Austin (AUS) to Washington National (DCA)

Distance, flight time and the air traffic controllers who guide you.

Quick answer

Austin (AUS) to Washington National (DCA) is 1,314 miles in a straight line, about 3h 08m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 8 air traffic control facilities along the way.

1,314miles
1,142nautical miles
2,114kilometers
~3h 08mestimated flight time
+1 htime change on arrival
Northeastinitial heading

Who handles your flight

Every airliner is passed from one air traffic control facility to the next. On the most direct path, these are the teams that guide you, in order. Weather and traffic can send a flight through other centers, so your actual flight may differ a little.

  1. AUSTowerAustin-Bergstrom International Tower (AUS)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
  2. ZHUCenterHouston ARTCC (ZHU)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
  3. ZFWCenterFort Worth ARTCC (ZFW)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  4. ZMECenterMemphis ARTCC (ZME)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  5. ZTLCenterAtlanta ARTCC (ZTL)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  6. ZDCCenterWashington ARTCC (ZDC)Starts your descentThank them →
  7. PCTTRACONPotomac TRACON (PCT)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
  8. DCATowerReagan National Tower (DCA)Clears you to landThank them →

Flying the other way

Washington National (DCA) to Austin (AUS)

DCA → PCT → ZDC → ZTL → ZME → ZFW → ZHU → AUS

About the airports

Austin Bergstrom International Airport

Austin, TX

Codes: AUS · KAUS

Time zone: Central

Control tower: Austin-Bergstrom International Tower (AUS)

Thank the tower →

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Washington, DC

Codes: DCA · KDCA

Time zone: Eastern

Control tower: Reagan National Tower (DCA)

Thank the tower →

More routes

All flight routes →

How we figure this out

Distance is the great-circle distance between the two airports, the shortest path over the curved Earth. Flight time assumes an average airliner speed of about 500 mph plus about 30 minutes for taxi, takeoff and landing. The list of facilities follows the same path, using each airport's tower and approach control and the FAA's en route center boundaries.

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Common questions

How long is the flight from Austin (AUS) to Washington National (DCA)?

About 3h 08m gate to gate for the 1,314-mile trip. Flying east, you often pick up a tailwind, so it can be a little shorter.

How far is Austin (AUS) from Washington National (DCA)?

1,314 miles (1,142 nautical miles, 2,114 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.

Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Austin (AUS) to Washington National (DCA)?

Usually 8 facilities: Austin-Bergstrom International Tower (AUS), Houston ARTCC (ZHU), Fort Worth ARTCC (ZFW), Memphis ARTCC (ZME), Atlanta ARTCC (ZTL), Washington ARTCC (ZDC), Potomac TRACON (PCT) and Reagan National Tower (DCA). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.

Is there a time change between Austin (AUS) and Washington National (DCA)?

Yes. Washington National (DCA) is 1 hour ahead of Austin (AUS).

Updated October 2026

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