There are 6 ways to get from Washington DC to San Diego by plane, train (Amtrak), bus (Greyhound, Amtrak), 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 from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
best- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane DCA - SAN
7h 4m$173–604Subway to Washington Dulles International Airport, fly
cheapest- Take the subway from McPherson Square, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platformsubway
- Fly from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane IAD - SAN
7h 28m$162–703Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Washington Union Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Fullerton Amtrak Stationtrain
- Take the train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to San Diegotrain
2d 18h$1,677–2,642Bus
- Take the bus from Washington Union Station to Harrisburg Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Harrisburg Bus Station to St Louis Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from St Louis Bus Station to Los Angeles Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Los Angeles to San Diegobus
2d 20hDrive 2,599.8 mi
- Drive from Washington DC to San Diegocar 2,599.8 mi
43h 15m$475–686Train to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, fly
- Take the train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshalltrain
- Fly from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane BWI - SAN
7h 41m$354–1,202
Washington DC to San Diego by foot, subway, and train (Amtrak)
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Washington DC to San Diego is to fly which costs $170 - $650 and takes 7h 4m.
The fastest way to get from Washington DC to San Diego is to fly which takes 7h 4m and costs $170 - $650.
No, there is no direct bus from Washington DC to San Diego. However, there are services departing from 11 St NW+F St NW and arriving at San Diego via Washington Union Station, Harrisburg Bus Station, St Louis Bus Station and Los Angeles. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 20h.
No, there is no direct train from Washington DC to San Diego. However, there are services departing from Metro Center, Red Line Track 1 Platform and arriving at San Diego via Washington Union Station, Chicago Union Station and Fullerton Amtrak Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 18h.
The distance between Washington DC and San Diego is 2292 miles. The road distance is 2615 miles.
The best way to get from Washington DC to San Diego without a car is to train which takes 2 days 18h and costs $1,600 - $2,700.
It takes approximately 7h 4m to get from Washington DC to San Diego, including transfers.
Washington DC to San Diego bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Washington Union Station.
Washington DC to San Diego train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Washington Union Station.
The best way to get from Washington DC to San Diego is to fly which takes 7h 4m and costs $170 - $650. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $1,600 - $2,700 and takes 2 days 18h, you could also bus, which costs and takes 2 days 20h.
What companies run services between Washington DC, USA and San Diego, CA, USA?
Alaska Airlines, Inc., Southwest Airlines, and American Airlines fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to San Diego International Airport (SAN) every 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a vehicle from Washington DC to San Diego via Metro Center, Red Line Track 1 Platform, Union Station, Red Line Center Platform, Washington Union Station, Chicago Union Station, and Fullerton Amtrak Station in around 2d 18h.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 27m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $250–1,100
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport via Dallas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 50m
- When
- Monday to Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $250–1,100
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport via Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 50m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–850
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $190–850
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 20m
- When
- Monday to Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $190–850
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Dallas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–850
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $200–850
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–850
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 4m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–900
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–700
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 9m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–700
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $350–1,400
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Washington Union Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 48m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $420–650
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Fullerton Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 42h 44m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $1,200–1,900
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 26m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $55–90
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $16–26
- Website
- Amtrak
Subway from McPherson Square, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform
- Ave. Duration
- 49 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 Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 35 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 Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 20 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $6–550
- Schedules at
- Amtrak Acela
- Website
- Amtrak
- Business Class
- $6–440
- First Class
- $100–550
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Washington Union Station to Harrisburg Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $20–30
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Harrisburg Bus Station to St Louis Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 18h 5m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $140–220
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from St Louis Bus Station to Los Angeles Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 40h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $340–550
- Website
- Greyhound
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Los Angeles to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Website
- Amtrak
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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Booking & Getting There
Washington DC to San Diego bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Harrisburg Bus Station.
San Diego is 3h behind Washington DC. It is currently 10:54 PM in Washington DC and 7:54 PM in San Diego.
Washington DC to San Diego train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Chicago Union Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Washington DC to San Diego is 2615 miles. It takes approximately 43h 15m to drive from Washington DC to San Diego.
There are 2178+ hotels available in San Diego.













