$100 Find Cheap Flights from Washington, D.C. to California - Compare and Save

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Washington, D.C. to California departing on 8/26. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

Save 20% or more on flights. Compare deals from all over the web.

Never overpay with our price tracking tools.

Filter searches by price, airline and more to find your best flights.

Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Washington, D.C. to California

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 72 hours
Los Angeles
Los Angeles1 stop$274
San Francisco
San Francisco1 stop$332
San Diego
San Diego1 stop$181
San Jose
San Jose2 stops$283
Palm Springs
Palm Springsnonstop$349
Fresno
Fresno1 stop$275
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo1 stop$366
Bakersfield
Bakersfield1 stop$372
Arcata
Arcata1 stop$241
Redding
Redding1 stop$460
Reno
Reno1 stop$259
Los Angeles
Los Angeles1 stop$274
San Francisco
San Francisco1 stop$332
San Diego
San Diego1 stop$181
San Jose
San Jose2 stops$283
Palm Springs
Palm Springsnonstop$349
Fresno
Fresno1 stop$275
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo1 stop$366
Bakersfield
Bakersfield1 stop$372
Arcata
Arcata1 stop$241
Redding
Redding1 stop$460
Reno
Reno1 stop$259

Book Cheap Washington, D.C. to California Plane Tickets

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Washington, D.C. to California that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Washington, D.C. to California

Fri, Aug 14 - Fri, Aug 21
Frontier Logo
9:50 am - 11:45 am
IAD
-
LAS
4h 55mnonstop
Frontier Logo
12:30 am - 8:04 am
LAS
-
IAD
4h 34mnonstop
$172Frontier
Tue, Aug 11 - Thu, Aug 13
Frontier Logo
9:50 am - 11:45 am
IAD
-
LAS
4h 55mnonstop
Frontier Logo
12:46 am - 8:20 am
LAS
-
IAD
4h 34mnonstop
$173Frontier
Thu, Aug 13 - Tue, Aug 18
United Airlines Logo
6:00 pm - 8:08 pm
IAD
-
LAS
5h 08mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
8:20 am - 3:58 pm
LAS
-
IAD
4h 38mnonstop
$179United Airlines
Sat, Aug 29 - Tue, Sep 1
Southwest Logo
7:00 am - 9:10 am
DCA
-
LAS
5h 10mnonstop
Southwest Logo
9:20 am - 5:00 pm
LAS
-
DCA
4h 40mnonstop
$179Southwest
Tue, Aug 18 - Wed, Aug 26
American Airlines Logo
8:00 am - 10:07 am
DCA
-
LAS
5h 07mnonstop
American Airlines Logo
11:45 am - 7:35 pm
LAS
-
DCA
4h 50mnonstop
$180American Airlines
Sat, Aug 22 - Wed, Aug 26
American Airlines Logo
8:00 am - 10:07 am
DCA
-
LAS
5h 07mnonstop
American Airlines Logo
11:45 am - 7:35 pm
LAS
-
DCA
4h 50mnonstop
$181American Airlines
Wed, Aug 19 - Thu, Aug 20
Southwest Logo
4:40 pm - 6:40 pm
DCA
-
LAS
5h 00mnonstop
Southwest Logo
8:00 am - 6:10 pm
LAS
-
DCA
7h 10m
1 stop
$189Southwest
Wed, Aug 19 - Tue, Aug 25
Alaska Airlines Logo
9:30 am - 11:59 am
DCA
-
LAX
5h 29mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:16 am - 5:59 pm
LAX
-
DCA
7h 43m
1 stop
$277Alaska Airlines
Thu, Nov 5 - Tue, Nov 17
United Airlines Logo
10:23 pm - 1:13 am
IAD
-
LAX
5h 50mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
4:42 pm - 12:36 am
LAX
-
IAD
4h 54mnonstop
$279United Airlines
Tue, Aug 25 - Mon, Aug 31
Alaska Airlines Logo
9:30 am - 11:59 am
DCA
-
LAX
5h 29mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
9:37 pm - 4:00 pm
LAX
-
DCA
15h 23m
1 stop
$282Alaska Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Washington, D.C. to California flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Washington, D.C. to California to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

How much is a round-trip flight from Washington, D.C. to California?

This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Washington, D.C. to California departing in September.

What is the cheapest Washington, D.C. to California flight route?

