Direct Flights from Washington to Dakar
Dakar · Senegal
Nonstop service from IAD to DSS on United. Here's the schedule at a glance — plus what to do once you land.
How rare is this nonstop?
This is a rare nonstop: only 2 cities fly direct to Dakar, and Washington is one of them. From anywhere else you'd be connecting.
How long to go to Dakar for, from Washington
8h 30m in the air, 4,002 miles. Give Dakar a week: the first day goes to the journey and the jet lag, whatever you intend.
Note that this route only operates May to January, so the trip has to fit that window.
About Dakar
Dakar is the capital and largest city of Senegal and is often regarded as the cultural and commercial center of French-speaking West Africa. Dakar is often the first stop in exploring French-speaking West Africa because it has good flight connections with Western Europe. Tourism, especially business tourism, is growing in importance, stimulated by international events such as the Dakar Rally or the Contemporary Art Biennale.
Summary from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA).
Top things to do in Dakar
- The African Renaissance Monument is a 50-metre tall bronze statue located on top of one of the twin hills known as Collines des Mamelles, outside Dakar, Senegal.
- The Théodore Monod African Art Museum in Dakar, Senegal is one of the oldest art museums in West Africa. It was promoted by Léopold Senghor, the country's first President.
- The Museum of Black Civilisations is a national museum in Dakar, Senegal, that opened on 6 December 2018.
- The Our Lady of Victories Cathedral or Cathedral of Dakar, is a religious building that serves as the Catholic cathedral in the city of Dakar, the capital of the African country of Senegal, which is the seat of the Archd…
- Abbaye de Keur Moussa or simply Keur Mousa, near Dakar, the capital city of the Western African nation of Senegal, is a Benedictine monastery of the Solesmes Congregation.
- The National Archives of Senegal is headquartered in Dakar, in the Central Park building on Avenue Malick Sy.
- The Hann Forest and Zoological Park is a nature reserve located in Dakar, the capital of the African country of Senegal, in the Hann Bel-Air commune.
- The Historical Museum of Senegal in Gorée is a museum attached to the Institut fondamental d'Afrique noire (IFAN) and located on the island of Gorée, in the bay of Dakar, Senegal.
- The Musée Régional de Thiès is a museum located in Senegal.
- The Musée de la Mer is a museum located in Gorée, Senegal. The museum contains various documents and photos on marine animals in Senegal with a collection of 6,000 species.
- The Musée Senghor Fondation is a museum located in Senegal.
- The Musée Boribana is a museum located in Senegal.
Attraction descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA); place data from Wikidata (CC0).
Dakar weather, compared with Washington
17° warmer than Washington on average across the year, on daytime highs:
- January
- Dakar 79°F · Washington 43°F · 37° warmer
- April
- Dakar 78°F · Washington 67°F · 11° warmer
- July
- Dakar 87°F · Washington 88°F · much the same
- October
- Dakar 89°F · Washington 68°F · 21° warmer
Dakar is the steadier of the two, moving 11° between its coldest and warmest months where Washington moves 45°.
Average daily highs, 1991–2020 station normals from Meteostat (CC BY 4.0), measured at the nearest weather station to each city.
Planning a trip to Dakar
- Best time to visit
- The best time to visit Dakar is January–May, when daytime highs are a comfortable 78–80°F.
- How long to stay
- Dakar rewards a longer visit — a full week lets you explore its many sights, from African Renaissance Monument, Théodore Monod African Art Museum, and Museum of Black Civilisations and beyond.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a direct flight from Washington to Dakar?
- Yes — you can fly nonstop from Washington (IAD) to Dakar (DSS) on United.
- Which airlines fly nonstop from Washington to Dakar?
- United flies nonstop between Washington (IAD) and Dakar (DSS).
- How far is Dakar from Washington?
- Dakar is about 4,002 miles from Washington by air.
- Is there a direct flight from Washington to Senegal?
- Yes — Dakar (DSS) has nonstop service from Washington on United, making it a nonstop gateway to Senegal.
- What is there to do in Dakar?
- Popular things to do include African Renaissance Monument, Théodore Monod African Art Museum, Museum of Black Civilisations, Our Lady of Victories Cathedral, Dakar, and more.
More nonstop destinations from Washington near Dakar
Airports near Washington
The closest other departure airports to Washington — each opens up more nonstop destinations.