There are 11 ways to get from Washington DC to California by plane, bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), train (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 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport
best- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane DCA - SAN
7h 41m$185–609Fly Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport
cheapest- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)plane DCA - SFO
8h 9m$134–618Bus
- Take the bus from Washington Union Station to Pittsburgh Intermodal Stationbus
- Take the bus from Pittsburgh Intermodal Station to St Louis Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from St Louis Bus Station to Los Angeles Union Stationbus
2d 14h$407–802Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Washington Union Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain Floridian / ...
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Los Angelestrain Southwest Chief / ...
2d 15h$942–2,052Drive 2,616.4 mi
- Drive from Washington DC to Los Angelescar 2,616.4 mi
42h 36m$478–690Fly Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane DCA - LAX
7h 48m$210–567Subway to Washington Dulles International Airport, fly to John Wayne Airport Orange County
- 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 John Wayne Airport Orange County (SNA)plane IAD - SNA
7h 42m$532–1,068Subway to Washington Dulles International Airport, fly to San Diego International Airport
- 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 57m$194–758Train to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, fly to San Diego International Airport
- 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
8h 1m$356–1,107Subway to Washington Dulles International Airport, fly to Los Angeles International Airport
- 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 Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane IAD - LAX
8h 21m$199–866Train to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, fly to Ontario International Airport, train
- Take the train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshalltrain
- Fly from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) to Ontario International Airport (ONT)plane BWI - ONT
- Take the train from Rancho Cucamonga to L.A. Union Stationtrain
11h 51m$224–1,416
Washington DC to California by foot and bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Washington DC to California is to fly which costs $130 - $650 and takes 8h 9m.
The fastest way to get from Washington DC to California is to fly which takes 7h 41m and costs $180 - $650.
No, there is no direct bus from Washington DC to California station. However, there are services departing from 13 St NW+G St NW and arriving at Los Angeles Union Station via Washington Union Station, Pittsburgh Intermodal Station and St Louis Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 14h.
No, there is no direct train from Washington DC station to California. However, there are services departing from Washington Union Station and arriving at Los Angeles via Chicago Union Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 15h.
The distance between Washington DC and California is 2297 miles. The road distance is 2631.7 miles.
The best way to get from Washington DC to California without a car is to bus which takes 2 days 14h and costs $400 - $800.
It takes approximately 7h 41m to get from Washington DC to California, including transfers.
Washington DC to California bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Washington Union Station.
Washington DC to California train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Washington Union Station.
The best way to get from Washington DC to California is to fly which takes 7h 41m and costs $180 - $650. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $400 - $800 and takes 2 days 14h, you could also train, which costs $900 - $2,100 and takes 2 days 15h.
What companies run services between Washington DC, USA and California, USA?
Alaska Airlines, Inc., Southwest Airlines, and three other 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 Los Angeles Union Station via 13 St NW+G St NW, Massachusetts Av NE+1 St NE, Washington Union Station, Pittsburgh Intermodal Station, and St Louis Bus Station in around 2d 14h.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport via Dallas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 36m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $340–1,400
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 42m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $330–1,300
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Dallas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 12m
- When
- Monday to Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 37m
- When
- Sunday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 50m
- When
- Saturday, Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 55m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 12m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- When
- Saturday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 10m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $230–950
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Dallas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $230–950
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Ontario International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–850
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Ontario International Airport via Nashville
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–850
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Ontario International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–850
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Ontario International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 23m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $210–850
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Ontario International Airport via Dallas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 10m
- When
- Saturday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $220–850
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Ontario International Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 42m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $210–850
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 7m
- When
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $330–1,300
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to John Wayne Airport Orange County
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–900
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to John Wayne Airport Orange County via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 39m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–900
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–750
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–800
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–800
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–550
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 49m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–550
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 48m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $130–550
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Ontario International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–850
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $330–1,300
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 39m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 58m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to John Wayne Airport Orange County via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $260–1,100
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $130–550
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $440–1,800
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 29m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $310–700
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to John Wayne Airport Orange County via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $260–1,100
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–600
- Website
- flyfrontier.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 53m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $300–950
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 36m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–460
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Salt Lake City
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 53m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Ontario International Airport via Salt Lake City
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–850
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
- $240–550
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 43h 32m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $700–1,500
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $9–20
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $9–20
- Website
- Amtrak
Subway from McPherson Square, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center 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
Subway from McPherson Square, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center 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
Subway from McPherson Square, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center 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 Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $2–9
- Website
- Maryland Transit
- Standard Fare
- $2–9
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
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
- Phone
- (800) 371-LINK (5465)
- Website
- Metrolink Trains
Train from Rancho Cucamonga to L.A. Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $8–12
- Website
- Metrolink Trains
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Washington Union Station to Pittsburgh Intermodal Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $35–70
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Pittsburgh Intermodal Station to St Louis Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 55m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $90–180
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from St Louis Bus Station to Los Angeles Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 40h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $280–550
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Washington Union Station to Pittsburgh Intermodal Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–65
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Want to know more about travelling around United States
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
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Booking & Getting There
Washington DC to California bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Pittsburgh Intermodal Station.
California is 3h behind Washington DC. It is currently 5:54 PM in Washington DC and 2:54 PM in California.
Washington DC to California train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Chicago Union Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Washington DC to California is 2632 miles. It takes approximately 42h 36m to drive from Washington DC to California.
There are 2694+ hotels available in California.
















