Is a 1¼ hr layover in Washington long enough?
DCA · Ronald Reagan Washington National · Washington, United States
Probably Enough
Ample time with room for gate changes or a slower shuttle wait.
Quick Stats
2
20m
15m
American Airlines
Minimum Connection Times
35min
✓40min
✓35min
✓45min
✓AD PLACEMENT — CONTEXTUAL
Tips for 1¼ hr Connections
If your connection spans Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, budget extra time for the walkway or shuttle rather than assuming a quick gate-to-gate transfer.
American Airlines connections are almost entirely within Terminal 2, which is the easiest and fastest transfer scenario at DCA.
DCA has no true international arrivals requiring customs (Canadian flights use pre-clearance), so treat all connections as effectively domestic in terms of process, but not in terms of walking distance.
Morning (6-9am) and early evening (4-7pm) are the busiest periods for security lines, so build in buffer time if connecting then.
Gate agents at DCA are used to tight regional jet connections, so check the app for gate changes since Terminal 2's concourses can shift assignments close to departure.
Busyness — Connection Risk
12a6a12p6p12a
Low risk
Moderate
High risk
Tight connections are safer outside peak hours. Morning rush (6–9a), midday (11a–2p), and evening (4–8p) are highest risk.
Getting Between Concourses
Terminal 1 (mostly regional and smaller carriers) and Terminal 2 (the American Airlines hub concourses, formerly B/C) are linked by an outdoor/parking-garage walkway that takes about 10-15 minutes on foot, or a free shuttle bus that runs every few minutes and adds waiting time. There is no security re-screening between terminals since both sit landside of their own checkpoints, but you must clear whichever terminal's checkpoint you arrive at if you're coming from outside the secure area.
Is 1 hour 15 min enough for a layover at DCA?
Ample time with room for gate changes or a slower shuttle wait.
Other Layover Durations at DCA
AD PLACEMENT — BEFORE FOOTER