There are 6 ways to get from San Diego to Washington by plane, train (Amtrak), bus (Flixbus, Greyhound), car, subway, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
best- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)plane SAN - DCA
5h 15m$170–550Fly to Washington Dulles International Airport, subway
cheapest- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)plane SAN - IAD
- Take the subway from Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform to McPherson Square, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 1 Platformsubway
5h 51m$142–583Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from San Diego to Fullerton Amtrak Stationtrain
- Take the train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Washington Union Stationtrain
2d 16h$1,676–2,636Bus
- Take the bus from San Diego to Los Angeles Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Los Angeles Union Station to St Louis Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from St Louis Bus Station to Harrisburg Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Harrisburg Bus Station to Washington Union Stationbus
2d 20h$476–747Drive 2,599.3 mi
- Drive from San Diego to Washingtoncar 2,599.3 mi
43h 14m$475–686Fly to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, train
- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)plane SAN - BWI
- Take the train from BWI Thurgood Marshall to Washington Union Stationtrain
5h 59m$358–1,177
San Diego to Washington by train (Amtrak)
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from San Diego to Washington is to fly which costs $170 - $550 and takes 5h 15m.
The fastest way to get from San Diego to Washington is to fly which takes 5h 15m and costs $170 - $550.
No, there is no direct bus from San Diego to Washington station. However, there are services departing from San Diego and arriving at Washington Union Station via Los Angeles Union Station, St Louis Bus Station and Harrisburg Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 20h.
No, there is no direct train from San Diego to Washington station. However, there are services departing from San Diego and arriving at Washington Union Station via Fullerton Amtrak Station and Chicago Union Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 16h.
The distance between San Diego and Washington is 2284 miles. The road distance is 2614.4 miles.
The best way to get from San Diego to Washington without a car is to train which takes 2 days 16h and costs $1,600 - $2,700.
It takes approximately 5h 15m to fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), including transfers and time at the airport.
San Diego to Washington bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from San Diego station.
San Diego to Washington train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from San Diego station.
The best way to get from San Diego to Washington is to fly which takes 5h 15m and costs $170 - $550. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $1,600 - $2,700 and takes 2 days 16h, you could also bus, which costs $470 - $750 and takes 2 days 20h.
What companies run services between San Diego, CA, USA and Washington, DC, USA?
Alaska Airlines, Inc. and Southwest Airlines fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) every 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train from San Diego to Washington Union Station via Fullerton Amtrak Station and Chicago Union Station in around 2d 16h.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 12m
- When
- Monday to Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $180–800
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via Nashville
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 2m
- When
- Saturday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Monday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $180–800
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–800
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 55m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $180–800
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 58m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–600
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport via Nashville
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- When
- Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $130–600
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 42m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday, and Monday
- Estimated price
- $130–600
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport via Indianapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $130–600
- Website
- united.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–600
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $260–1,100
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 4m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–800
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from San Diego to Fullerton Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 19m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $55–90
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 42h 47m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $1,200–1,900
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $420–650
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from BWI Thurgood Marshall to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $16–25
- Website
- Amtrak
Subway from Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform to McPherson Square, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 1 Platform
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–3
- Website
- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
- standard fare after 9:30 p.m
- $2–3
- Phone
- 1-866-743-3682
- Website
- Maryland Transit
Train from BWI Thurgood Marshall to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $2–9
- Website
- Maryland Transit
- Standard Fare
- $2–9
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak Acela
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from BWI Thurgood Marshall to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 26 min
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $6–550
- Schedules at
- Amtrak Acela
- Website
- Amtrak
- Business Class
- $6–440
- First Class
- $100–550
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from San Diego to Los Angeles Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $18–28
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Los Angeles Union Station to St Louis Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 40h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $310–480
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from St Louis Bus Station to Harrisburg Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 50m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $130–210
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Harrisburg Bus Station to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $18–29
- Website
- Greyhound
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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Booking & Getting There
The quickest flight from San Diego International Airport Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Airport is the direct flight which takes 5h 15m.
San Diego to Washington bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at Los Angeles Union Station.
Washington is 3h ahead of San Diego. It is currently 12:48 PM in San Diego and 3:48 PM in Washington.
San Diego to Washington train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Fullerton Amtrak Station.
Yes, the driving distance between San Diego to Washington is 2614 miles. It takes approximately 43h 14m to drive from San Diego to Washington.
Alaska Airlines, Inc. and Southwest Airlines offer flights from San Diego International Airport Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Airport.
Book your San Diego to Washington train tickets online with Omio.
Book your San Diego to Washington bus tickets online with Omio and FlixBus.
There are 1625+ hotels available in Washington.
















