Nashville (BNA) to Washington Dulles (IAD)

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

Quick answer

Nashville (BNA) to Washington Dulles (IAD) is 541 miles in a straight line, about 1h 35m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 7 air traffic control facilities along the way.

541miles
470nautical miles
871kilometers
~1h 35mestimated 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. BNATowerNashville Tower (BNA)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
  2. ZMECenterMemphis ARTCC (ZME)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
  3. ZTLCenterAtlanta ARTCC (ZTL)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  4. ZIDCenterIndianapolis ARTCC (ZID)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  5. ZDCCenterWashington ARTCC (ZDC)Starts your descentThank them →
  6. PCTTRACONPotomac TRACON (PCT)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
  7. IADTowerWashington Dulles Tower (IAD)Clears you to landThank them →

Flying the other way

Washington Dulles (IAD) to Nashville (BNA)

IAD → 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)

Thank the tower →

Washington Dulles International Airport

Washington, DC

Codes: IAD · KIAD

Time zone: Eastern

Control tower: Washington Dulles Tower (IAD)

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.

Say thanks to the controllers who got you there. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and every post is checked before it goes up.

Find your airport or ATC facility →

Common questions

How long is the flight from Nashville (BNA) to Washington Dulles (IAD)?

About 1h 35m gate to gate for the 541-mile trip. Flying east, you often pick up a tailwind, so it can be a little shorter.

How far is Nashville (BNA) from Washington Dulles (IAD)?

541 miles (470 nautical miles, 871 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 Dulles (IAD)?

Usually 7 facilities: Nashville Tower (BNA), Memphis ARTCC (ZME), Atlanta ARTCC (ZTL), Indianapolis ARTCC (ZID), Washington ARTCC (ZDC), Potomac TRACON (PCT) and Washington Dulles Tower (IAD). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.

Is there a time change between Nashville (BNA) and Washington Dulles (IAD)?

Yes. Washington Dulles (IAD) is 1 hour ahead of Nashville (BNA).

Updated October 2026

Ready to thank someone?

Free, about 30 seconds, no sign-up. Donating is always optional.

Leave a thank-you