Cheap flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town

Flight deals from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town

Below you can see the best deals on flights Washington, D.C. — Cape Town for upcoming dates. Direct and connecting flights from various airlines — compare prices and choose the right ticket.

The lowest price for the next 2 months is on 22 October, from $684.

Top 10 cheap flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town

When is the best time to book a flight from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

The price of a flight from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town changes depending on how far ahead you book. For the best chance of a lower fare, book around 27 days before departure, when the average ticket costs about $916. Fares also tend to climb as the departure date gets closer.

About the Washington, D.C. — Cape Town flight

Looking for cheap flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town? Compare fares from different airlines, check the flight schedule and travel time — and book your Washington, D.C. — Cape Town ticket online at the best price.

The route has direct flights — around 6 flights per week, flights are operated by United Airlines, a nonstop flight takes about 16 h 23 min, the distance between the cities is around 12,702 km.

Planning your trip? You may find our Cape Town travel guide, how to get from the airport into town and Cape Town weather forecast useful. To catch a low fare, use the low-price calendar and the monthly price chart on this page.

from $654Min. price

MarchCheapest

JunePeak season

YesDirect flights

12,702 kmDistance

16 h 23 minTravel time

1Airlines

6 / wkFlights

Flight schedule from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town

The table shows direct flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town on the selected date. The flight takes approximately 16 h 23 min. Regular flights are operated by United Airlines. Departures from Washington Dulles International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Ronald Reagan National Airport airports, arrivals at Cape Town International Airport.

For each flight, the following details are shown: departure time (local), arrival city and airport, flight number and airline, terminal or gate, and status. Click on a flight to open its details and go to ticket search. To view flights on a different day, change the date above the table.

Today

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Last update: 07 Sep 2026

Airline

Flight

Departure

Arrival

Duration

Days

Status

Below is a calendar of the lowest flight ticket prices for Washington, D.C. — Cape Town by day. Pick a convenient date and instantly see the fare. The cheapest flights on this route start from $654 in March, and the most expensive are around $986 in June. If your travel dates are flexible, the calendar will help you find the best price for your preferred period. To view round-trip fares, switch to the "Round trip" tab above the calendar, select your departure date — and the right-hand calendar will highlight the lowest prices for return flights on each day.

Prices by month

Average one-way fares from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town by month. Tickets are usually cheapest in March (around $606) and priciest in December (about $955) — use the table and chart below to pick the best time to fly.

Month	Average price	Level	Month	Average price	Level	Month	Average price	Level
Jan	$676	medium	May	$641	low	Sep	$722	medium
Feb	$629	low	Jun	$839	high	Oct	$652	low
Mar	$606	low	Jul	$932	high	Nov	$746	medium
Apr	$664	medium	Aug	$792	medium	Dec	$955	high

Some values are estimated based on seasonality.

When to fly

Weather in Cape Town: it is warmest in January (up to 23 °C on average) and coolest in August (around 15 °C). The driest month is January.

Tickets are usually cheapest in March and most expensive in June. Compare prices and weather by month in the charts below to pick the best time to fly.

Temperature · Cape Town

Dry and wet days · Cape Town

Wind speed and direction · Cape Town

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How to get the best deal on a Washington, D.C. — Cape Town ticket

Book ahead: fares for Washington, D.C. — Cape Town are usually lower 3–8 weeks before departure than at the last minute.
Play with your dates — Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday departures are often cheaper than Friday and Sunday.
Washington, D.C. is served by more than one airport — compare fares and travel time to each before you book.
Flights Washington, D.C. — Cape Town operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays — keep that in mind when picking your travel dates.
The cheapest month to fly to Cape Town is usually March — plan your trip around it if your dates are flexible.
Compare direct and connecting flights: nonstop is faster, while a connection is sometimes noticeably cheaper.
Watch the low-price calendar and the monthly price trend on this page — they make it easier to catch a good date.
Travelling light? Pick a cabin-baggage-only fare — tickets without checked luggage are noticeably cheaper.
Get to the airport in good time — about 2–3 hours before an international departure and roughly an hour before a domestic one.

Flights on the Washington, D.C. — Cape Town route are operated by 1 airline; United Airlines runs the most flights (around 100% of all flights). Compare carriers, flight shares and schedules below.

United AirlinesUA
2x/week
WebsiteFleet: 956165M pax/year
- Direct flight IAD → CPT2x/week
  Duration
  14h 35m
  Days
  MTWTFSS
100.0%Open →

Cities and airports on the Washington, D.C. — Cape Town route

Flights Washington, D.C. — Cape Town depart from Washington Dulles International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Ronald Reagan National Airport and arrive at Cape Town International Airport. Below are pages for the cities, countries, and airports on the route: airlines, schedules, and travel guides.

Departure

Washington, D.C.

WAS

United States

About the city How to get there Weather All about the country United States

Arrival

Cape Town

CPT

South Africa

About the city How to get there Weather All about the country South Africa

Departure airports

Washington Dulles International AirportIAD
About the airport
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall AirportBWI
About the airport
Ronald Reagan National AirportDCA
About the airport

Arrival airports

Cape Town International AirportCPT
About the airport

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Frequently asked questions about the Washington, D.C. — Cape Town flight

How long is the flight from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

A nonstop Washington, D.C. — Cape Town flight takes about 16 h 23 min — the distance between the cities is around 12,702 km.

How far is it from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

The distance from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town is about 12,702 km, which a nonstop flight covers in around 16 h 23 min.

Are there direct flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

Yes, there are nonstop flights Washington, D.C. — Cape Town — around 6 flights per week.

Which airlines fly from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

Airlines operating Washington, D.C. — Cape Town include United Airlines. See the full list with schedules in the "Airlines" section on this page.

Which airports do Washington, D.C. — Cape Town flights use?

Flights from Washington, D.C. depart from Washington Dulles International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Ronald Reagan National Airport, and arrive at Cape Town International Airport. If a city has more than one airport, check which one your ticket uses before you travel.

How much is a ticket from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

The price of a Washington, D.C. — Cape Town ticket depends on your travel date, season and demand: it is usually cheapest to fly in March, and most expensive in June. Tickets typically cost between $654 and $986. Check the current lowest fare and low-price calendar on this page.

When is the best time to book flights Washington, D.C. — Cape Town?

Flights Washington, D.C. — Cape Town are usually cheaper when booked in advance — a few weeks before departure and away from peak dates; the most budget-friendly month to fly is March. Compare prices by month in the price trend chart on this page.

How can I find the cheapest flights from Washington, D.C. to Cape Town?

To catch a low fare Washington, D.C. — Cape Town, book a few weeks in advance, keep your dates flexible, and compare airlines and connecting options. The low-price calendar and monthly price chart on this page show the cheapest days and months at a glance: the most budget-friendly month to fly is usually March.

How early should I arrive at the airport?

For international flights, plan to be at the airport about 2–3 hours before departure, and around an hour before a domestic flight. Allow extra time during busy travel seasons and at large hubs, where check-in and security lines can be longer.