Cheap flights Washington (DCA) to Detroit (DTW)
Washington to Detroit is a 465-mile trip with 6 airports worth comparing across both ends. The closest airport to Washington is rarely the cheapest one once you price the drive and parking — on this route the gap between nearest and cheapest runs around $34.
Try it now — prefilled search for DCA → DTW
Search DCA → DTWNearest vs. cheapest door-to-door
| Choice | Airports | Est. flight | Est. ground | Est. total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest airports | DCA → DTW | $172 | $144 | $316 |
| Cheapest combo | BWI → DTW | $161 | $121 | $282 |
Estimated savings by not defaulting to the nearest airport: ~$34. These are modeled estimates, not live fares — always confirm on the search page.
Departure airports near Washington
| Airport | Drive | Parking/day | Est. flight to DTW | Est. total (4-night trip) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DCA — Washington | 4.7 mi / 7m | $90 | $172 | $262 |
| IAD — Washington | 27.1 mi / 33m | $82 | $166 | $247 |
| BWI — Baltimore | 32.2 mi / 38m | $67 | $161 | $228 |
Arrival airports near Detroit
| Airport | From downtown | Est. rideshare | Est. flight from DCA | Est. total (4-night trip) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DTW — Detroit | 20.9 mi / 27m | $54 | $172 | $226 |
| FNT — Flint | 66.7 mi / 1h 3m | $152 | $183 | $335 |
| TOL — Toledo | 76.2 mi / 1h 13m | $173 | $181 | $354 |
The drive itself
Driving direct is about 465 miles, 7h 43m, and an estimated $82 in gas and wear, one-way. All fares and ground costs on this page are modeled estimates from route economics and drive-time math, not live quotes — run the search above for current pricing.
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