Chicago to Washington (MDW–DCA) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
No flights match your filters.
No scheduled airline flights on this route — it's flown by charter / private operators (). No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
Most recently operated nonstop flights — the month shown is when each was last scheduled. Most destinations remain reachable with a connection.
No discontinued nonstop flights on record for this route.
MDW–DCA is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. Southwest Airlines leads the route. The flight covers 599 miles in approximately 1h 50m. Beyond nonstop, 1-stop connecting options are also available.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WN Southwest Airlines | 78 | 737, 738, 73H, 7M8, 7S7, B38M | 1h45-2h | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Other ways to reach Washington from Chicago
| Metric | MDW→DCA | ORD→DCA | SBN→DCA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from MDW | – | 15 mi | 74 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 1 | 10 | 2 |
| Weekly flights | 78 | 384 | 3 |
| Flight time | 1h 50m | 1h 42m | 1h 50m |
| Departure OTP | 94% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
MDW: CDT · DCA: EDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Chicago, it's 7:00 PM in Washington.
The Metro station is inside Terminal B/C with covered walkway access; Terminal A requires a short outdoor walk or shuttle. Yellow and Blue line trains run to downtown DC in 15–25 minutes for $2.25–$3.85.
Taxis and Uber/Lyft operate from designated pick-up zones outside each terminal; fares to downtown run $15–30. DCA serves the National Mall area and is well-positioned for the U.S. Capitol, Pentagon, and downtown offices. International arrivals clear customs at DCA only for pre-cleared flights; most international traffic uses IAD (Dulles). Rental cars are in a consolidated facility accessible by shuttle.
Humid subtropical climate. Summers (June–August) are hot and very humid at 29–34°C with frequent afternoon thunderstorms causing ground stops and airspace flow programs. The summer storm season is the primary operational disruption risk at DCA. Spring and autumn are transitional with variable conditions and occasional severe thunderstorm outbreaks.
Winters (December–February) bring cold temperatures (−2 to 7°C) with occasional snowstorms that disproportionately affect the DC area due to limited snow-removal infrastructure. Even moderate snowfall (5–10 cm) can shut regional airports for hours. Pack layers for winter; the region's storm response is notoriously inconsistent.
MDW–DCA Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from MDW to DCA
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) are connected by nonstop service from Southwest Airlines. With 78 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
MDW to DCA Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from MDW to DCA is about 1 hours 50 minutes gate to gate. The route covers a distance of 599 miles (964 km). There are approximately 78 weekly flights outbound and 83 return, totaling 161 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
1-stop connecting options are also available, commonly via Pittsburgh, Cleveland Hopkins and General Mitchell. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Chicago (ORD), South Bend (SBN) and Milwaukee (MKE).