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PAO to DCA: distance & flight time
Palo Alto (Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County) → Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport)
2,426 mi
3,904 km · 2,108 nm
5h 13m
estimated nonstop flight time
+3h
time difference · heading east
See live PAO→DCA fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
2,426 miles nonstop takes roughly 5h 13m gate to gate, flying east. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 3-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- PAO — Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County · Palo Alto, United States
- DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport · Washington, 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 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
Near DCA
Frequently asked questions
How far is PAO from DCA?
The flight distance from Palo Alto (PAO) to Washington (DCA) 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 PAO to DCA?
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 Palo Alto and Washington?
Washington is 3 hours ahead of Palo Alto.
What is the cheapest way to fly from PAO to DCA?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on PAO–DCA that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.