Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport — Washington, United States

Few American airports sit as close to a capital's monuments as DCA, positioned just across the Potomac River in Virginia within clear sight of the Washington skyline. Originally opened as Washington National Airport, the facility was renamed in 1998 to honor former president Ronald Reagan, a decision that remains politically debated decades later. A federal perimeter rule has long restricted most nonstop flights from here to destinations within a set distance, pushing longer routes toward Dulles instead, though exceptions have been carved out over time. The airport drew somber national attention in early 2025 after a fatal collision between a regional passenger jet and a military helicopter near its runways, prompting renewed scrutiny of airspace procedures around the busy, tightly constrained field. DCA remains a preferred choice for travelers prioritizing downtown proximity.