How to get fromCalifornia to Sabahby plane, car, or bus

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There are 7 ways to get from California to Sabah by plane, car, or bus

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

Fly San Francisco International Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport
best
1. Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI)plane SFO - BKI
21h 50m
RM 1,245–3,355
Fly San Francisco International Airport to Sandakan Airport
cheapest
1. Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Sandakan Airport (SDK)plane SFO - SDK
27h 8m
RM 1,169–3,185
Fly Los Angeles International Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport
1. Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI)plane LAX - BKI
22h 20m
RM 1,331–3,552
Fly San Francisco International Airport to Brunei International Airport, drive, bus
1. Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Brunei International Airport (BWN)plane SFO - BWN
2. Drive from Brunei International Airport (BWN) to Limbangcar
3. Take the bus from Limbang to Kota Kinabalubus
26h 24m
RM 2,092–5,654
Fly San Francisco International Airport to Lahad Datu Airport
1. Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Lahad Datu Airport (LDU)plane SFO - LDU
26h 55m
RM 1,245–3,455
Fly San Francisco International Airport to Tawau Airport
1. Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Tawau Airport (TWU)plane SFO - TWU
26h 37m
RM 1,495–3,920
Fly Los Angeles International Airport to Brunei International Airport, drive, bus
1. Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Brunei International Airport (BWN)plane LAX - BWN
2. Drive from Brunei International Airport (BWN) to Limbangcar
3. Take the bus from Limbang to Kota Kinabalubus
27h 54m
RM 2,178–6,151

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) flights

58Weekly Planes

21h 24mAverage Duration

RM 1,203Cheapest Price

Comparing Your Travel Options

Map of how to get from California to Sabah.

Launch map view

Distance: 12,319.8 km
Duration: 21h 50m

What companies run services between California, USA and Sabah, Malaysia?

Cathay Pacific, HK Express, and 11 other airlines fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) every 4 hours.

Airlines

Website: airasia.com

Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport via Taiwan Taoyuan

Ave. Duration: 19h 5m
When: Every day
Estimated price: RM 1,700–4,500

Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport via Incheon

Ave. Duration: 21h 10m
When: Every day
Estimated price: RM 1,400–5,000

Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport via Taiwan Taoyuan

Ave. Duration: 19h 45m
When: Every day
Estimated price: RM 1,800–4,700

Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport via Hong Kong

Ave. Duration: 24h 40m
When: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
Estimated price: RM 1,700–5,500

Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Sandakan Airport via Incheon, Kota Kinabalu Airport

Ave. Duration: 24h 10m
When: Every day
Estimated price: RM 1,400–4,700

Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Sandakan Airport via Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu Airport

Ave. Duration: 28h 45m
When: Every day
Estimated price: RM 1,500–4,700

Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Sandakan Airport via Taiwan Taoyuan, Kota Kinabalu Airport

Ave. Duration: 28h 10m
When: Every day
Estimated price: RM 1,600–4,200

Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Sandakan Airport via Shanghai Pudong, Kota Kinabalu Airport

Ave. Duration: 28h 30m
When: Monday, Thursday, and Saturday
Estimated price: RM 1,100–3,100

Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Sandakan Airport via Guangzhou Baiyun, Kota Kinabalu Airport

Ave. Duration: 29h 10m
When: Wednesday and Sunday
Estimated price: RM 1,100–3,600

Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Tawau Airport via Incheon, Kota Kinabalu Airport

Ave. Duration: 23h 25m
When: Every day
Estimated price: RM 1,700–6,000

Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Tawau Airport via Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu Airport

Ave. Duration: 27h 40m
When: Every day
Estimated price: RM 1,900–6,000

Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Tawau Airport via Taiwan Taoyuan, Kota Kinabalu Airport

Ave. Duration: 28h
When: Every day
Estimated price: RM 2,000–5,500

Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Tawau Airport via Shanghai Pudong, Kota Kinabalu Airport

Ave. Duration: 28h 20m
When: Monday, Thursday, and Saturday
Estimated price: RM 1,400–3,800

Bus operators

Want to know more about travelling around the world?

Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Read our range of informative guides on popular transport routes and companies - including The beginner’s guide to the 2018 World Nomad Games, How do I get from Sydney to Melbourne, and Travelling Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast by boat, bus, car and train - to help you get the most out of your next trip.

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia(opens in a new window)

Kota Kinabalu, colloquially referred to as KK, is the state capital of Sabah, Malaysia. It is also the capital of the Kota Kinabalu District as well as the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea. The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park lies to its west and Mount Kinabalu, which gave the city its name, is located to its east. Kota Kinabalu has a population of 452,058 according to the 2010 census; when the adjacent Penampang and Tuaran districts are included, the metro area has a combined population of 628,725. The 2020 Census revealed an increase in the municipal population to 500,421, while the wider area including the Penampang and Putatan districts had a population of 731,406.

Places to stay in Kota Kinabalu

Marina Court Luxury Penthouse(Opens in a new window)

9.7Exceptional

Kota Kinabalu Marriott Hotel(Opens in a new window)

8.3Very Good

Hilton Kota Kinabalu(Opens in a new window)

8.9Fabulous

The Magellan Sutera Resort(Opens in a new window)

8.4Very Good