There are 11 ways to get from Washington, DC to California by plane, bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), train (Amtrak), car, train, or subway
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)DCA - SAN
7h 51m$416–1,812Subway to Washington Dulles International Airport, fly to San Francisco International Airport
cheapest- Take the subway from Farragut West, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform
- Fly from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)IAD - SFO
8h 48m$134–574Bus
- Take the bus from Washington Union Station to Pittsburgh Intermodal Station
- Take the bus from Pittsburgh Intermodal Station to St Louis Bus Station
- Take the bus from St Louis Bus Station to Los Angeles Union Station
2d 10h$225–754Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Washington Union Station to Chicago Union StationFloridian / ...
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Los AngelesSouthwest Chief / ...
2d 14h$301–2,171Drive 2,611.4 mi
- Drive from Washington, DC to Los Angeles2,611.4 mi
42h 31m$477–689Train to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, fly to San Diego International Airport
- Take the train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Fly from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)BWI - SAN
7h 50m$224–1,500Fly Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)DCA - SFO
8h 15m$244–1,020Fly Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)DCA - LAX
8h 32m$245–1,021Subway to Washington Dulles International Airport, fly to San Diego International Airport
- Take the subway from Farragut West, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform
- Fly from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)IAD - SAN
8h 21m$226–966Subway to Washington Dulles International Airport, fly to Los Angeles International Airport
- Take the subway from Farragut West, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform
- Fly from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)IAD - LAX
9h 4m$315–675Train to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, fly to Ontario International Airport, train
- Take the train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Fly from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) to Ontario International Airport (ONT)BWI - ONT
- Take the train from Rancho Cucamonga to L.A. Union Station
9h 52m$202–1,408
Washington, DC to California by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Washington, DC to California is to subway and fly which costs $130 - $600 and takes 8h 48m.
The fastest way to get from Washington, DC to California is to train and fly which takes 7h 50m and costs $220 - $1,500.
No, there is no direct bus from Washington, DC station to California station. However, there are services departing from Washington Union Station and arriving at Los Angeles Union Station via Pittsburgh Intermodal Station and St Louis Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 10h.
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 14h.
The distance between Washington, DC and California is 2296 miles. The road distance is 2626.6 miles.
The best way to get from Washington, DC to California without a car is to bus which takes 2 days 10h and costs $220 - $800.
It takes approximately 7h 51m 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 51m and costs $410 - $1,900. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $220 - $800 and takes 2 days 10h, you could also train, which costs $300 - $2,200 and takes 2 days 14h.
What companies run services between Washington, DC, USA and California, USA?
Alaska Airlines, Inc., Southwest Airlines, and American Airlines fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to San Diego International Airport (SAN) 5 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Washington Union Station to Los Angeles Union Station via Pittsburgh Intermodal Station and St Louis Bus Station in around 2d 10h.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 17m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Estimated price
- $430–1,800
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport via Dallas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 57m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $430–1,800
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 25m
- When
- Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $410–1,800
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport via Omaha
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 10m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $420–1,800
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport via Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 35m
- When
- Monday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $420–1,800
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–950
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 26m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- $220–950
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $220–950
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 35m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $230–1,000
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $230–1,000
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 40m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $230–1,000
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 45m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,000
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,000
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 7m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $230–1,000
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 45m
- When
- Wednesday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- $230–1,000
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–950
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 40m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $220–950
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 31m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 32m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Ontario International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 37m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $190–850
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Ontario International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–850
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Ontario International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $190–850
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Ontario International Airport via Dallas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- When
- Monday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–850
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Ontario International Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 55m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $190–850
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–1,000
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–1,000
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 49m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–950
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–950
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 53m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Ontario International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 2m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–850
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $420–1,800
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–1,000
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–950
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 39m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–1,000
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Ontario International Airport via Salt Lake City
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–900
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $410–1,800
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–1,000
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–1,000
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–950
- Website
- flyfrontier.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 24m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $230–1,000
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Washington Union Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $100–600
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 43h 32m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $200–1,600
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 38 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $6–55
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak Northeast Regional
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 24 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $4–200
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Schedules at
- https://www.amtrak.com/northeast-regional-train
- Coach
- $4–200
- Business Class
- $45–230
- Phone
- 1-866-743-3682
- Website
- mta.maryland.gov
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $2–9
- Website
- https://www.mta.maryland.gov
- Standard Fare
- $2–9
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak Acela
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 20 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
- Phone
- +1 202 466 3876
- Website
- wmata.com
Subway from Farragut West, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–8
- Website
- https://www.wmata.com
- standard fare after 9:30 p.m
- $2–3
- standard fare 5 a.m - 9:30 p.m.
- $5–8
- Phone
- (800) 371-LINK (5465)
- Website
- metrolinktrains.com
Train from Rancho Cucamonga to L.A. Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 16m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $8–11
- Website
- https://metrolinktrains.com
- Passenger
- $8–11
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Washington Union Station to Pittsburgh Intermodal Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $40–110
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Pittsburgh Intermodal Station to St Louis Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 55m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $65–180
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from St Louis Bus Station to Los Angeles Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 38h 45m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $120–470
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- flixbus.com
Bus from Washington Union Station to Pittsburgh Intermodal Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–85
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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More Questions & Answers
Washington, DC to California bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Pittsburgh Intermodal Station.
California is 3h behind Washington, DC. It is currently 6:41 PM in Washington, DC and 3:41 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 2627 miles. It takes approximately 42h 31m to drive from Washington, DC to California.
Book your Washington, DC to California train tickets online with Omio.
Book your Washington, DC to California bus tickets online with Omio and FlixBus.
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