Raleigh/Durham to Washington (RDU–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.
RDU–DCA is served by 4 airlines with nonstop service. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines lead the route. The flight covers 227 miles in approximately 1h 23m. Beyond nonstop, 1-stop connecting options are also available.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA American Airlines Also: AS | 66 | 319, CR7, CR9, E70, E75 | 1h09-1h43 | Oneworld | AS | |
| DL Delta Air Lines | 21 | CR9 | 1h16-1h29 | SkyTeam | – | |
| UA United Airlines | 1 | – | – | Star Alliance | – | |
| B6 JetBlue | 0 | – | – | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Other ways to reach Washington from Raleigh/Durham
| Metric | RDU→DCA | GSO→DCA | ILM→DCA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from RDU | – | 66 mi | 122 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Weekly flights | 102 | 31 | 40 |
| Flight time | 1h 23m | 1h 18m | 1h 26m |
| Departure OTP | 100% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
RDU: EDT · DCA: EDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Raleigh/Durham, it's 6:00 PM in Washington.
No rail connection exists. GoTriangle Route 100 (RDU Express) runs from the Durham Station Transportation Center and downtown Raleigh to the airport for $2.25; takes 35–50 minutes but service is limited in the evenings and does not run all night.Ride-shares (Uber/Lyft) from downtown Raleigh: $20–30, 20–25 minutes. From Durham: $18–25, 15–20 minutes. Taxis: $30–40. Long-term parking from $7/day in Economy lots with shuttle service. I-40 provides direct access to both Raleigh and Durham.
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.
RDU–DCA Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from RDU to DCA
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) are connected by nonstop service from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and JetBlue. With 102 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
RDU to DCA Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from RDU to DCA is about 1 hours 23 minutes gate to gate. The route covers a distance of 227 miles (365 km). There are approximately 102 weekly flights outbound and 94 return, totaling 196 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
1-stop connecting options are also available, commonly via Wilmington, Charlotte Douglas and Philadelphia. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Greensboro (GSO) and Wilmington (ILM).