Travelling from Washington DC to Toronto: what you need to know
When searching for your flight from Washington DC to Toronto, there's a selection of airports to depart 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 terminals.
Step off the plane at one of Toronto's major gateways like Pearson International Airport (YYZ). You can also arrive at this city landing at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) or Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF).
Jump on a direct Washington DC to Toronto flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 1 hour 35 minutes.
Toronto's timezone is UTC-4, which is the same as Washington DC.
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) to Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is the most popular route between these two cities. There are 42 departures a week to pick from. If you have things to do before leaving, the last flight from Washington DC to Toronto is with Air Canada at 20:40. Choose the first DCA to YYZ departure with Air Canada at 06:59 to make the most of your arrival in Toronto.
Give yourself plenty of time to get on your Washington DC to Toronto flight. A good rule of thumb is to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
You can expect longer queues in popular months like July. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure will give you plenty of time for security and boarding.
How to find the cheapest flights from Washington DC to Toronto
To secure cheap Washington DC to Toronto flights, book your trip two months before your departure date.
May is the best month for scoring an amazing deal on a plane ticket from Washington DC to Toronto. If you're looking to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices for every month.
There's no need to check back in every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know as soon as there's a better deal on cheap flights from Washington DC to Toronto.
Pick your preferred arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines with the filters. Alternatively, sort your Washington DC to Toronto flight results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from Washington DC
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Set out from Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) on a nonstop flight from Washington DC to Toronto. From DCA, you can fly directly to Pearson International Airport (YYZ).
Air Canada is a well-known airline that offers direct Washington DC to Toronto plane tickets from DCA.
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to break up your trip — and possibly even tour another city. When browsing Washington DC to Toronto flights leaving from Ronald Reagan National Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Here are some popular options to consider:
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
The journey from central Washington DC to DCA takes about 45 minutes on public transport. If you ride-share, drive or get a cab, you'll cover the 6 kilometres in 15 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Need a convenient hotel close to Ronald Reagan National Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from Washington DC to Toronto, these accommodation options will put you nice and close to your departure gate:
76.44% of flights that take off from Ronald Reagan National Airport arrive at their destination on schedule.
You'll find DCA at 1 Aviation Circle.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Direct flights from Washington DC to Toronto are available at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), so consider departing from this popular hub. IAD offers nonstop connections to Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ).
You can take your pick of airlines offering direct Washington DC to Toronto plane tickets from IAD. Jet off with any of these carriers and travel straight to your destination:
Break up your Washington DC to Toronto flight with a stop so you can freshen up or tick another place off your list. Top stopovers between Washington Dulles International Airport and Toronto are:
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
With public transport, you can travel from central Washington DC to IAD in around 1 hour 10 minutes. The airport is roughly 40 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 50 minutes.
Start your holiday early with an additional night away from home. Before your flight from Washington DC to Toronto, kick back in one of these hotels close to Washington Dulles International Airport:
74% of flights out of Washington Dulles International Airport meet their expected arrival time.
IAD is located at 1 Saarinen Circle.
Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Choosing a ticket from Washington DC to Toronto with one or more stops can give you more choice of departure times and access to cheaper fares. When leaving from Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), here are a few places you can make a pit stop at on your way to Toronto:
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
BWI is around 40 kilometres from central Washington DC. Driving from the city centre to the airport takes about 50 minutes. If you're thinking about using public transport, expect a journey time of around 1 hour 30 minutes.
Stay in bed a little longer and still make your Washington DC to Toronto flight with time to spare. These accommodation options near Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport make it a breeze to get to the terminal if you're flying out early:
The on-time performance record of BWI is 77.13%. In simpler terms, that's how often flights that depart this airport arrive as planned.
Arriving in Toronto
Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
The distance from Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to central Toronto is roughly 19 kilometres. It takes about 25 minutes to reach the centre driving.
Getting there by public transport takes roughly 50 minutes.
If you have a late flight from Washington DC to Toronto, nothing beats the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be showered and resting soon after at one of these hotels near YYZ:
Grab a Pearson International Airport rental car and discover Toronto and beyond with your own wheels. Routes Car Rentals, Green Motion and Thrifty are well-known companies to choose from here.
To secure the lowest price, book your ride from Pearson International Airport around three weeks ahead of your Washington DC to Toronto flight.
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) is roughly 3 kilometres from central Toronto. Following your flight from Washington DC to Toronto, it takes approximately 35 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
If you're catching public transport, it'll take about 40 minutes.
Hang the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and unwind at a hotel close to YTZ. Here are a few options where you can take a load off after your flight from Washington DC to Toronto:
Hertz, National and Avis make picking up a Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport rental car easy and quick. These providers are located around or in the terminal and will get you on your way in no time.
Avoid potential price surges. Booking your ride one week before your arrival at YTZ can get you a lower rate.
Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF)
Set off for the city centre after your flight from Washington DC to Toronto has landed. Central Toronto is about 80 kilometres from Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF) and takes roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to get there in a car.
Public transport will get you there in about 4 hours 5 minutes.
Enjoy a low-stress, comfortable start to your trip by choosing a hotel near YKF after your Washington DC to Toronto flight. Rest up after a long day of travel or simply give yourself time to get your footing in a new city at:
Start your travels without worrying about how to get to your next stop with a Region of Waterloo International Airport rental car. Find your perfect set of wheels with reliable companies here like Avis, Enterprise and Budget.
Rental agencies sometimes offer discounts for early bookings, so book your vehicle from YKF well ahead of your flight from Washington DC to Toronto. A little prep today saves cash tomorrow.
Best time to go to Toronto
February is the quietest month for flights from Washington DC to Toronto, while August is the most popular. Figure out the ideal time to visit Toronto based on whether you like a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.
Before locking in your Washington DC to Toronto tickets, consider the kind of weather forecast you're hoping for. July is the warmest month in Toronto, with temperatures ranging from 14ºC to 28ºC.
If you want cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from Washington DC to Toronto in January when temperatures average between -12ºC and 1ºC.
More about Toronto
After booking your flight from Washington DC to Toronto, choose a hotel that puts you where you want to be. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Toronto:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be hard to work out where to start. CN Tower, Royal Ontario Museum and Go Tours Canada - Distillery District are highlights which should be on every Toronto itinerary.
Explore more of Canada
Montreal is just one of the many cities in Canada waiting to be discovered once you've taken in the sights of Toronto. Around 499 kilometres to the north-east, check out popular attractions including Mount Royal Park, Montreal Botanical Garden and Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal.
If you're ready to explore another side of Canada, consider Ottawa, about 354 kilometres north-east of Toronto. Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal and National Gallery of Canada are among its highlights.