Travelling from Washington DC to Sao Paulo: what you need to know
Organising your flight from Washington DC to Sao Paulo begins with finding the most convenient airport to kick off your trip. Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) are the main terminals in Washington DC.
Touch down in Sao Paulo at Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) or Viracopos Airport (VCP).
Book a direct Washington DC to Sao Paulo flight and you'll be in the air for an average of 9 hours 55 minutes.
Sao Paulo's timezone is UTC-3, making Sao Paulo one hour ahead of Washington DC.
Give yourself enough time to catch your Washington DC to Sao Paulo flight. A good rule of thumb is to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Be prepared for longer queues in popular months like July. Arriving up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours for domestic departures is a good idea.
How to find the cheapest flights from Washington DC to Sao Paulo
Booking early is often the key to securing a cheap Washington DC to Sao Paulo flight. Prices tend to rise as demand increases, so the nearer your departure date, the more you'll likely spend.
The 'Whole month' search tool shows you the cheapest plane tickets from Washington DC to Sao Paulo across the month. It's an easy way to snap up a bargain if your travel dates aren't set in stone.
Snapping up a cheap flight from Washington DC to Sao Paulo is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. Simply create one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as a better deal is available.
Select your ideal departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines with the filters. Alternatively, sort your Washington DC to Sao Paulo flight results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best.'
Flying from Washington DC
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Think about adding a stopover to potentially save money on your Washington DC to Sao Paulo flight. Just deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Ronald Reagan National Airport. Take a break (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these popular options:
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Miami International Airport (MIA)
DCA is about 6 kilometres from central Washington DC. If you're ride-sharing, driving or catching a cab from the centre, it'll take you 15 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're using public transport, expect the travel time to be around 45 minutes.
Need a handy hotel close to Ronald Reagan National Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from Washington DC to Sao Paulo, these accommodation options will have you moments from your check-in counter:
Of all flights leaving Ronald Reagan National Airport, 76.44% arrive as scheduled at their destination.
DCA is located at 1 Aviation Circle.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Rather start your trip at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)? This popular hub offers nonstop flights from Washington DC to Sao Paulo, seamlessly connecting to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU).
Book a direct Washington DC to Sao Paulo plane ticket with United Airlines. This is one of the top carriers that operates this route out of IAD.
Split up your Washington DC to Sao Paulo flight with a stop so you can freshen up or cross another place off your list. Some popular stopovers between Washington Dulles International Airport and Sao Paulo are:
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
You can reach IAD from the centre of Washington DC in about 50 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The ride on public transport will take roughly 1 hour 10 minutes to travel the 40 kilometres or so.
You're going on holiday, so why not extend it with an extra night away? Think about kicking back in one of these accommodation options near Washington Dulles International Airport the day before your flight from Washington DC to Sao Paulo:
Looking at how often flights stay on schedule, Washington Dulles International Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 74%.
The address for IAD is 1 Saarinen Circle.
Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
You can reserve a ticket from Washington DC to Sao Paulo with a stop or two departing from Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). Here are some of the most popular stopovers between BWI and Sao Paulo:
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
From the centre of Washington DC, BWI is around 40 kilometres away. It takes roughly 50 minutes to get there by car and 1 hour 30 minutes or so if you use public transport.
Rest a little longer, move a little slower, and still make your Washington DC to Sao Paulo flight with time to spare. These hotels near Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport make departure day effortless if you're flying out early:
The on-time performance rate of BWI is 77.13%. To put it simply, that's how frequently flights that depart this airport arrive as planned.
Arriving in Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) to central Sao Paulo takes about 30 minutes by car. The centre is roughly 21 kilometres away.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of about 1 hour 20 minutes.
Book a hotel near GRU if you have a late flight from Washington DC to Sao Paulo. Select one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Pick up a Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport rental car and discover Sao Paulo and beyond with your own set of wheels. Foco, Localiza and Movida are top outlets to choose from here.
Lock in the best deal by booking your vehicle from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport around two weeks before your travel date.
Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH)
Central Sao Paulo is approximately 8 kilometres from Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH). As soon as your flight from Washington DC to Sao Paulo has hit the runway and you've made your way through the terminal, the drive should be around 15 minutes.
You can expect the trip to take approximately 35 minutes on public transport.
Place the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and relax at a hotel near VCP. Here are a few options where you can kick back after your flight from Washington DC to Sao Paulo:
Forget about inconvenient public transport schedules or cab lines. Grab a Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport rental car and let your trip unfold on your terms. Compare availability and rates from Foco, Localiza and Movida.
Lock in the best price by securing your ride from CGH three weeks in advance. You can also expect to have a bigger selection of vehicles.
Viracopos Airport (VCP)
Make your way to the city centre after your flight from Washington DC to Sao Paulo has arrived. Central Sao Paulo is around 80 kilometres from Viracopos Airport (VCP) and takes roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to get to by car.
The journey will take you around 3 hours 25 minutes if you use public transport.
Whether you'd like an economy for a solo adventure or a roomy SUV to fit everyone and their gear, you'll find the right Viracopos Airport rental car for you. Browse wheels available here from names such as Foco, Localiza and Movida.
Plan ahead and get the perks. Book your vehicle from VCP four weeks before your flight from Washington DC to Sao Paulo for the best deals.
Best time to go to Sao Paulo
April is the quietest month for flights from Washington DC to Sao Paulo, while July is the busiest. Find the ideal time to visit Sao Paulo based on whether you want a laid-back vibe or a lively atmosphere.
Lock in a Washington DC to Sao Paulo ticket departing in February if you want to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Sao Paulo to range from 18ºC to 28ºC.
Search for cheap flights from Washington DC to Sao Paulo in July if you like travelling in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 12ºC and 25ºC on average.
More about Sao Paulo
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best stays in Sao Paulo right here. Browse these hotels once you've locked in your flight from Washington DC to Sao Paulo:
Sao Paulo Museum of Art and Ibirapuera Park are a couple of top-rated attractions to put on your Sao Paulo must-do list. Continue your sightseeing adventures at Avenida Paulista.
Explore more of Brazil
Belo Horizonte is just one of the many places in Brazil waiting to be discovered after you've seen Sao Paulo. Around 499 kilometres to the north-east, check out popular attractions including Abilio Barreto Historical Museum, Matiz Arte Objeto and Deck Vertedouro.
Curitiba is another essential stop in Brazil and is around 338 kilometres south-west of Sao Paulo. No trip is complete without experiencing Jardim Botanico de Curitiba, Museu Oscar Niemeyer and Largo da Ordem.