DCA to LAX: Distance and Flight Time
The distance from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is 3,711 km (2,306 mi). A typical nonstop flight covers it in about 5h 10m, heading west. The distance is the same in either direction (LAX to DCA).
How far is it from Washington to Los Angeles?
The great-circle distance between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is 3,711 km (2,306 mi, 2,004 nautical miles). That is the straight-line distance; a real flight is a little longer because of air-traffic routing.
How long is the flight from DCA to LAX?
A nonstop flight typically takes about 5h 10m. This is an estimate from the distance; actual block times depend on the aircraft, winds and the exact routing. LAX is roughly west of DCA.
How is the DCA to LAX route written in code?
The pair is written DCA-LAX in IATA codes and KDCA-KLAX in ICAO codes, the form used on a flight plan. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is DCA (KDCA), Los Angeles International Airport is LAX (KLAX).
| DCA | LAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport | Los Angeles International Airport |
| ICAO code | KDCA | KLAX |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Elevation | 15 ft | 125 ft |
| Rank by connections | #70 | #7 |
Both ICAO codes start with K, the prefix ICAO assigns to the contiguous United States, so this is a route inside one ICAO region. How ICAO prefixes are laid out.
LAX sits 110 ft (34 m) higher than DCA, which is a real difference in air density on takeoff.
Airlines flying DCA to LAX
3 airlines appear on this route in the open route dataset, 3 of them still listed as active. Each row gives the IATA code, the ICAO code and the radio callsign, which is what an air traffic controller hears:
| IATA | Airline | ICAO | Callsign | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA | American Airlines | AAL | American | Active |
| AS | Alaska Airlines | ASA | Alaska | Active |
| US | US Airways | USA | U S Air | Active |
A further 1 carrier sell this pair as a codeshare without operating it: DL.
Route and carrier data comes from the OpenFlights open dataset, regenerated here on . It is a historical snapshot of scheduled connections, not a live schedule, and it includes codeshare listings, so some carriers shown may no longer operate the route or exist. How we build this · Data and sources.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Washington from Los Angeles?
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) are 3,711 km (2,306 mi, 2,004 nautical miles) apart in a straight line.
How long is the flight from DCA to LAX?
A typical nonstop flight between DCA and LAX takes about 5h 10m. Actual times vary with aircraft type, winds and routing.
What direction is LAX from DCA?
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) lies roughly west of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
Which airlines fly DCA to LAX?
3 airlines appear on the DCA-LAX route in the open dataset, including American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, US Airways.
Related routes
Other routes from Washington (DCA):
Other routes from Los Angeles (LAX):
DCA airport code · LAX airport code · Busiest airports worldwide