Washington, D.C. from Chicago, 23 – 25 Oct: £1,180 for two, all in
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The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, because
- United nonstop from O'Hare, 2h 8m, landing 1:08 PM Friday
- Fare $478 per person, $50 below the typical fare on this route
- citizenM Georgetown scores 9 from 275 reviews, with free cancellation
The catch: Resort fees, a checked bag and spending money aren't in the $1,565, and nights drop to 40°F, so pack a warm layer.
Worth it if you want museums, monuments and long walks in cool fall air; skip it if you're after beach weather.
Worth it for the two of you: $1,565 for two, all in, which is the flights at $956 plus citizenM Washington DC Georgetown at $609, taxes and fees included. That covers Oct 23–25, 2026, 2 nights, on a United nonstop from O'Hare to Reagan National. Resort fees, a checked bag and spending money are not in the total.
The total, before you go
£1,180 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, return | £721 |
| citizenM Washington DC Georgetown, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | £459 |
| The total, before you go | £1,180 |
| Hold luggage each, return (not in the total) | about £121 |
£38 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat selection on basic fares and hold luggage (about £30 each way per bag on United, £121 for two return); a resort fee, if the hotel has one, is collected at the desk. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
£360 per person, return
£721 for two, taxes and fees included · United · nonstop · 2h 8m
Out Fri, Oct 23, 10:00 AM – Fri, Oct 23, 1:08 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| United | £360 | nonstop | 2h 8m |
| American | £360 | nonstop | 2h 6m |
| United | £360 | nonstop | 2h 8m |
Prices checked 14 Oct 2026, 00:59 GMT-5. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
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Tweak this trip
Why now
At $478 per person, the fare is $50 below the typical fare on this route, which is $528, so you're paying 9% less. We saw 12 offers and all came in at $478 per person, with nonstops on United and American. Add citizenM Washington DC Georgetown at $609 for 2 nights and the trip comes to $1,565 for two, taxes and fees included. The forecast works well for walking: highs of 54°F Friday, 58°F Saturday and 62°F Sunday, with rain chances between 5% and 19%. Cherry blossom season is in the spring, so this one's a museums-and-monuments weekend. The 10:00 AM departure lands at 1:08 PM, which leaves Friday afternoon for a first museum. Washington is 1 hour ahead of Chicago, so set your watch when you land.
The kind of trip this is
A city and history weekend at an easy pace: free Smithsonian museums, the monuments of the National Mall and dinners at the Wharf, all linked by the Metro. It suits a couple or two friends who like to walk, read every plaque and end the day at a good table. Two nights gives you a good taste of the city without rushing.
Weather in Washington, D.C., 23 – 25 Oct
Highs 54–62°F, little rain expected
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 23 Oct | 54 °F | 44 °F | 5% |
| Sat 24 Oct | 58 °F | 40 °F | 19% |
| Sun 25 Oct | 62 °F | 45 °F | 16% |
Where to stay in Washington, D.C.
Our pick is citizenM Washington DC Georgetown: $609 for the stay ($305 a night), rated 9 from 275 reviews, a King Room with North View and free cancellation. It's the best value. Georgetown gives you cobbled streets, canal walks and shopping. Mint House Washington Dc Downtown By Kasa is the top rated at 9.1 from 1,113 reviews, $612 for the stay ($306 a night); heads-up, it has no free cancellation. Wyndham Garden Washington DC North is the budget choice at $373 for the stay ($187 a night), 3 stars, 7.4 from 3,393 reviews, with breakfast and free cancellation. If you'd rather walk to the museums and the White House, Downtown / Penn Quarter is the area for that.
citizenM Washington DC Georgetown
£459 for 2 nights, two guests · £230 a night
See roomsMint House Washington Dc Downtown By Kasa
£461 for 2 nights, two guests · £231 a night
See roomsWyndham Garden Washington DC North
£281 for 2 nights, two guests · £141 a night
See roomsAll hotels in Washington, D.C. for these dates
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Where in Washington, D.C.
- Downtown / Penn Quarter: Walk to the National Mall, museums and the White House.
- Dupont Circle: Embassy-row townhouses, cafes and quick Metro links.
- Georgetown: Cobbled streets, canal walks and upscale shopping.
- Capitol Hill / Navy Yard: Near the Capitol, Eastern Market and the ballpark.
- Arlington, VA: Lower rates one Metro stop from the monuments.
What to do in Washington, D.C.
- Walk the National Mall from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial on clear Saturday
- Visit the National Air and Space Museum and the Natural History Museum, both free Smithsonian museums
- Tour the Capitol and the Library of Congress
- Pay respects at Arlington National Cemetery, an easy Metro ride from the monuments
- Dine along the Wharf on the Southwest waterfront for your last night
Also worth it
- See the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin
Tours and tickets in Washington, D.C.
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Chicago | Chicago O'Hare International (ORD), Chicago Midway International (MDW) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Washington, D.C. | Reagan Washington National (DCA), Washington Dulles International (IAD), Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) |
| Flight time | 2h 8m nonstop |
| Distance | 594 miles each way |
| Time difference | +1 hour |
What 2 nights in Washington, D.C. costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | £721 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (citizenM Washington DC Georgetown) | £459 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | £392 |
| Total for two | £1,572 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for an upscale destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: Chicago to Washington, D.C.
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | £360 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | £267 (12 Oct 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | £398 |
| Price checks | 16 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travellers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for Washington, D.C..
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- No passport needed: it's a domestic trip and you pay in US dollars.
- Washington is 1 hour ahead of Chicago; the flight covers 594 miles in 2h 8m.
- Return flight times weren't in our check, so confirm them on the airline's site.
- Prices are all-in as found when we checked and can change; resort fees and a checked bag aren't included.
- For spending money our budget allows $130 per person a day, $520 for two, for $2,085 in all.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Yes, for a city weekend: a nonstop of 2h 8m, a fare $50 below the typical fare on this route, and a hotel rated 9 with free cancellation.
How much is the whole trip for two?
$1,565 all in: $956 for two round-trip fares at $478 per person plus $609 for 2 nights at citizenM Washington DC Georgetown. Resort fees, a checked bag and spending money aren't in it; with $520 for spending, our budget comes to $2,085.
What is the weather like?
The forecast shows highs of 54°F, 58°F and 62°F, lows down to 40°F, and rain chances of 5% to 19%. Mostly clear Friday, clear Saturday, overcast Sunday. Bring a jacket.
Is 2 nights enough?
Enough for the Mall, one or two Smithsonian museums and a dinner at the Wharf. Landing at 1:08 PM Friday gives you an afternoon on top of a full Saturday.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic flight from O'Hare to Reagan Washington National (DCA), and you pay in US dollars.
Which airports does this use?
The fare we found flies ORD to DCA. Washington also has Dulles (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington (BWI), and Chicago also has Midway (MDW).
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All trips from Chicago · Washington, D.C. from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in October 2026 · Home
Washington, D.C. in pictures
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Prices converted from US dollars at the rate of 15 Oct 2026.
Image credits
- Photo: Mike Gordon / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Paula Nardini / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Mike Gordon / Pexels, Pexels License