Nashville (BNA) to Washington National (DCA) is 561 miles in a straight line, about 1h 37m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 7 air traffic control facilities along the way.
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.
- BNATowerNashville Tower (BNA)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
- ZMECenterMemphis ARTCC (ZME)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
- ZTLCenterAtlanta ARTCC (ZTL)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZIDCenterIndianapolis ARTCC (ZID)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZDCCenterWashington ARTCC (ZDC)Starts your descentThank them →
- PCTTRACONPotomac TRACON (PCT)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
- DCATowerReagan National Tower (DCA)Clears you to landThank them →
Flying the other way
Washington National (DCA) to Nashville (BNA)
DCA → PCT → ZDC → ZID → ZTL → ZME → BNA
About the airports
Nashville International Airport
Nashville, TN
Codes: BNA · KBNA
Time zone: Central
Control tower: Nashville Tower (BNA)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Washington, DC
Codes: DCA · KDCA
Time zone: Eastern
Control tower: Reagan National Tower (DCA)
More routes
- Nashville (BNA) to Atlanta (ATL)
- Nashville (BNA) to Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW)
- Nashville (BNA) to Denver (DEN)
- Nashville (BNA) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
- Nashville (BNA) to Los Angeles (LAX)
- Nashville (BNA) to New York JFK (JFK)
- Nashville (BNA) to Las Vegas (LAS)
- Nashville (BNA) to Orlando (MCO)
- Nashville (BNA) to Miami (MIA)
- Nashville (BNA) to Charlotte (CLT)
- Nashville (BNA) to Seattle (SEA)
- Nashville (BNA) to Phoenix (PHX)
- Nashville (BNA) to Newark (EWR)
- Nashville (BNA) to San Francisco (SFO)
- Nashville (BNA) to Houston (IAH)
- Nashville (BNA) to Boston (BOS)
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.
Say thanks to the controllers who got you there. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and every post is checked before it goes up.
Common questions
How long is the flight from Nashville (BNA) to Washington National (DCA)?
About 1h 37m gate to gate for the 561-mile trip. Flying east, you often pick up a tailwind, so it can be a little shorter.
How far is Nashville (BNA) from Washington National (DCA)?
561 miles (487 nautical miles, 902 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.
Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Nashville (BNA) to Washington National (DCA)?
Usually 7 facilities: Nashville Tower (BNA), Memphis ARTCC (ZME), Atlanta ARTCC (ZTL), Indianapolis ARTCC (ZID), 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 Nashville (BNA) and Washington National (DCA)?
Yes. Washington National (DCA) is 1 hour ahead of Nashville (BNA).