DCA
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
✈
ORD
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Distance
531 nm
Altitude
30,000 ft
Est. Duration
1h 44m
Route Information
Departure

DCA (DCA)

Distance

982.6 km (530.6 nautical miles)

Arrival

ORD (ORD)

Flight Time

149 minutes (2h 29m)

Flight Profile

Cruise Altitude: 30,000 ft (Flight Level 300)

Route calculated using great circle navigation

Turbulence comfort along route
Comfort score combines turbulence probability with intensity, higher means rougher
Smooth Light Moderate Severe
💙
We know turbulence can feel scary - especially on long flights. This report is built for you: what bumps feel like, when they happen, and why they don't put the aircraft in danger. Many passengers feel exactly the same way.
Right now on your route
Live pilot reports from aircraft flying DCA → ORD
15 pilot reports along this route
8 / 15
Reporting smooth
6 / 15
Light turbulence
1
Moderate or worse
Latest pilot reports
Smooth
SBN UA /OV MEGGZ/TM 2255/FL100/TP CRJ9/TB SMOOTH/RM LGT-MOD PRECIP
17m ago
Smooth
LOT UA /OV KLOT/TM 2254/FLDURD/TP FA20/RM LLWS -5 KT SFC-013 RY20 LOT
18m ago
Smooth
IND UA /OV VHP090015/TM 2248/FL200/TP C25A/TA M6/IC LGT RIME
24m ago
Smooth
ASW UA /OV OLK090025/TM 2243/FL340/TP CRJ7/TB NEG
29m ago
Light
MZZ UA /OV MZZ/TM 2243/FL270/TP E75L/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM DURD ON VEECK ARR
29m ago
AI-powered flight briefing
2,000 data points analyzed · VERY HIGH confidence
Your Flight

We analysed more than 2,000 data points along your route from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago.

Your Journey Beta

1 hour into the flight: Some moderate bumps expected.
The crew may adjust altitude or ask you to stay seated during these sections.
The rest of the flight should be smooth.

Your route takes you over the Appalachian Mountains – conditions there can sometimes cause light turbulence.

Mostly Smooth

Overall conditions look mostly smooth with occasional light bumps. Nothing to worry about.

Takeoff

Takeoff should feel smooth with possible light bumps, with calm conditions around the airport.

Winds Aloft

Winds at cruising altitude are about 45 knots.

Landing

Landing should feel smooth with possible light bumps with typical approach conditions.

You're in Safe Hands

If you feel nervous at any point, remember that turbulence is expected, safe, and part of normal flying. The crew is monitoring everything, and the aircraft is built to handle far more than anything you will feel. Have a safe and calm flight.

Relaxation Exercises
ZeroTurb Index (ZTI): Powered by our turbulence prediction algorithm combining atmospheric Richardson Number, wind shear analysis, temperature gradients, and geomagnetic activity. Learn more
Live data from ECMWF global forecast models · 12 atmospheric pressure levels · Updated every 6 hours
Flight Timeline 2h 29min
Maximum turbulence expected per segment
Takeoff
Light
0:20-0:48
Light
0:48-1:15
Moderate
1:15-1:42
Light
1:42-2:09
Light
Landing
Light
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Severe
Longer bars indicate higher turbulence intensity. Values shown are the maximum for each time segment.
Airport conditions
Live weather at departure and arrival
DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport - Departure
Wind
4 kt (110°)
Sky
Broken
Temperature
30°C
Conditions
VFR - Clear conditions, no delays expected
ORD Chicago O'Hare International Airport - Arrival
Wind
13 kt G21 (140°)
Sky
Overcast
Temperature
23°C
Conditions
VFR - Clear conditions, no delays expected
Your flight details
Departure timing and aircraft information
Data sources & our approach
ZeroTurb's Custom Algorithm: Our proprietary ZeroTurb Index (ZTI) combines three meteorological indices weighted by their predictive accuracy - giving you transparent, passenger-focused turbulence probability instead of vague categories.

This forecast integrates data from:

Disclaimer: This forecast is for informational purposes only. Always consult official aviation weather sources and follow ATC guidance.

Fly this route, calmly Game · Beta A calming mini-game, not a forecast. Glide DCA → ORD through soft clouds, nothing to crash into.