Travelling from Washington DC to Shanghai: what you need to know
You can choose from multiple airports when organising your flight from Washington DC to Shanghai. Check out your options for flying out of Washington DC from Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
When it comes to planning your arrival in Shanghai, Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) are the major entry points.
The timezone in Shanghai is UTC+8, which is 12 hours ahead of Washington DC.
To ensure you catch your Washington DC to Shanghai flight, leave enough time to check in and drop off your luggage. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general rule to follow.
Flying over a peak time such as July? School holidays and other popular seasons can mean longer queues and delays at security. Be extra cautious and arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from Washington DC to Shanghai
Don't wait until the last moment. You're more likely to get cheap Washington DC to Shanghai flights if you book ahead. Airlines often have some amazing early bird rates.
The 'Whole month' tool will show you the cheapest plane tickets from Washington DC to Shanghai across the month. It's an easy way to snap up a bargain if your trip dates aren't set in stone.
Spend less time searching for cheap flights from Washington DC to Shanghai by setting up a Price Alert. You'll get an email or notification through the app when a new low fare is offered.
Select your ideal departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops by using the filters. Alternatively, sort your Washington DC to Shanghai flight results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from Washington DC
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
We make it simple to book a Washington DC to Shanghai flight with a stopover. To see all your options leaving from Ronald Reagan National Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, pick a flight offering a stop long enough to tour your chosen city. Some popular stopovers include:
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Located around 6 kilometres from the centre of Washington DC, DCA can be reached in about 15 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey by public transport takes roughly 45 minutes.
Want an easy start to your trip? Stay near Ronald Reagan National Airport. Whether you've booked an early flight from Washington DC to Shanghai or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels have you covered:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Ronald Reagan National Airport, 76.44% of flights arrive within the scheduled time frame.
DCA's address is 1 Aviation Circle.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Make the most of your holiday with a stopover on your Washington DC to Shanghai flight. Visit family or friends or tick another city off your list. Whatever you decide to do, here's where you can stop between Washington Dulles International Airport and Shanghai:
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Haneda Airport (HND)
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
On public transport, you can travel from central Washington DC to IAD in around 1 hour 10 minutes. The terminal is roughly 40 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 50 minutes.
Get your holiday started early with an extra night away from home. Before your flight from Washington DC to Shanghai, kick back in one of these hotels near Washington Dulles International Airport:
Washington Dulles International Airport has an on-time performance rate of 74%. This figure highlights how frequently flights that leave from this airport reach their destination on time.
The address for IAD is 1 Saarinen Circle.
Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Reserve a ticket from Washington DC to Shanghai departing from Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) with one or more stops. Some popular stopovers between BWI and Shanghai are:
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
BWI is around 40 kilometres from central Washington DC. The drive from the city centre to the terminal takes about 50 minutes. If you're thinking about using public transport, expect a journey of around 1 hour 30 minutes.
Rest a little longer, move a little slower, and still make your Washington DC to Shanghai flight with time to spare. These hotels near Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport make it a breeze to get to the terminal if you're jetting off early:
Airports have an on-time performance rating that tracks how often flights get to their destinations as expected. At BWI, that figure is 77.13%.
Arriving in Shanghai
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to central Shanghai takes about 50 minutes by car. The centre is roughly 32 kilometres away.
It usually takes 40 minutes to get there on public transport.
If you have a late flight from Washington DC to Shanghai, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your luggage from the carousel and then be showered and resting not long after at one of these hotels near PVG:
Pick up a Shanghai Pudong International Airport rental car and discover parts of Shanghai that aren't on a typical itinerary. Find your ideal set of wheels with Hertz.
To get the best deal, book your ride from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at least a couple of weeks in advance. Prices generally rise as your departure date approaches.
PVG is situated at No.300 Qihang Road.
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
Central Shanghai is approximately 13 kilometres from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA). Once your flight from Washington DC to Shanghai has landed and you've made your way through the terminal, the drive should be around 20 minutes.
After your flight from Washington DC to Shanghai, rest your head at a hotel close to SHA. These are some comfortable accommodation options that'll help you switch to relaxation mode:
Grab a Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport rental car and unlock a world of freedom with your own set of wheels. Hertz is just moments from arrivals, so you can drive off in a flash.
Typically, the sooner you book, the better the prices and vehicle selection. Secure your ride from SHA once your travel dates are set.
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is located at 700 Yingbin 1st Rd.
Best time to go to Shanghai
It's time to figure out your travel dates for your flight from Washington DC to Shanghai. April is the most popular month to visit Shanghai. If you want a more relaxed vibe, go in April.
Before locking in your Washington DC to Shanghai tickets, think about what kind of weather you prefer. August is the warmest month in Shanghai, with temperatures ranging from 23ºC to 34ºC.
January sees average temperatures of between -1ºC and 10ºC. Look for cheap flights from Washington DC to Shanghai around that time if you want to travel in cooler conditions.
More about Shanghai
Start your Shanghai trip right by choosing the ideal place to stay. After booking your flight from Washington DC to Shanghai, browse our range of accommodation options including:
There are so many things to do and see in this city it can be tricky to know where to start. The Bund Sightseeing Avenue, Yu Garden and Shanghai Tower are top attractions which should be on any well-planned Shanghai itinerary.
Explore more of China
Nanjing is just one of the many places in China waiting to be discovered after you've experienced Shanghai. Around 274 kilometres to the west, its top attractions include Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Nanjing City Wall and Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall.
Suzhou is another essential stop in China and is around 80 kilometres west of Shanghai. No journey is complete without seeing Lotus Peak, Tianpingshan and Shangfang Tower.