Data is based on round-trip flight searches on KAYAK over the past month.

The cheapest ticket to California from Washington, D.C. found in the last 5 days was to Los Angeles, at $227 round-trip. The most popular route is from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport (IAD) to Los Angeles (LAX), and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 5 days was $227.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to California?

The average price for all round-trip flights from Washington, D.C. to California depending on the time of departure, clicked by users on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

The cheapest time of day to fly to California is generally at night, when round-trip flights cost $418 on average. Morning departures are around 3% more expensive than evening flights, on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to California is generally in the afternoon, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is $571.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Washington, D.C. to California?

The average round-trip price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

No, with an average price for the route of $484, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Washington, D.C. to California?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Washington, D.C. to California, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from Washington, D.C. to California is January, when tickets cost $370 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and March, when the average cost of round-trip tickets is $521 and $506 respectively.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Washington, D.C. to California?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Washington, D.C. to California clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

If you are looking for a flight deal from Washington, D.C. to California, look for departures on Thursdays and avoid leaving on a Monday, as it's usually the priciest day. When flying back from California, Wednesday is the cheapest day to fly and Sunday is the most expensive.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Washington, D.C. to California?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Washington, D.C. to California, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Washington, D.C. to California, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 43% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 17 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low season

January

Cheapest flight

$100
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 15% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 9% increase in price.
Flight from Washington Dulles Airport to Las Vegas

Flights from Washington, D.C. to California: the best tips from KAYAK users

Insights shared by verified travelers who flew the route from Washington, D.C. to California 
Verified travelerFlew with Alaska Airlines
DCA
-
SAN
Feb 2026
DCA only has a few flights to other coast. IAD has many. If something goes wrong you’ll have more options flying out of IAD.
Verified travelerFlew with Alaska Airlines
DCA
-
SFO
Jan 2025
Reserve your plane seat & bring something to eat in the plane.
PhallyFlew with Alaska Airlines
IAD
-
SFO
Oct 2024
Don't take too much stuff. Make sure to have the necessary documents or boarding pass ready.
RebeccaFlew with Alaska Airlines
IAD
-
SAN
Sep 2024
Get something to eat in the airport, just in case there is no food onboard.
Verified travelerFlew with Alaska Airlines
DCA
-
LAX
Jul 2024
Easy access via metro, and by car with parking available walking distance from the terminal. Lots of seating and dining options near the flight boarding gates.
NoamFlew with Alaska Airlines
IAD
-
SFO
Aug 2024
Flying to the Ronald Reagan airport is closer and faster to D.C. than the Dulles airport.
BillFlew with Alaska Airlines
IAD
-
LAX
Jun 2024
At Dulles, you can spend 30 minutes getting to your AFTER clearing TSA
DeniseFlew with Alaska Airlines
IAD
-
SFO
May 2024
Bring your own device. No screens on the seatbacks.

FAQs - booking California flights

  • What are some of the ways to get from the center of Washington, D.C., to Washington Dulles International Airport?

    Several transportation options connect the center of Washington, D.C., to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Silver Line Train provides a direct connection to the airport from Farragut West that takes about 50 minutes. There are also two private bus companies that offer service direct service to the airport within about 1 hour, depending on traffic conditions. If you plan to utilize a taxi or rideshare vehicle, you can expect a trip time of about 35 minutes, depending on traffic.

  • Do any airlines allow children to fly alone from Washington, D.C., to California?

    Alaska Airlines prioritizes the well-being of young travelers through its Unaccompanied Minor program. Tailored to children aged 5 to 17 traveling alone, the service ensures a safe and supportive journey. Trained staff assists with check-in, provides in-flight support, and ensures a secure handover at the destination. Parents or guardians receive regular updates for added peace of mind. Alaska Airlines' commitment to family-friendly travel is evident in its reliable and caring UM program, offering a positive experience for young passengers flying solo.

  • What are some ways I can get from Washington, D.C., to the Monterey Peninsula in California?

    You will find that there are plenty of one-stop flight options to get you to this beautiful part of the world quickly. American Airlines offers a one-stop flight from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) with a layover at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), while United Airlines offers a flight from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Monterey Regional Airport with a layover at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

  • What are some benefits of upgrading to business class on United Airlines?

