If I make a flight connection to Washington D.C. will I be able to see any landmarks as I'm flying in?

Question

Is the airport anywhere close to any of the famous landmarks of Washington D.C.

Answer 1

I assume you are flying into Washington National not Dulles, because flying in to Dulles you have no chance of seeing a monument. If you are flying in to National then it depends which way the winds are blowing and what side of the plane your on. Most of the time you fly into DC on approach from the west. If you sit on the left of the plane you have amazing views of the city and monuments. If you sit on the right you views of the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery. If you come in from the Southeast then you probably wont see much until your on the runway looking across the Potomac. You can also view the city from the terminal but it is not nearly as great a view from the air.

Answer 2

It depends. There are two airports in Washington D.C. (Actually, three if you include Baltimore/Washington). If you're flying into Washington- Dulles airport (IAD), or Baltimore/Washington (BWI), then most likely not as those airports are each roughly 25-30 miles away from Washington DC (in opposite directions) and flights don't really fly directly over the city.

However, if you're flying through Reagan-Washington National Airport (DCA), then you can easily see a lot of the landmarks, especially if it's clear out. It's right on the Potomac River, right across from DC and only a couple miles from downtown. You can even see the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol Building from the airport terminal.

You're only likely to fly through this airport if you're flying USAirways. If you're flying United then you're probably going through Dulles, and if you're flying Southwest or AirTran then it's probably BWI.

Answer 3

if your flying to Ronald Regan National you will see most of the monuments but not all, flight restrickens are all over dc planes can really on fly up the river and thats it within dc
Regan is directly across the river from Bowling Air Force Base in DC

if your flying to Dulles you wont see anything dulles is about 30 miles away

if your flying to Thurgood Marshall Baltimore Washington you might see some depended on where your coming from You will Probably see the monument its the tallest thing around
Thurgood Marshall BWI is about 26 miles away

Answer 4

We didn't fly there, we drove in. We weren't sure which airport was closest but, we walked across the Arlington Memorial Bridge and planes were coming in directly overhead. It was an amazing site from the bridge and I'm sure from the air also.

Answer 5

You can't miss the Washington monument. It's sticking up at the sky like a giant finger, a pretty appropriate symbol of Washington's attitude toward the rest of the country!