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)	Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)	SEA–PHX	Around 2 hrs 40 mins–3 hrs 15 mins nonstop
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)	Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)	SEA–SLC–PHX	Around 4 hrs 15 mins with one stop
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)	Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)	SEA–BOI–PHX	Around 4 hrs 18 mins with one stop
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)	Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)	SEA–PDX–PHX	Around 4 hrs 19 mins with one stop
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)	Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)	SEA–LAS–PHX	Around 4 hrs 25 mins with one stop

Which Airlines Fly from Seattle to Phoenix?

Alaska Airlines

Delta Air Lines

American Airlines

Southwest Airlines

How Does the Time Difference Work Between Seattle and Phoenix?

The time difference between Seattle and Phoenix is slightly unusual because the two cities do not follow daylight saving rules in the same way.

Phoenix remains on Mountain Standard Time throughout the year and does not normally move its clocks for Daylight Saving Time. Seattle changes between Pacific Standard Time and Pacific Daylight Time.

During the daylight-saving period, Seattle and Phoenix are generally on the same local time.

For example, in August, when it is 10:00 AM in Seattle, it is also 10:00 AM in Phoenix.

During the part of the year when Seattle returns to Pacific Standard Time, Phoenix is one hour ahead of Seattle. If it is 10:00 AM in Seattle during that period, it will be 11:00 AM in Phoenix.

This seasonal change is worth remembering when checking departure and arrival times, particularly for winter travel.

Is a Nonstop or Connecting Flight Better for Seattle to Phoenix?

For most travellers, a nonstop flight is the more convenient option because Seattle and Phoenix have a large number of direct services.

A nonstop trip can take as little as around 2 hours 40 minutes, with many scheduled services close to three hours.

By comparison, faster one-stop options may take around 4 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours or more. A lengthy layover can increase the overall journey even further.

The best choice will depend on your preferred schedule, airline and airport connection. However, if reducing travel time is the main priority, a direct SEA–PHX flight normally offers the simplest journey.

Explore More Flight Times & Routes

Planning beyond this route? Explore more flight times, distances, and travel durations using our tools below.

Start with our Flight Time Calculator to estimate journey times worldwide, or browse average travel times from your departure city using the Seattle Flight Times.