    Upgrading to Business Class on United Airlines flights from Washington, D.C., to California unlocks a host of premium benefits. Passengers experience elevated comfort with spacious seating and potential lie-flat beds for optimal rest. Gourmet dining, fine wines, and personalized service enhance the in-flight experience. Priority services, including check-in and boarding, coupled with increased baggage allowances, ensure a seamless journey. 

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Washington, D.C. to California?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Washington, D.C. to California.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Washington, D.C. to California?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight from Washington, D.C. to California is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Washington, D.C. to California?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly from Washington, D.C. to California with an airline and back with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Washington, D.C. to California?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying from Washington, D.C. to California up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to California

  • One of the quickest trips you can make from Washington, D.C., to California is on one of the nonstop flights offered by both United Airlines and Alaska Airlines from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
  • The most convenient airport for travelers in the center of Washington, D.C., is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). It is situated in Arlington, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from downtown Washington, D.C. Its accessibility and efficient transportation options, including Metro rail service, make it a popular gateway for those departing from the nation's capital.
  • If you will be traveling aboard United Airlines from Washington Dulles International Airport, you should know that this airline offers five of its lounge locations at this airport. Four of the lounges are in Concourse C, while the other one is in Concourse D.
  • If your final destination in California is San Francisco, one of the quickest ways to make the trip is to take one of the nonstop flights available aboard United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, or Frontier Airlines from Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
  • If you want to make a trip to the beautiful southern California city of San Diego, the quickest way to get there is to take nonstop flights available aboard American Airlines, United Airlines, or Alaska Airlines from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Diego International Airport (SAN).

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from Washington, D.C. to California

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Washington, D.C. to California. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Washington, D.C. to California? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.0
SouthwestOverall score based on 4243 reviews
8.6Crew
8.0Comfort
7.5Entertainment
8.1Boarding
7.0Food
Airline reviews

The flight was late. The crew was rude. There was no food. Cramped and uncomfortable. Nothing about this flight was good.

2.0 MediocreIrene, Jun 2026
DEN - SFO
Read more Southwest reviews

The flight was late. The crew was rude. There was no food. Cramped and uncomfortable. Nothing about this flight was good.

It was just okay, no frills, basic transportation with no luxury. No screens on the seats, no water or drinks on a short flight. Full flight but at least it was on time.

The first time I flew in the extra legroom section. It was difficult to notice a difference. I had bad luck with my neighbors. The crew was okay. Southwest has reduced the live TV options.

No gluten free snacks. Seats felt worn or bare bones even though it was a new 737 MAX 8.

Plane was clean and comfortable. Flight attendants and gate staff were professional, friendly and efficient. Boarding and deplaning were orderly and efficient. All in all, the typical excellent Southwest experience.

Haven’t flown on SW in years. Flight was on time departing and arriving. Served vegan butter onion flavored pretzels which were bad. Coke served was in a tiny paper cup. Crew was not engaging. Felt like they were going through the motions. Old plane, tight seats and no leg room.

No delays and arrived to destination 30 min early. Staff was super friendly.

Pretty standard flight. We left late, but arrived early. The wifi entertainment is always nice. The free snacks and beverages are simple, but appreciated. I'm tall and the seats are an issue. I can deal with a short flight, but any longer, I have to find another airline where I know beforehand I have extra legroom.

Awesome experience. No in-flight video or meal. Still do not like the boarding process.

On time, good crew, easy flight. Just like the old days!

It departed an hour and a half late because the crew got in late the previous night due to weather related problems. So we got into LA later than anticipated and traffic was much worse.

Good. I didn’t order food and there was no entertainment available.

Flight cancelled and deplaned. Rescheduled 8 hours later at a different airport. Ended up at destination but late.

The seats are very small. I’m 5’ 3”, so don’t think I should notice. The food selection was non existent and very disappointing. 5 hour flight plus TSA, etc. I would have appreciated a small salad, crudités. Something fresher not just chips.

Flight from LAX to STS das excellent. Flight from DCA to LAX was troubled by the previous flight returning to the one DCA gate putting our flight in jeopardy. However another gate was arranged and that flight was a bit late, but was handled exceptionally.

Boarding process was poorly handled by the gate crew and the onboard crew. No effort was made to provide equal treatment to passengers with overhead bin space. Crew seemed disengaged and unfriendly.

