Can I fly direct from San Diego to Washington, D.C.?

Direct flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C. are available, though they represent a smaller portion of the total routes. In the trailing 90 days, approximately 16.9% of flights on this route were direct. For flights with one or more stops, the median number of stopovers was 1, indicating that connecting flights are common for this route.

How long does it take to fly from San Diego to Washington, D.C.?

A direct flight from San Diego to Washington, D.C. typically takes about 5 hours and 11 minutes. For flights that include one stop, the median travel time increases to approximately 7 hours and 53 minutes. This route covers a distance of 3618 kilometers, making it a cross-country journey.

Should I set a price alert for San Diego to Washington, D.C. flights?

Yes, setting a price alert for San Diego to Washington, D.C. flights is advisable. Historically, this route has been classified as one with frequent deal availability. This suggests that prices can fluctuate, and alerts can help travelers identify opportune moments to book their flights within a 30-day window.

Flights From San Diego

To Washington, D.C.

Cheap Flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

Browse current best options from San Diego. Become a member to unlock all deals and get alerts when new deals appear.

Deals from

San Diego

RatePunk searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Washington, D.C.

Prices updated 1 day ago

462 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Sep 15, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

Explore current cheapest deals departing from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

2026-10-03 – 2026-10-05
SAN - Washington, D.C.
85% AI deal score
$338
$210
Round trip
2026-10-07 – 2026-10-10
SAN - Washington, D.C.
82% AI deal score
$329
$230
Round trip
2026-10-02 – 2026-10-05
SAN - Washington, D.C.
82% AI deal score
$338
$239
Round trip
2026-10-01 – 2026-10-06
SAN - Washington, D.C.
81% AI deal score
$324
$240
Round trip
2026-10-24 – 2026-10-28
SAN - Washington, D.C.
81% AI deal score
$324
$240
Round trip
2026-10-15 – 2026-10-19
SAN - Washington, D.C.
80% AI deal score
$326
$247
Round trip
2026-10-14 – 2026-10-20
SAN - Washington, D.C.
74% AI deal score
$310
$259
Round trip
2026-10-06 – 2026-10-12
SAN - Washington, D.C.
73% AI deal score
$310
$261
Round trip
2026-10-07 – 2026-10-12
SAN - Washington, D.C.
74% AI deal score
$320
$261
Round trip
2026-11-17 – 2026-11-18
SAN - Washington, D.C.
71% AI deal score
$237
$261
Round trip

San Diego to Washington, D.C.: Overview

Insights for flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

For travelers planning cheap flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C., the data indicates that April is typically the cheapest month to fly, with a median fare of $243. Other cost-effective options include January, with a median fare of $259, and March, where the median fare is $271. These months offer the most favorable prices for this route.

Fares for flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C. typically range from $305 to $502, with a median of $388. Right now, current fares are above the typical level for this route. Only 4% of recent fares were classified as a good price, suggesting that finding a significantly discounted fare can be challenging.

When flying from San Diego to Washington, D.C., most itineraries connect at least once, with only 16.9% of recent fares being non-stop. For the majority of flights that include connections, the typical number of stopovers is one. This means you should generally expect a layover on your journey.

A typical journey from San Diego to Washington, D.C. takes about 9h 36m, including connections. This duration reflects the common need for at least one stopover given the prevalence of connecting itineraries on this route. The overall travel time accounts for both flight segments and layovers.

The distance between San Diego and Washington, D.C. is approximately 3655 kilometers. This classifies the route as a medium-haul flight, meaning it's a significant distance that typically involves several hours in the air.

How much is a round trip from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

Regular price: $271 - $609

Prices are currently below the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C. is $271 to $609. The current lowest deal is $211 with Frontier Airlines for travel from Oct 3-Oct 5.

now $211

Low $271

High $609

The cheapest time to fly from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

The cheapest month to fly from San Diego to Washington is April, with a median price of $243. The most expensive month is November, with a median price of $490. Prices are generally lower from January to December.

April

Cheapest

Flights from $243

November

Most Expensive

Flights from $490

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Last-minute flights going from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

Mon, Sep 14

⌛ Last-Minute

SAN - Washington, D.C.

San Diego (SAN) - Washington, D.C. (DCA)

Frontier Airlines

$556

$468

One-way

Mon, Sep 14

⌛ Last-Minute

SAN - Washington, D.C.

San Diego (SAN) - Washington, D.C. (DCA)

Frontier Airlines

$685

$500

One-way

Tue, Sep 15

⌛ Last-Minute

SAN - Washington, D.C.

San Diego (SAN) - Washington, D.C. (BWI)

American Airlines

$499

$468

One-way

Tue, Sep 15

⌛ Last-Minute

SAN - Washington, D.C.

San Diego (SAN) - Washington, D.C. (DCA)

Frontier Airlines

$677

$500

One-way

Thu, Sep 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SAN - Washington, D.C.

San Diego (SAN) - Washington, D.C. (DCA)

Frontier Airlines

$665

$517

One-way

Fri, Sep 18

⌛ Last-Minute

SAN - Washington, D.C.

