Flying from Washington DC to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW): what you need to know
You can choose from a range of airports when planning your flight from Washington DC to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW). Explore your options for departing Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
Book a direct flight from Washington DC to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport and you'll be in the air for an average of 1 hour 36 minutes.
Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is located in Ottawa. The city's timezone is UTC-4, which is the same as Washington DC.
The most popular route is from Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW), with 28 direct weekly services. If you'd like to head off as soon as possible, the earliest flight from DCA to YOW is the 12:33 United service. If you have other commitments or plans on your day of travel, the last departure is at 22:25 with United.
Your flight from Washington DC to YOW won't wait if you're running late, so get to the airport with time to spare. Arrive up to one hour in advance for domestic flights and two hours ahead for international travel.
With more people on the move during busy periods like July, be at your terminal even earlier. Two hours for domestic flights and up to four for international journeys will help you deal with longer queues. Remember things also get busy during major holidays like Christmas.
Airports in Washington DC
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
You can hop on a direct flight from Washington DC to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) departing from Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA).
You can get away on a direct flight from Washington DC to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport with Air Canada. This leading airline offers services from DCA.
Think about adding a stopover to potentially save money on your flight from Washington DC to YOW. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA). Break up your trip (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these popular options:
Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
DCA is roughly 8 kilometres from central Washington DC. To work out how to get there, use Google Maps. This essential travel app will give you the best route and your public transport options.
Searching for a convenient hotel near Ronald Reagan National Airport? If you've booked an early flight from Washington DC to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, these accommodation options will have you sleeping moments from your departure lounge:
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) operates direct flights from Washington DC to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW).
You can board a direct flight from Washington DC to YOW with United. This is one of the main airlines flying this route out of IAD.
With public transport, you can travel from central Washington DC to IAD in about 3 hours and 26 minutes. The airport is roughly 56 kilometres away, and making the trip by car will take approximately 51 minutes.
Want to enjoy an extra night away before catching your flight from Washington DC to YOW? Check in to a hotel near Washington Dulles International Airport before your trip officially begins. Check out these accommodation options:
About Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
If you're arriving on a late flight from Washington DC to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, nothing tops the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your bags from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing soon after at one of these options near YOW:
Getting from Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to central Ottawa
Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is approximately 13 kilometres from the centre of Ottawa. With your own car rental or if you're catching a cab, the drive is about 19 minutes.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of about 43 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Washington DC to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
The best price we've found for a one-way ticket from Washington DC to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is 122 €. The cheapest price for a return flight is 171 €. Remember fares may change due to demand at the time of booking.
Book 10 months before your departure date. After looking at the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you'll want to book ahead to find cheap tickets from Washington DC to YOW.
The cheapest month for tickets from Washington DC to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is July. Use the 'Whole month' search feature to find the most affordable day to fly if you're flexible with your plans.
Finding a cheap ticket from Washington DC to YOW is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch when the price drops.
Make the most of the filters to find your ideal journey. To see the 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from Washington DC to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter by departure and arrival times, airline, and journey duration.
The best time to fly from Washington DC to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
August is the most popular month for flights from Washington DC to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport. To escape the crowds, travel to Ottawa in February when it's quieter.
Think about the type of weather that'll work with your plans for Ottawa. July is known as the warmest month. Lock in your flights from Washington DC to YOW sometime then and you can expect temperatures of between 13ºC and 27ºC.
Visit in January if you want cooler conditions. Temperatures average between -19ºC and -2ºC. However, this destination delivers on a good time whenever you book your cheap flights from Washington DC to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport.
More about Ottawa
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best stays in Ottawa right here. Browse these options as soon as you've booked your flight from Washington DC to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport:
Parliament Hill and Rideau Canal are a couple of top-rated attractions to put on your Ottawa itinerary. Keep the adventure rolling by checking out National Gallery of Canada.
Complete your Ottawa trip with a car rental
Finding you a cheap flight from Washington DC to Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport isn't our only party trick. Check out our car rentals in Ottawa and see the sights your way. We find deals from trusted car rental companies and put them all in one place. Instantly compare offers and then book with no fees.