Washington, D.C. from Charleston, Oct 16–18: $1,489 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- 1h 35m American nonstop, landing at Reagan National by 7:35 AM
- $499 per person, $152 below the typical fare on this route
- citizenM Washington DC Georgetown rated 9 from 275 reviews, $491 total
The catch: Friday has a 60% chance of drizzle, the best-value hotel has no free cancellation, and checked bags aren't in the total.
Worth it if you want a weekend of museums and monuments for two; skip it if a wet first day would spoil the trip for you.
Worth it if you don't mind a drizzly Friday: the trip is $1,489 for two, which is the flights at $998 plus 2 nights at citizenM Washington DC Georgetown at $491, with taxes and fees included. You leave Friday, Oct 16 and come home Sunday, Oct 18, 2026, and the flight out is a 1h 35m American nonstop. Checked bags and spending money aren't included.
The total, before you go
$1,489 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $998 |
| citizenM Washington DC Georgetown, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | $491 |
| The total, before you go | $1,489 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $160 |
$152 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $40 each way per bag on American, $160 for two round trip); 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
$499 per person, round trip
$998 for two, taxes and fees included · American · nonstop · 1h 35m
Out Fri, Oct 16, 6:00 AM – Fri, Oct 16, 7:35 AM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| American | $499 | nonstop | 1h 35m |
| American. Operated by PSA Airlines as American Eagle | $499 | nonstop | 1h 45m |
| American. Operated by PSA Airlines as American Eagle | $499 | nonstop | 1h 44m |
Prices checked Oct 14, 2026, 12:35 AM EDT. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
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Why now
At $499 per person, the American nonstop is $152 below the typical fare on this route. That's 23% under the $651 median of our earlier checks, and it's the lowest fare in 30 days. Across the 12 offers we saw, fares ran from $499 to $673. Add 2 nights at citizenM Washington DC Georgetown and the trip comes to $1,489 for two, with taxes and fees included, as found when we checked. The 6:00 AM flight lands at 7:35 AM, so you get a full Friday in the city. Friday's forecast is a high of 85°F with a 60% chance of drizzle. Saturday turns overcast at 59°F, and Sunday clears up at 65°F. The museums are free, which makes the wet hours easy to fill. Pack a light jacket for the cooler days.
The kind of trip this is
This is a city-and-history long weekend for two. You get free Smithsonian museums, the monuments of the National Mall and a growing food scene, all tied together by an easy Metro. It suits couples or two friends who like to walk a lot and eat well. The pace is steady: an early Friday start, a cooler Saturday for touring and a clear Sunday for one last loop before you head home.
Weather in Washington, D.C., Oct 16–18
Highs 59–85°F, a small chance of rain
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 16 | 85 °F | 59 °F | 60% |
| Sat, Oct 17 | 59 °F | 48 °F | 25% |
| Sun, Oct 18 | 65 °F | 47 °F | 1% |
Where to stay in Washington, D.C.
We picked citizenM Washington DC Georgetown as the best value. A King Room costs $491 for the stay ($246 a night) and is rated 9 from 275 reviews. It's room only, and it doesn't offer free cancellation. Hotel Rendale Washington DC is the top-rated pick at $494 ($247 a night), rated 7.4 from 2,438 reviews. It has free cancellation, so choose it if your plans might change. Days Inn by Wyndham Washington DC/Connecticut Avenue is the budget pick at $382 ($191 a night), rated 7.2 from 2,493 reviews, with two double beds and free cancellation. All three are in Northwest D.C. Georgetown is good for cobbled streets and canal walks. Dupont Circle has cafes and quick Metro links.
citizenM Washington DC Georgetown
$491 for 2 nights, two guests · $246 a night
See roomsHotel Rendale Washington DC
$494 for 2 nights, two guests · $247 a night
See roomsDays Inn by Wyndham Washington DC/Connecticut Avenue
$382 for 2 nights, two guests · $191 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.
- Spend drizzly Friday inside the National Air and Space Museum and the Natural History Museum
- Tour the Capitol and the Library of Congress on overcast Saturday
- Dine along the Wharf on the Southwest waterfront Saturday night
- Walk the National Mall from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial under Sunday's clear sky
- Pay respects at Arlington National Cemetery
- Walk Georgetown's cobbled streets and canal paths near the citizenM
Also worth it
- Visit the National Air and Space Museum and the Natural History Museum
- 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 Charleston | Charleston International (CHS) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Washington, D.C. | Reagan Washington National (DCA), Washington Dulles International (IAD), Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) |
| Flight time | 1h 35m nonstop |
| Distance | 453 miles each way |
| Time difference | same time zone |
What 2 nights in Washington, D.C. costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $998 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (citizenM Washington DC Georgetown) | $491 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | $520 |
| Total for two | $2,009 |
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: Charleston to Washington, D.C.
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $499 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $499 (Oct 14, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $651 |
| Price checks | 8 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travelers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for Washington, D.C..
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- No passport is needed, you pay in US dollars and there's no time difference from Charleston.
- The flight covers 453 miles from Charleston International (CHS) to Reagan Washington National (DCA). Two later American nonstops, at 2:03 PM and 4:12 PM, are also $499.
- The $1,489 covers flights and the citizenM room only. Checked bags and spending money are extra, and we budget $130 per person per day for spending.
- Cherry blossom season is late March to early April, so don't expect blossoms at the Tidal Basin in October.
- Prices are all-in as found when we checked and can change before you book.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Yes, unless a wet Friday bothers you. The fare is $152 per person below the typical $651, the flight is a 1h 35m nonstop and the hotel is rated 9. Friday has a 60% chance of drizzle, but the free museums make that day easy to fill.
How much is the whole trip for two?
It's $1,489 for two, with taxes and fees included: $998 for the flights and $491 for 2 nights at citizenM Washington DC Georgetown. Checked bags and spending money aren't included.
What is the weather like?
Friday's forecast is 85°F with a 60% chance of drizzle. Saturday is overcast at 59°F with a 25% chance of rain. Sunday is clear at 65°F, with lows down to 47°F.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip, you pay in US dollars and there's no time difference from Charleston.
Is 2 nights enough?
For a first look, yes. The 6:00 AM flight lands at 7:35 AM, so you get a full Friday plus Saturday and Sunday. That's enough time for the Mall, two Smithsonian museums, the Capitol and a dinner at the Wharf.
Which hotel should we pick if plans might change?
Pick Hotel Rendale Washington DC. It's $494 for the stay, rated 7.4 from 2,438 reviews, and it has free cancellation. The citizenM at $491 doesn't offer free cancellation.
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Washington, D.C. in pictures
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- Photo: Mike Gordon / Pexels, Pexels License
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