2026 layover guide
Washington, D.C. (DCA) connection time
At Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, plan on at least 50 min for a domestic connection, 1 h 35 min if you change terminals outside security. Here's why, step by step.
Verified Oct 17, 2026By Steven MoHow we check Report a correction
Comfortable: 1 h 30 min
By walkway, with another security check
Some changes mean security again
Quick answer
Plan on at least 50 min for a domestic connection at DCA, 1 h 35 min if you change terminals. Some terminal changes mean going through security again.
- Domestic, same terminal
- 50 min (comfortable: 1 h 30 min)
- Changing terminals
- 1 h 35 min by walkway
- Hub airlines
- American Airlines
How long a layover do I need?
- Get off the plane and walk to your next gate20 min
- Be at the gate before boarding closes15 min
- Buffer for a small delay15 min
Our estimate, rounded up, not the airline's official minimum connection time. If both flights are on one ticket, the airline will rebook you if a delay makes you miss the second one. How we calculate this
Recommended layovers at DCA
Our estimates for common connections, rounded up. Comfortable times leave room for a late arrival.
| Connection | MinimumRecommended minimum |
|---|---|
Domestic to domestic, same terminal Checked bags transfer automatically | 50 min Comfortable: 1 h 30 min |
Domestic to domestic, changing terminals, inside security By walkway | 1 h 5 min Comfortable: 1 h 45 min |
Domestic to domestic, changing terminals, outside security Includes another TSA check | 1 h 35 min Comfortable: 2 h 15 min |
Separate tickets with checked bags No protection if you miss it | 1 h 50 min Comfortable: 2 h 45 min |
Airlines' official minimum connection times can be shorter: if you booked both flights on one ticket, the airline has already checked that the connection is legal and will rebook you if a delay makes you miss it.
Getting around DCA
Terminals
Terminal 1 (A gates) and Terminal 2.
Changing terminals
Terminal 2's gates connect inside security. Terminal 1 is separate, so moving between Terminals 1 and 2 means clearing TSA again.
Customs and international arrivals
Reagan National's international flights come from U.S. preclearance airports, so you arrive as a domestic passenger.
Tips for connecting at DCA
- •American flies mostly from Terminal 2.
Plan your trip through DCA
The airport guide, and the bag rules for the airlines you're likely to connect on here.
DCA connection FAQ
Airlines set their own official minimums at DCA and only sell connections that meet them, so a one-ticket itinerary is always "legal". In practice we recommend at least 50 min for a domestic connection and 1 h 35 min when you change terminals.
Other airports
Sources
Last verified Oct 17, 2026. Terminals and connection rules change, so check your airline's connection instructions before a tight layover.
Read how we collect and check this data, or tell us if something's out of date.
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