There are 8 ways to get from Palo Alto to Washington by plane, bus (Greyhound), subway, train, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly San Francisco International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
best- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)plane SFO - DCA
7h 2m$134–618Bus
- Take the bus from E Bayshore Rd & Donohoe St to Salesforce Transit Center- Bay 37bus Epx
- Take the bus from San Francisco Bus Station to Sparks Transit Centerbus
- Take the bus from Sparks Transit Center to Denver Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Denver Union Station to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Washington Union Stationbus
2d 21h$478–944BART, train
- Take the subway from Millbrae to Richmondsubway
- Take the train from Richmond to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Washington Union Stationtrain
3d 1h$1,018–2,173Drive 2,823.8 mi
- Drive from Palo Alto to Washingtoncar 2,823.8 mi
45h 8m$516–745Fly San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport, subway
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)plane SFO - IAD
- Take the subway from Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform to Farragut West, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 1 Platformsubway
7h 39m$456–721Fly Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
- Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)plane SJC - DCA
8h 28m$288–1,109Fly Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, train
- Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)plane SJC - BWI
- Take the train from BWI Thurgood Marshall to Washington Union Stationtrain
7h 53m$240–1,461Fly San Francisco International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, train
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)plane SFO - BWI
- Take the train from BWI Thurgood Marshall to Washington Union Stationtrain
7h 52m$406–1,220
Palo Alto to Washington by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Palo Alto to Washington is to fly which costs $130 - $650 and takes 7h 2m.
The fastest way to get from Palo Alto to Washington is to fly which takes 7h 2m and costs $130 - $650.
No, there is no direct bus from Palo Alto to Washington station. However, there are services departing from E Bayshore Rd & Donohoe St and arriving at Washington Union Station via San Francisco Bus Station, Sparks Transit Center, Denver Union Station and Chicago Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 21h.
No, there is no direct train from Palo Alto to Washington station. However, there are services departing from California Avenue Caltrain Northbound and arriving at Washington Union Station via Millbrae, Richmond and Chicago Union Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 3 days 1h.
The distance between Palo Alto and Washington is 2471 miles. The road distance is 2840.3 miles.
The best way to get from Palo Alto to Washington without a car is to bus which takes 2 days 21h and costs $470 - $950.
It takes approximately 7h 2m to get from Palo Alto to Washington, including transfers.
Palo Alto to Washington bus services, operated by SamTrans, depart from E Bayshore Rd & Donohoe St station.
Palo Alto to Washington train services, operated by BART, depart from Millbrae station.
The best way to get from Palo Alto to Washington is to fly which takes 7h 2m and costs $130 - $650. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $470 - $950 and takes 2 days 21h.
What companies run services between Palo Alto, CA, USA and Washington, DC, USA?
Alaska Airlines, Inc., United Airlines, and two other airlines fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) every 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from E Bayshore Rd & Donohoe St to Washington Union Station via Salesforce Transit Center- Bay 37, San Francisco Bus Station, Sparks Transit Center, Denver Union Station, and Chicago Bus Station in around 2d 21h.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 25m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–1,100
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via Nashville
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 55m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $280–1,100
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via Dallas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 10m
- When
- Saturday, Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $300–1,200
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 18m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport via Nashville
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- When
- Monday to Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport via Dallas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 35m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $250–950
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–800
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 50m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $200–800
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 20m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–800
- Website
- united.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–600
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport via Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–600
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport via Cleveland
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 42m
- When
- Thursday, Friday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $160–650
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–1,100
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–800
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–950
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 12m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–1,100
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $300–1,200
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–950
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–800
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 4m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–1,200
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–600
- Website
- suncountry.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 25m
- When
- Thursday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $210–800
- Phone
- +1-510-464-6000
- Website
- bart.gov
Subway from Millbrae to Richmond
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 14m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $12–16
- Website
- https://www.bart.gov
- Adult Single Ride
- $12–16
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Richmond to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $750–1,600
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $250–550
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from BWI Thurgood Marshall to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $9–20
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from BWI Thurgood Marshall to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $9–20
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 202 466 3876
- Website
- wmata.com
Subway from Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform to Farragut West, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 1 Platform
- Ave. Duration
- 46 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–3
- Website
- https://www.wmata.com
- standard fare after 9:30 p.m
- $2–3
- Phone
- 1-866-743-3682
- Website
- mta.maryland.gov
Train from BWI Thurgood Marshall to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $2–9
- Website
- https://www.mta.maryland.gov
- Standard Fare
- $2–9
Train from BWI Thurgood Marshall to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $2–9
- Website
- https://www.mta.maryland.gov
- Standard Fare
- $2–9
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak Acela
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from BWI Thurgood Marshall to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 26 min
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $6–550
- Schedules at
- https://www.amtrak.com/acela-train
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Business Class
- $6–440
- First Class
- $100–550
Train from BWI Thurgood Marshall to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 26 min
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $6–550
- Schedules at
- https://www.amtrak.com/acela-train
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Business Class
- $6–440
- First Class
- $100–550
- Website
- samtrans.com
Bus from E Bayshore Rd & Donohoe St to Salesforce Transit Center- Bay 37
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 33m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $2–4
- Website
- http://www.samtrans.com
- Website
- http://www.samtrans.com
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from San Francisco Bus Station to Sparks Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $35–70
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Sparks Transit Center to Denver Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $170–330
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Denver Union Station to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $160–320
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 16h 35m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $110–220
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
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More Questions & Answers
Palo Alto to Washington bus services, operated by SamTrans, arrive at Salesforce Transit Center- Bay 37 station.
Washington is 3h ahead of Palo Alto. It is currently 12:32 AM in Palo Alto and 3:32 AM in Washington.
Palo Alto to Washington train services, operated by BART, arrive at Richmond station.
Yes, the driving distance between Palo Alto to Washington is 2840 miles. It takes approximately 45h 8m to drive from Palo Alto to Washington.
There are 1526+ hotels available in Washington.


