San Diego (SAN) - Washington, D.C. (DCA)

Frontier Airlines

$655

$459

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

3 nights

Sep 18 - Sep 21

$655 → $459

30%

2 nights

Sep 14 - Sep 16

$685 → $500

27%

3 nights

Sep 15 - Sep 18

$677 → $500

26%

1 night

Sep 14 - Sep 15

$688 → $515

25%

Popular Airports to fly from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

San Diego - Washington, D.C. route insights

San Diego main airports to depart from

San Diego International (SAN)

Cheapest

San Diego International (SAN) is a convenient departure airport for flights to Washington, D.C.

📍 ~3 km from San Diego city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$216

McClellan–Palomar (CLD)

McClellan–Palomar (CLD) is an alternative departure airport for flights to Washington, D.C.

📍 ~47 km from San Diego city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$480

Washington, D.C. main airports to arrive at

Washington Dulles International (IAD)

Cheapest

Washington Dulles International Airport is a good option for flights to Washington, D.C.

📍 ~36 km from Washington, D.C. city center

💸 Flights from ~$264

Airports nearby Washington, D.C. used as alternative

Philadelphia International (PHL)

Philadelphia International offers extensive domestic and global routes, often with lower fares due to carrier competition.

📍 ~220 km from Washington, D.C. (reachable by car or Amtrak).

💸 Flights from ~$232

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Washington, D.C.

Discover luxury on the budget with premium cabin class on flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C..

Elite

Best Elite deals to Washington, D.C.

Exclusive daily First Class, Business Class, and Premium Economy flight deals, refreshed every 24 hours.

From SAN

Elite

Oct 28

Washington, D.C., United States

91% AI deal score

$2,232

$1,166

Save $1,066

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From SAN

Elite

Nov 11

Washington, D.C., United States

91% AI deal score

$2,046

$1,116

Save $930

United Airlines

Business Class

From SAN

Elite

Oct 28

Washington, D.C., United States

90% AI deal score

$2,020

$1,166

Save $854

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From SAN

Elite

Oct 31

Washington, D.C., United States

90% AI deal score

$1,705

$1,074

Save $631

United Airlines

Business Class

From SAN

Elite

Oct 28

Washington, D.C., United States

89% AI deal score

$1,826

$1,167

Save $659

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From SAN

Elite

Dec 02

Washington, D.C., United States

87% AI deal score

$1,675

$1,142

Save $533

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From SAN

Elite

Dec 02

Washington, D.C., United States

87% AI deal score

$1,701

$1,179

Save $522

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From SAN

Elite

Dec 02

Washington, D.C., United States

87% AI deal score

$1,702

$1,179

Save $523

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From SAN

Elite

Dec 03

Washington, D.C., United States

87% AI deal score

$1,767

$1,187

Save $580

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From SAN

Elite

Jan 16

Washington, D.C., United States

87% AI deal score

$1,440

$1,167

Save $273

United Airlines

Business Class

From SAN

Elite

Jan 26

Washington, D.C., United States

86% AI deal score

$1,622

$1,147

Save $475

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

From SAN

Elite

Jan 27

Washington, D.C., United States

86% AI deal score

$1,620

$1,147

Save $473

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Washington, D.C.

Historically, the optimal time to purchase tickets for flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C. is typically between 28 and 59 days before departure. During this period, the average price observed was around $290. In contrast, purchasing tickets 0-6 days before departure saw average prices rise to approximately $692. Planning ahead can result in significant savings on your airfare.

Across the trailing quarter, a flight from San Diego to Washington, D.C. is considered a good deal if it is priced at or below $305. The median price for this route was $388, indicating that prices can often be higher. By aiming for fares at or below the $305 threshold, travelers can typically secure a more favorable price for their journey.

Historically, April has been the cheapest month to fly from San Diego to Washington, D.C., with a median price of $243. January also offered favorable prices, with a median of $259. The annual median price for this route was $388, making these months notably more affordable for travelers seeking to save on airfare.

Related routes

More routes from San Diego

Flights from San Diego to Amsterdam Flights from San Diego to Athens Flights from San Diego to Atlanta Flights from San Diego to Auckland Flights from San Diego to Austin Flights from San Diego to Barcelona Flights from San Diego to Beijing Flights from San Diego to Berlin Flights from San Diego to Boise Flights from San Diego to Boston Flights from San Diego to Nashville Flights from San Diego to Zürich

Flights to Washington, D.C. from other cities

Flights from Louisville to Washington, D.C.Flights from San Antonio to Washington, D.C.Flights from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.Flights from Sarasota to Washington, D.C.Flights from Seattle to Washington, D.C.Flights from Shanghai to Washington, D.C.Flights from Singapore to Washington, D.C.Flights from Sydney to Washington, D.C.Flights from Tampa to Washington, D.C.Flights from Tokyo to Washington, D.C.Flights from Vienna to Washington, D.C.Flights from Warsaw to Washington, D.C.