Awesome. Great flight. Super nice people and I like the extra space

On time, WiFi worked, reasonable legroom, helpful staff. Unfortunately there was no water for handwashing in the rear lavatory.

One of the stewardess, Tre, went above and beyond to ensure my comfort!

It was too cold for the first quarter of the flight.

The flight did not have its customary snacks during the flight. Apparently they were never loaded on the plane.

Like: departed and arrived on time. Unlike: Food options for purchase allways bad, 1 of 2 of the crew members not very friendly at all. Seats and leg room aweful. At this point I am thinking on switching to AA.

Over 5 hour delay with minimal updates or ability to standby for alternative flights. During boarding and 1 hr+ wait for takeoff, seats were drenched w water from air conditioning condensation and always leftover crumbs on carpet and seats

7 hours delayed due to operational issues on United’s end. Basically laziness.

We were given vouchers we couldn’t use with a 5.5 hour delay

This was a 5 hour flight with no entertainment and with a snack being provided (pretzels and fruit bar), which are both high in carbs and sugar. Nuts would have been a better choice.

Good plane, crew, and flight. Boarding was a bit chaotic. Bathrooms were unacceptable. United DESPERATELY needs a new terminal at IAD.

Should have video screens Plane audio was poor and without wired connection hard to understand crew. Should serve more than just cups of water and pretzels on six hour flight. Did not see crew rest of flight. Fix charging sockets to retain charging blocks.

787-9 Transcon from IAD-LAX FYI no meals in premium plus, not considered Premium - seats are wonderful https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/inflight/premium-services.html Horrible handling of delayed flight

I was crammed against a person too large for one seat. This traveler (who I’m sure you have a record of, 21E) should be required to purchase two tickets in the future. Also, your streaming service kept kicking me out of my movie.

The seats were extremely cramped, with very little legroom or personal space. There was no room left in the overhead bins for a backpack, and the space under the seat in front was so limited that I could barely fit my bag underneath. Overall, the seating arrangement felt very uncomfortable and overcrowded.

As always, most AA flights that we fly are almost ALWAYS delayed and that too multiple times. Very frustrating

The small flights with Valet Luggage has a poor service

Overall a good experience, however Wifi was not working on the flight.

THe flight was an hour late. You got us on the plan and we sat on the ground for 45 minutes with no information from the pilot whatsoever. Worst flight this year.

Going non stop to lax like I paid for. Not stopping in MCI for gas. Too long of delays

Human interaction. Thought there would be more service-even a smile would have been nice.

Incoming flight was delayed, delaying boarding. It then took 30 mins to take off. Took 20 mins to get to a gate because they changed the gate last minute, crew weren’t ready so there was no one staffed to work the jet bridge. Boarding was so disorganized as is usual with American because everyone just stands around the gate regardless of boarding group.

Delays with no explanation. It could have been handled better.

We were told the flight was delayed 5 times, then it was moved to the next day.

I really didn't like anything. Paid for my checked luggage online ($79) and then was told that I would have to paid another $79 for my carry on. Was not allowed to enter the terminal until 3 hours before my flight and when I finally was allowed to check my bag and enter, my flight was delayed 3 times. When I finally landed, we were all instructed to "run off the plane" as they had to do a quick turn around to Las Vegas. Me and several of my flying companions will never fly Frontier again.

More inflight connection. And leg space is horrible. And the paying for baggage I'd ridiculous!!!

Our flight was canceled. I will never use Kayak nor Frontier for travel again. The entire experience was a headache.

Frontier Airlines was AWFUL. I was an hour early for my flight and the lady refused to check me in. I had to purchase a whole new ticket with a different airline.

I missed a flight because of a delay. I had to buy a new ticket through Southwest.

Bag should not be so much money. This is how Frontier takes advantage of customers

Frontier is definitely a good option for people traveling light or on a budget - just remember to bring your own entertainment and your own headphones if you need them.

Never offer anything to drink ☹️ Flight delayed gate moved poor communication

It’s a cheap airline. I wish they had better seats.

Seats are cramped and very uncomfortable. You have to pay for everything and it is too expensive.

Everything you need to know for your flight from Washington, D.C. to California

Cabin class types available on flights to California

Cabin classes available on flights to California. Prices are the lowest found on KAYAK over the last 7 days. Price and availability is not guaranteed.