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DCA to PAO: distance & flight time
Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) → Palo Alto (Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County)
2,426 mi
3,904 km · 2,108 nm
5h 13m
estimated nonstop flight time
-3h
time difference · heading west
See live DCA→PAO fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
2,426 miles nonstop takes roughly 5h 13m 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
- PAO — Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County · Palo Alto, 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 PAO
- SFO · San Francisco International Airport18 mi away
- NUQ · Moffett Federal Airfield5 mi away
- SQL · San Carlos Airport8 mi away
- SJC · Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport12 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is DCA from PAO?
The flight distance from Washington (DCA) to Palo Alto (PAO) is 2,426 miles (3,904 km, 2,108 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from DCA to PAO?
A nonstop flight takes about 5h 13m 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 Palo Alto?
Palo Alto is 3 hours behind Washington.
What is the cheapest way to fly from DCA to PAO?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on DCA–PAO that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.