Philadelphia to Washington (PHL–DCA) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
PHL–DCA is served by 3 airlines with nonstop service. American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and JetBlue lead the route. The flight covers 119 miles in approximately 1h 8m. Beyond nonstop, 91 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA American Airlines | 25 | CR9, E75 | 1h08-1h22 | Oneworld | – | |
| AS Alaska Airlines | 7 | CR9 | 1h11 | Oneworld | – | |
| B6 JetBlue | 1 | – | – | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Other ways to reach Washington from Philadelphia
| Metric | PHL→DCA | EWR→DCA | MDT→DCA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from PHL | – | 80 mi | 83 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Weekly flights | 32 | 77 | 1 |
| Flight time | 1h 8m | 0h 46m | 0h 38m |
| Departure OTP | 73% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
PHL: EDT · DCA: EDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Philadelphia, it's 6:00 PM in Washington.
SEPTA Airport Line rail runs from Center City Philadelphia (30th Street, Suburban, Jefferson, and Market East stations) to the airport in 25–30 minutes ($8 each way). Trains run every 30 minutes from about 5am to midnight. I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) and I-95 are both frequently congested, making the train a consistent choice for anyone based near a SEPTA station.
Ride-shares from Center City cost $20–35 and take 20–40 minutes. Taxis are metered and slightly more.
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.
PHL–DCA Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from PHL to DCA
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) are connected by nonstop service from American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and JetBlue. With 32 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
PHL to DCA Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from PHL to DCA ranges from 1 hours 8 minutes to 1 hours 22 minutes. The route covers a distance of 119 miles (192 km). There are approximately 32 weekly flights outbound and 61 return, totaling 93 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
91 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 3 hours via MDT. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Newark (EWR) and Harrisburg (MDT).