Flying from Washington DC to Vancouver: what you need to know
When searching for your flight from Washington DC to Vancouver, there's a selection of airports you can start your trip from. Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) are among Washington DC's main options.
Vancouver has a number of airports you can fly into. Come in for landing at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH) or Abbotsford Airport (YXX).
Book a direct Washington DC to Vancouver flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 5 hours 45 minutes.
The timezone in Vancouver is UTC-7, which is three hours behind Washington DC.
Leave plenty of time to make your Washington DC to Vancouver flight. As a general rule, turn up two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Travelling during a peak time like July? Public holidays and other popular periods can mean longer queues at check-in and security. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from Washington DC to Vancouver
Booking ahead of time is often the key to finding a cheap Washington DC to Vancouver flight. Fares tend to rise as seats fill up, so the nearer you get to departure, the more you'll likely pay.
Finding cheap plane tickets from Washington DC to Vancouver is easier if you're flexible with your travel dates. Try using the 'Whole month' tool to see the best prices across the month and bag an incredible deal.
Locking in a cheap flight from Washington DC to Vancouver is easy with Price Alerts. Simply create one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as the price has dropped.
Pick your ideal arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines by using the filters. Or sort your Washington DC to Vancouver flight results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from Washington DC
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Consider adding a stopover to possibly find a cheaper Washington DC to Vancouver flight. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from Ronald Reagan National Airport. Take a break from travelling at one of these popular options:
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
DCA is around 6 kms (4 miles) from central Washington DC. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take you 15 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the trip time to be around 45 minutes.
In search of a convenient hotel close to Ronald Reagan National Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from Washington DC to Vancouver, these stays will have you nice and close to your departure gate:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Ronald Reagan National Airport, 76.44% of flights meet their scheduled arrival time.
You'll find DCA at 1 Aviation Circle.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
You can take a direct flight from Washington DC to Vancouver out of Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Start your travels at IAD and come in for landing at Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
Book a direct Washington DC to Vancouver plane ticket with United Airlines. This is one of the main airlines that operates this route out of IAD.
Visit family or friends or just take a moment to recharge with a stopover. If you'd like to break up your Washington DC to Vancouver flight, here's where you can stop when taking off from Washington Dulles International Airport:
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Using public transport, you can travel from central Washington DC to IAD in around 1 hour 10 minutes. The terminal is roughly 40 kms (25 miles) away. Driving will take you about 50 minutes.
It's your holiday, so why not extend it with another night away? Think about staying at one of these hotels near Washington Dulles International Airport the day before your flight from Washington DC to Vancouver:
Washington Dulles International Airport has an on-time performance of 74%. This figure gives an insight into how frequently flights departing from this airport arrive at their destination on time.
IAD is located at 1 Saarinen Circle.
Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Book a ticket from Washington DC to Vancouver departing from Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) with one or more stops. Some popular stopovers between BWI and Vancouver are:
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
From central Washington DC, BWI is around 40 kms (25 miles) away. It'll take you roughly 50 minutes to arrive by car and 1 hour 30 minutes or so if you use public transport.
Wake up, take it easy and still make your Washington DC to Vancouver flight with time to spare. These hotels near Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport make departure day effortless if you're jetting off early:
The on-time performance rate of BWI is 77.13%. In other words, that's how frequently flights departing this airport reach their final stop as planned.
Arriving in Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
The distance from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to central Vancouver is roughly 10 kms (6 miles). It'll take you about 25 minutes to reach the centre driving.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of around 35 minutes.
If you're coming in on a late flight from Washington DC to Vancouver, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your bags from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing not long after at one of these accommodation options near YVR:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a Vancouver International Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Routes Car Rentals, Thrifty or Avis and explore beyond Vancouver's main sights.
To get the lowest price, reserve your vehicle from Vancouver International Airport around one week ahead of your Washington DC to Vancouver flight.
Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH)
Once your flight from Washington DC to Vancouver has arrived, you can reach the city centre in about 5 minutes by car. Central Vancouver is approximately 0.80 kms (0.50 miles) from Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH).
If you choose to travel on public transport, the ride to the centre will take you 15 minutes or so.
After your flight from Washington DC to Vancouver, rest your head at a hotel close to CXH. These are some comfortable accommodation options that'll help you slip into relaxation mode:
Avoid filling out forms at the rental desk by completing your booking beforehand. Reserve your ride from CXH ahead of time so you can just get the keys and go.
Abbotsford Airport (YXX)
Abbotsford Airport (YXX) is about 64 kms (40 miles) from the centre of Vancouver. It'll take you about 1 hour to reach the city centre in a ride-share or cab once you've hopped off your flight from Washington DC to Vancouver.
The journey will take around 1 hour 30 minutes when travelling by public transport.
If you don't want to make the trip to the centre, head for a hotel near YXX. Make yourself comfy at one of these stays after your Washington DC to Vancouver flight:
Whether you want a compact for a solo adventure or a spacious SUV to fit the whole crew comfortably, you'll find the perfect Abbotsford Airport rental car for your needs. Check out the types of wheels available from suppliers such as Hertz, Thrifty and Enterprise.
If you're after a specific make or model, lock in your ride from YXX about one week ahead of your flight from Washington DC to Vancouver. This improves your chances of getting the car you prefer, along with a better price.
Best time to go to Vancouver
May is the quietest month for flights from Washington DC to Vancouver, while August is the most popular. Work out the best time to visit Vancouver based on whether you want a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.
When booking your Washington DC to Vancouver tickets, think about what kind of weather you prefer. August is the warmest month in Vancouver, with temperatures ranging from 13ºC (55ºF) to 24ºC (75ºF).
If you want cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from Washington DC to Vancouver in December when temperatures average between -1ºC (30ºF) and 7ºC (45ºF).
More about Vancouver
Once you've booked your flight from Washington DC to Vancouver, find a hotel that keeps you close to what you want to see. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Vancouver:
Stanley Park and Granville Island are just two of the major attractions to add to your Vancouver to-do list. Keep the adventure rolling by checking out Science World.
Explore more of Canada
You've seen Vancouver, now it's time to discover more of Canada. Journey around 20 miles south-east to Surrey to tick off its leading sights. From Senator Reid Park to Port Mann Park and Morgan Creek Park, you'll have a full itinerary ahead.
Around 60 miles south of Vancouver, Victoria is another essential stop in Canada. Experience this destination's highlights firsthand at Royal BC Museum, Craigdarroch Castle and Inner Harbour.