Washington National (DCA) to Newark (EWR)

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

Quick answer

Washington National (DCA) to Newark (EWR) is 198 miles in a straight line, about 0h 54m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 6 air traffic control facilities along the way.

198miles
172nautical miles
319kilometers
~0h 54mestimated flight time
Nonetime 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. DCATowerReagan National Tower (DCA)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
  2. PCTTRACONPotomac TRACON (PCT)Guides the climb outThank them →
  3. ZDCCenterWashington ARTCC (ZDC)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
  4. ZNYCenterNew York ARTCC (ZNY)Starts your descentThank them →
  5. N90TRACONNew York TRACON (N90)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
  6. EWRTowerNewark Liberty Tower (EWR)Clears you to landThank them →

Flying the other way

Newark (EWR) to Washington National (DCA)

EWR → N90 → ZNY → ZDC → PCT → DCA

About the airports

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Washington, DC

Codes: DCA · KDCA

Time zone: Eastern

Control tower: Reagan National Tower (DCA)

Thank the tower →

Newark Liberty International Airport

Newark, NJ

Codes: EWR · KEWR

Time zone: Eastern

Control tower: Newark Liberty Tower (EWR)

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.

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Common questions

How long is the flight from Washington National (DCA) to Newark (EWR)?

About 0h 54m gate to gate for the 198-mile trip. Flying east, you often pick up a tailwind, so it can be a little shorter.

How far is Washington National (DCA) from Newark (EWR)?

198 miles (172 nautical miles, 319 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.

Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Washington National (DCA) to Newark (EWR)?

Usually 6 facilities: Reagan National Tower (DCA), Potomac TRACON (PCT), Washington ARTCC (ZDC), New York ARTCC (ZNY), New York TRACON (N90) and Newark Liberty Tower (EWR). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.

Is there a time change between Washington National (DCA) and Newark (EWR)?

No. Washington National (DCA) and Newark (EWR) are in the same time zone.

Updated October 2026

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