San Diego (SAN) to Washington National (DCA) is 2,271 miles in a straight line, about 5h 03m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 10 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.
- SANTowerSan Diego Tower (SAN)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
- SCTTRACONSouthern California TRACON (SCT)Guides the climb outThank them →
- ZLACenterLos Angeles ARTCC (ZLA)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
- ZABCenterAlbuquerque ARTCC (ZAB)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZKCCenterKansas City ARTCC (ZKC)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZIDCenterIndianapolis ARTCC (ZID)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZOBCenterCleveland ARTCC (ZOB)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 San Diego (SAN)
DCA → PCT → ZDC → ZOB → ZID → ZKC → ZAB → ZLA → SCT → SAN
About the airports
San Diego International Airport
San Diego, CA
Codes: SAN · KSAN
Time zone: Pacific
Control tower: San Diego Tower (SAN)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Washington, DC
Codes: DCA · KDCA
Time zone: Eastern
Control tower: Reagan National Tower (DCA)
More routes
- San Diego (SAN) to Atlanta (ATL)
- San Diego (SAN) to Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW)
- San Diego (SAN) to Denver (DEN)
- San Diego (SAN) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
- San Diego (SAN) to New York JFK (JFK)
- San Diego (SAN) to Las Vegas (LAS)
- San Diego (SAN) to Orlando (MCO)
- San Diego (SAN) to Miami (MIA)
- San Diego (SAN) to Charlotte (CLT)
- San Diego (SAN) to Seattle (SEA)
- San Diego (SAN) to Phoenix (PHX)
- San Diego (SAN) to Newark (EWR)
- San Diego (SAN) to San Francisco (SFO)
- San Diego (SAN) to Houston (IAH)
- San Diego (SAN) to Boston (BOS)
- San Diego (SAN) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
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 San Diego (SAN) to Washington National (DCA)?
About 5h 03m gate to gate for the 2,271-mile trip. Flying east, you often pick up a tailwind, so it can be a little shorter.
How far is San Diego (SAN) from Washington National (DCA)?
2,271 miles (1,973 nautical miles, 3,655 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.
Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from San Diego (SAN) to Washington National (DCA)?
Usually 10 facilities: San Diego Tower (SAN), Southern California TRACON (SCT), Los Angeles ARTCC (ZLA), Albuquerque ARTCC (ZAB), Kansas City ARTCC (ZKC), Indianapolis ARTCC (ZID), Cleveland ARTCC (ZOB), 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 San Diego (SAN) and Washington National (DCA)?
Yes. Washington National (DCA) is 3 hours ahead of San Diego (SAN).