Chicago Midway (MDW) to Washington Dulles (IAD)

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

Quick answer

Chicago Midway (MDW) to Washington Dulles (IAD) is 576 miles in a straight line, about 1h 39m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 8 air traffic control facilities along the way.

576miles
500nautical miles
927kilometers
~1h 39mestimated flight time
+1 htime change on arrival
Eastinitial 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. MDWTowerChicago Midway Tower (MDW)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
  2. C90TRACONChicago TRACON (C90)Guides the climb outThank them →
  3. ZAUCenterChicago ARTCC (ZAU)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
  4. ZOBCenterCleveland ARTCC (ZOB)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  5. ZIDCenterIndianapolis ARTCC (ZID)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. IADTowerWashington Dulles Tower (IAD)Clears you to landThank them →

Flying the other way

Washington Dulles (IAD) to Chicago Midway (MDW)

IAD → PCT → ZDC → ZOB → ZID → ZAU → C90 → MDW

About the airports

Chicago Midway International Airport

Chicago, IL

Codes: MDW · KMDW

Time zone: Central

Control tower: Chicago Midway Tower (MDW)

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.

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Common questions

How long is the flight from Chicago Midway (MDW) to Washington Dulles (IAD)?

About 1h 39m gate to gate for the 576-mile trip. Flying east, you often pick up a tailwind, so it can be a little shorter.

How far is Chicago Midway (MDW) from Washington Dulles (IAD)?

576 miles (500 nautical miles, 927 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.

Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Chicago Midway (MDW) to Washington Dulles (IAD)?

Usually 8 facilities: Chicago Midway Tower (MDW), Chicago TRACON (C90), Chicago ARTCC (ZAU), Cleveland ARTCC (ZOB), 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 Chicago Midway (MDW) and Washington Dulles (IAD)?

Yes. Washington Dulles (IAD) is 1 hour ahead of Chicago Midway (MDW).

Updated October 2026

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