Flying from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA): what you need to know
Around 5 hours is how long you'll be traveling on a direct flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Ronald Reagan National Airport.
Washington DC is three hours ahead of Los Angeles and is in the UTC-4 timezone.
Each week, there are 36 Los Angeles International Airport to Ronald Reagan National Airport flights. To jet off early, pick the 07:28 American Airlines flight. If you're eager to make the most of your day before flying, the last flight is at 13:45 with American Airlines.
Your LAX to DCA flight won't wait if you're running late, so get to the airport with time to spare. Arrive up to one hour in advance for domestic flights and two hours ahead when you're flying internationally.
You'll likely experience longer queues during popular months like July. Arriving up to four hours in advance for an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure will give you ample time for security and boarding.
A number of airlines offer direct flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Ronald Reagan National Airport, so jetting off to Washington DC (and then seeing more of United States!) is easy. Top carriers that fly nonstop include:
American Airlines has the highest passenger demand on this route.
American Airlines ranks as the top on-time carrier for LAX to DCA flights, with 86.78% of its services arriving on schedule.
Think about adding a stopover when booking your ticket from Los Angeles International Airport to Ronald Reagan National Airport. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' to break up your journey, or visit a new city along the way. Here's where you can stop between LAX and DCA:
Kansas City International Airport
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
Denver International Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Right now, AED 312 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way Los Angeles International Airport to Ronald Reagan National Airport flight. The best price for a return plane ticket is AED 681. Bear in mind that fares can change due to availability when booking.
Score cheap tickets from LAX to DCA by booking six months ahead. Based on our research, that's the sweet spot for finding the biggest deals.
Plan your trip for May. That's the cheapest month for flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Ronald Reagan National Airport. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest price across each month.
Spend less time searching for cheap flights from LAX to DCA by setting up a Price Alert. You'll get an email or push notification on the app when fares go down.
Tailor your flights with filters. Pick your preferred departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Ronald Reagan National Airport.
Handy information about Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
You'll find LAX at One World Way.
81.05% of flights leaving Los Angeles International Airport land at their destination on time. With its reliable on-time performance, you're unlikely to be delayed when setting off from LAX.
Los Angeles International Airport is around 32 kilometers from central Los Angeles. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the center, it'll take 30 minutes or so to arrive, depending on the traffic.
You can expect a journey time of around 55 minutes on public transport.
Need a convenient hotel near LAX? If you're catching an early flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Ronald Reagan National Airport, these stays will have you moments from check-in:
Arriving at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
If you're arriving on a late Los Angeles International Airport to Ronald Reagan National Airport flight, few things top the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be tucked up in bed not long after at one of these hotels near DCA:
Hit the road running by picking up a Ronald Reagan National Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Thrifty, Sixt or Dollar and explore beyond Washington DC's usual tourist stops.
To secure the lowest price, reserve your ride from Ronald Reagan National Airport around four weeks before traveling.
Getting from Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) to central Washington DC
You'll find DCA at 1 Aviation Circle.
Ronald Reagan National Airport is roughly 8 kilometers from central Washington DC. Driving there takes about 15 minutes.
Traveling to the center by public transport takes roughly 45 minutes.
When to fly to Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
February is the busiest month for flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Ronald Reagan National Airport. For smaller crowds, head to Washington DC in May.
The warmest month in Washington DC is July, with temperatures ranging between 19ºC (66ºF) and 33ºC (91ºF). Book your flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Ronald Reagan National Airport in this month if this is the kind of weather you like.
If you like traveling in cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from LAX to DCA in January. Average temperatures are between -6ºC (21ºF) and 10ºC (50ºF) then.
Explore more of United States
Washington DC is always a good idea, but there are so many other parts of United States waiting to be explored. About 322 kilometers north-east of Washington DC, a trip to New York will keep your itinerary packed. Don't miss top attractions like Statue of Liberty, Central Park and Empire State Building.
Around 193 kilometers north-east of Washington DC, Philadelphia is another favorite stop in United States. No visit is complete without checking out Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Philadelphia Museum of Art.