Travelling from Colombo to Washington DC: what you need to know
Planning your trip starts with figuring out where you'll leave from in Colombo. Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is the city's main base, so explore your options for booking a flight from Colombo to Washington DC jetting off from here.
Get off the plane at one of Washington DC's major gateways like Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA). Alternatively, make your way to this city landing at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) or Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
Give yourself plenty of time to make your Colombo to Washington DC flight. A good rule of thumb is to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
If you're flying during a major holiday or other peak period, give yourself extra time. A good rule is two hours ahead of domestic flights and up to four hours before international departures. Security and check-in lines will be longer.
How to find the cheapest flights from Colombo to Washington DC
Booking early is often the key to securing a cheap Colombo to Washington DC flight. Prices tend to rise as demand increases, so the closer you get to departure, the more you'll likely spend.
If you're willing to be flexible with your travel plans, use the 'Whole month' tool. It'll show you the lowest price across each month when looking for your plane ticket from Colombo to Washington DC.
Finding a cheap flight from Colombo to Washington DC is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you as soon as the price has dropped.
Tailor your flights using filters. Select your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' Colombo to Washington DC flights.
Flying from Colombo
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to break up your trip — and perhaps even explore another city. When searching for Colombo to Washington DC flights leaving from Bandaranaike International Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Popular options include:
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
CMB is about 27 kilometres from central Colombo. If you're ride-sharing, catching a cab or driving from the centre, it'll take 40 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the journey time to be around 1 hour 30 minutes.
Searching for a convenient hotel close to Bandaranaike International Airport? If you've booked an early flight from Colombo to Washington DC, these stays will have you sleeping nice and close to your departure gate:
75.71% of flights that leave from Bandaranaike International Airport land at their destination on schedule.
Arriving in Washington DC
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) to central Washington DC takes around 15 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 6 kilometres away.
When travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 45 minutes.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from Colombo to Washington DC. Check in to one of these accommodation options near DCA instead:
Grab a Ronald Reagan National Airport rental car and explore Washington DC and beyond with your own set of wheels. Thrifty, Sixt and Dollar are well-known companies you can book with here.
Reserving your vehicle from Ronald Reagan National Airport about four weeks ahead boosts your odds of scoring a great price.
DCA is located at 1 Aviation Circle.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is roughly 40 kilometres from the centre of Washington DC. Once you've disembarked your flight from Colombo to Washington DC, it takes approximately 50 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
If you hop on public transport, you'll get to the city centre in 1 hour 10 minutes or so.
After your flight from Colombo to Washington DC, unwind at a hotel near IAD. These are some comfortable options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
Dollar, Thrifty and Sixt make picking up a Washington Dulles International Airport rental car easy and quick. These suppliers are located in or around the terminal and will have you on the road before long.
Lock in the best price by booking your ride from IAD one week ahead of time. You can also expect to have a greater selection of vehicles.
You can find Washington Dulles International Airport at 1 Saarinen Circle.
Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Step off your flight from Colombo to Washington DC and travel to your hotel or jump right into exploring. Central Washington DC is around 40 kilometres from Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and usually takes 50 minutes to reach driving.
Public transport will get you there in about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Enjoy a restful, unhurried start to your break by staying at a hotel near BWI after your Colombo to Washington DC flight. Recover from a day of travel or simply give yourself time to find your footing in a new city at:
Start your journey without worrying about how to get to where you're going with a Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport rental car. You can book with reliable names here like Dollar, Thrifty and Budget.
Get ahead of the game and reap the rewards. Book your ride from BWI two weeks before your flight from Colombo to Washington DC for the lowest prices.
Best time to go to Washington DC
February is the most popular month for flights from Colombo to Washington DC. To avoid the crowds, visit Washington DC in May.
The warmest month in Washington DC is July, with temperatures ranging between 19ºC (66ºF) and 33ºC (91ºF). Book your Colombo to Washington DC ticket then if that's your idea of comfortable weather.
If you want to travel in cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from Colombo to Washington DC in January when temperatures average between -6ºC (21ºF) and 10ºC (50ºF).
More about Washington DC
Start your Washington DC trip right by choosing the ideal place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from Colombo to Washington DC, browse our selection of hotels including:
White House Historical Association and The White House are just the start of the major attractions to add to your Washington DC travel itinerary. Keep the momentum going by heading to National Mall.
Explore more of United States
New York is just one of the many places in United States waiting to be discovered after you've seen Washington DC. Around 322 kilometres to the north-east, top sights here include Statue of Liberty, Central Park and Empire State Building.
Around 193 kilometres north-east of Washington DC, Philadelphia is another favourite stop in United States. No visit is complete without checking out Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Philadelphia Museum of Art.