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DCA to LAX: distance & flight time
Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) → Los Angeles (Los Angeles International Airport)
2,306 mi
3,711 km · 2,004 nm
4h 59m
estimated nonstop flight time
-3h
time difference · heading west
See live DCA→LAX fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
2,306 miles nonstop takes roughly 4h 59m gate to gate, flying west. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 3-hour time set-back when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport · Washington, United States
- LAX — Los Angeles International Airport · Los Angeles, United States
Distances are great-circle ("as the crow flies") — the same basis airlines use for frequent-flyer miles.
Alternate airports can cut this fare
Flying from or into a nearby airport is the #1 trick our agents use to beat online prices. Call and we'll compare every combination on one call.
Near DCA
Near LAX
- HHR · Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport4 mi away
- SMO · Santa Monica Municipal Airport6 mi away
- TOA · Zamperini Field10 mi away
- LGB · Long Beach /Daugherty Field/ Airport17 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is DCA from LAX?
The flight distance from Washington (DCA) to Los Angeles (LAX) is 2,306 miles (3,711 km, 2,004 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from DCA to LAX?
A nonstop flight takes about 4h 59m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
What is the time difference between Washington and Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is 3 hours behind Washington.
What is the cheapest way to fly from DCA to LAX?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on DCA–LAX that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.