San Diego to Washington, D.C.: Overview

Insights for flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

How much is a round trip from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

Regular price: $271 - $609

Prices are currently below the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C. is $271 to $609. The current lowest deal is $211 with Frontier Airlines for travel from Oct 3-Oct 5.

now $211

Low $271

High $609

The cheapest time to fly from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

April

Cheapest

Flights from $243

November

Most Expensive

Flights from $490

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Last-minute flights going from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

Mon, Sep 14

⌛ Last-Minute

SAN - Washington, D.C.

San Diego (SAN) - Washington, D.C. (DCA)

Frontier Airlines

$556

$468

One-way

Mon, Sep 14

⌛ Last-Minute

SAN - Washington, D.C.

San Diego (SAN) - Washington, D.C. (DCA)

Frontier Airlines

$685

$500

One-way

Tue, Sep 15

⌛ Last-Minute

SAN - Washington, D.C.

San Diego (SAN) - Washington, D.C. (BWI)

American Airlines

$499

$468

One-way

Tue, Sep 15

⌛ Last-Minute

SAN - Washington, D.C.

San Diego (SAN) - Washington, D.C. (DCA)

Frontier Airlines

$677

$500

One-way

Thu, Sep 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SAN - Washington, D.C.

San Diego (SAN) - Washington, D.C. (DCA)

Frontier Airlines

$665

$517

One-way

Fri, Sep 18

⌛ Last-Minute

SAN - Washington, D.C.

San Diego (SAN) - Washington, D.C. (DCA)

Frontier Airlines

$655

$459

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

3 nights

Sep 18 - Sep 21

$655 → $459

30%

2 nights

Sep 14 - Sep 16

$685 → $500

27%

3 nights

Sep 15 - Sep 18

$677 → $500

26%

1 night

Sep 14 - Sep 15

$688 → $515

25%

Popular Airports to fly from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

San Diego - Washington, D.C. route insights

San Diego main airports to depart from

San Diego International (SAN)

Cheapest

San Diego International (SAN) is a convenient departure airport for flights to Washington, D.C.

📍 ~3 km from San Diego city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$216

McClellan–Palomar (CLD)

McClellan–Palomar (CLD) is an alternative departure airport for flights to Washington, D.C.

📍 ~47 km from San Diego city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$480

Washington, D.C. main airports to arrive at

Washington Dulles International (IAD)

Cheapest

Washington Dulles International Airport is a good option for flights to Washington, D.C.

📍 ~36 km from Washington, D.C. city center

💸 Flights from ~$264

Airports nearby Washington, D.C. used as alternative

Philadelphia International (PHL)

Philadelphia International offers extensive domestic and global routes, often with lower fares due to carrier competition.

Washington, D.C., United States

86% AI deal score

$1,620

$1,147

Save $473

Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Washington, D.C.

Cheap Flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

Today’s best flight deals from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

San Diego to Washington, D.C.: Overview

Insights for flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

How much is a round trip from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

The cheapest time to fly from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

Direct flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

Last-minute flights going from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

Popular Airports to fly from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

San Diego - Washington, D.C. route insights

San Diego main airports to depart from

Washington, D.C. main airports to arrive at

Airports nearby Washington, D.C. used as alternative

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Washington, D.C.

Best Elite deals to Washington, D.C.

Oct 28

Nov 11

Oct 28

Oct 31

Oct 28

Dec 02

Dec 02

Dec 02

Dec 03

Jan 16

Jan 26

Jan 27

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Washington, D.C.

When should I buy San Diego to Washington, D.C. tickets?

How do I know if a San Diego to Washington, D.C. flight is a good deal?

What's the best month to fly from San Diego to Washington, D.C.?

Can I fly direct from San Diego to Washington, D.C.?

How long does it take to fly from San Diego to Washington, D.C.?

Should I set a price alert for San Diego to Washington, D.C. flights?

Related routes

More routes from San Diego

Flights to Washington, D.C. from other cities

San Diego to Washington, D.C.: Overview

Insights for flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

How much is a round trip from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

The cheapest time to fly from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

Direct flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

Last-minute flights going from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

Popular Airports to fly from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

San Diego - Washington, D.C. route insights

San Diego main airports to depart from

Washington, D.C. main airports to arrive at

Airports nearby Washington, D.C. used as alternative

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Washington, D.C.

Best Elite deals to Washington, D.C.

Oct 28

Nov 11

Oct 28

Oct 31

Oct 28

Dec 02

Dec 02

Dec 02

Dec 03

Jan 16

Jan 26

Jan 27

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Washington, D.C.

When should I buy San Diego to Washington, D.C. tickets?

How do I know if a San Diego to Washington, D.C. flight is a good deal?

What's the best month to fly from San Diego to Washington, D.C.?

Can I fly direct from San Diego to Washington, D.C.?

How long does it take to fly from San Diego to Washington, D.C.?

Should I set a price alert for San Diego to Washington, D.C. flights?

Related routes

More routes from San Diego

Flights to Washington, D.C. from other cities