Travelling from San Diego to Washington DC: what you need to know
Kick off your travels at one of San Diego's main airports, San Diego International Airport (SAN) or McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD). Explore your options for booking a flight from San Diego to Washington DC departing from either of these.
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) are the major arrival points in Washington DC.
4 hours 57 minutes is the average duration of a direct flight from San Diego to Washington DC. Based in the UTC-4 timezone, Washington DC is 3 hours ahead of San Diego.
The busiest route for flights from San Diego to Washington DC is from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). You can select from 72 services every week between these two airports. If you want to head off first thing, the earliest flight from SAN to IAD is the 08:00 United Airlines service. If you prefer to leave later in the day, the final departure is at 21:55 with United Airlines.
Leave enough time to make your flight from San Diego to Washington DC. As a rule of thumb, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Planning to travel during a peak period like public or school holidays? Expect longer queues at check-in and security. For peace of mind, arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours before domestic departures.
When flying within United States, you don't need a visa or passport. However, you'll have to bring some kind of identification, like an ID card or driver's licence. Once you've booked cheap flights from San Diego to Washington DC, make sure your ID is up to date.
Flying from San Diego
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Begin your journey at San Diego International Airport (SAN), which offers a range of direct flights from San Diego to Washington DC. From SAN, you can fly straight into Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) or Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
At SAN, there's a range of carriers offering direct flights from San Diego to Washington DC, such as:
Consider adding a stopover to possibly find a cheaper flight from San Diego to Washington DC. Just deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from San Diego International Airport. Break up the journey at one of these popular airports:
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
The journey from central San Diego to SAN takes approximately 20 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or grab a cab, you'll cover the 5 kilometres in 9 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Have an early flight from San Diego to Washington DC? Avoid rushing to the terminal (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by choosing one of these stays near San Diego International Airport:
Arriving in Washington DC
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) is around 8 kilometres from central Washington DC. With your own car rental or if you're catching a cab, the drive is around 16 minutes.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of around 43 minutes.
Consider booking a hotel close to DCA if you're taking a late flight from San Diego to Washington DC. Settle into one of these accommodation options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is about 56 kilometres from the centre of Washington DC. Once you've disembarked your flight from San Diego to Washington DC, allow for a drive time of approximately 51 minutes to reach the heart of the city.
If you're catching public transport, it'll take around 3 hours and 26 minutes.
There are some cozy hotels where you can rest ahead of your adventure near IAD. Tuck yourself in after your flight from San Diego to Washington DC at any of these perfectly located options:
How to find the cheapest flights from San Diego to Washington DC
The cheapest price we've found for a one-way ticket from San Diego to Washington DC is C$131. For a return flight on this route, the best price is C$183. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares could change.
To secure cheap flights from San Diego to Washington DC, reserve your journey 9 months before the departure date.
Schedule your trip for May. That's the cheapest month for tickets from San Diego to Washington DC. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across every month.
Log into your online account or use the app to create a Price Alert. You'll be notified right away if there's a better deal on this route. It's easy to do, and it'll save you time looking for cheap flights from San Diego to Washington DC every day.
Tailor your flights using filters. Choose your departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from San Diego to Washington DC.
Best time to go to Washington DC
It's time to plan your travel dates for your flight from San Diego to Washington DC. July is the busiest month to travel to Washington DC. If you prefer a more relaxed atmosphere, go in May.
The warmest month in Washington DC is July, with the temperature ranging between 19ºC and 33ºC. Book your flights from San Diego to Washington DC in this month if this is the kind of weather you like.
Search for cheap flights from San Diego to Washington DC in January if you like travelling in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -6ºC and 10ºC on average.
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 San Diego to Washington DC, explore our selection of accommodation options including:
White House Historical Association and The White House are a couple of leading attractions to add to your Washington DC itinerary. Keep the adventure rolling by checking out National Mall.
Complete your Washington DC trip with a car rental
We use the same magic that helped you find your cheap flight from San Diego to Washington DC to track down incredible deals on car rentals. Search for your ride in seconds and compare offers in one place. Plus we give you all the info you need to drive in Washington DC, from the most popular car type to the best time to book.