There are 10 ways to get from Washington to California by plane, train (Amtrak), bus (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 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
best- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane DCA - LAX
6h 21m$248–904Subway to Washington Dulles International Airport, fly to Los Angeles International Airport
cheapest- Take the subway from Farragut West, 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 6m$139–521Train (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 14h$884–1,878Bus (Greyhound)
- 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
2d 15h$407–812Drive 2,610.6 mi
- Drive from Washington to Los Angelescar 2,610.6 mi
42h 49m$477–689Fly Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane DCA - SAN
6h 16m$455–1,685Fly Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)plane DCA - SFO
6h 43m$257–914Subway to Washington Dulles International Airport, fly to John Wayne Airport Orange County
- Take the subway from Farragut West, 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 31m$272–923Subway 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 Platformsubway
- Fly from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane IAD - SAN
7h 46m$254–963Train 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
7h 35m$304–1,750
Washington to California by train (Amtrak)
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Washington to California is to subway and fly which costs $130 - $550 and takes 8h 6m.
The fastest way to get from Washington to California is to fly which takes 6h 16m and costs $450 - $1,700.
No, there is no direct bus from Washington station to California station. However, there are services departing from Washington Union Station and arriving at Los Angeles Union Station via Harrisburg Bus Station and St Louis Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 15h.
No, there is no direct train from Washington 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 and California is 2334 miles. The road distance is 2625.8 miles.
The best way to get from Washington to California without a car is to train which takes 2 days 14h and costs $850 - $1,900.
It takes approximately 6h 21m to get from Washington to California, including transfers.
Washington to California bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Washington Union Station.
Washington to California train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Washington Union Station.
The best way to get from Washington to California is to fly which takes 6h 21m and costs $240 - $950. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $850 - $1,900 and takes 2 days 14h, you could also bus, which costs $400 - $850 and takes 2 days 15h.
What companies run services between Washington, DC, USA and California, USA?
American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Inc., and four other airlines fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) every 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train from Washington Union Station to Los Angeles via Chicago Union Station in around 2d 14h.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 2m
- When
- Tuesday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $240–900
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 35m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $240–900
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Dallas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 35m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $250–950
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 13m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $460–1,800
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport via Dallas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 10m
- When
- Tuesday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $460–1,800
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 40m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 33m
- When
- Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $250–950
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 15m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $300–1,200
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 13m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $310–1,200
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $300–1,200
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Dallas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $310–1,200
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 20m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $300–1,200
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–900
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $460–1,800
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–900
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 58m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–900
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to John Wayne Airport Orange County
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–850
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to John Wayne Airport Orange County via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 36m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–850
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–950
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–950
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $260–1,000
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–500
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–500
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 39m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–900
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 19m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–900
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $450–1,700
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to John Wayne Airport Orange County via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 6m
- 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
- $250–950
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–500
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–900
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $450–1,700
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–900
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to John Wayne Airport Orange County via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 38m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–950
- Website
- flyfrontier.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 11m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–900
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
- $460–1,800
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 41m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–900
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 33m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $250–1,000
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–900
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Salt Lake City
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–950
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 48m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $230–480
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 43h 32m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $650–1,400
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $9–19
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- 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
- 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
- Every 4 hours
- 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
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 Harrisburg Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16–35
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Harrisburg Bus Station to St Louis Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 18h 5m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $110–230
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from St Louis Bus Station to Los Angeles Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 40h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $280–550
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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More Questions & Answers
Washington to California bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Harrisburg Bus Station.
California is 3h behind Washington. It is currently 11:28 AM in Washington and 8:28 AM in California.
Washington to California train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Chicago Union Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Washington to California is 2626 miles. It takes approximately 42h 49m to drive from Washington to California.
Book your Washington to California train tickets online with Omio.
Book your Washington to California bus tickets online with Omio and FlixBus.
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