TSA PreCheck at DCA
Live PreCheck and standard waits at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, plus what 22 days of readings say PreCheck actually saves.
Standard lane vs PreCheck at DCA, day by day
Average wait in each lane, every day for the last 21 days. The gap between the two bars is what PreCheck saved that day.
Widest gap 9/7: standard 5.9 vs PreCheck 5.2 min · narrowest 8/26: 5 vs 5.1 min · 22-day averages 5.2 vs 5.1 min
Right now at DCA: standard vs PreCheck
Which checkpoints have PreCheck at DCA, and are they open right now?
Is TSA PreCheck worth it at DCA?
Not on wait time alone, right now. Over the last 22 days, PreCheck averaged 5.1 min at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport against 5.2 min in the standard lane: the lanes ran about the same. The other PreCheck perks (shoes and light jackets on, laptops and liquids stay packed) still apply.
PreCheck costs $78 for five years. Based on 4,719 paired readings of both lanes; we measure, we don't sell it.
How early should I get to DCA with TSA PreCheck?
PreCheck averaged 5.1 min here over the last 22 days (standard 5.2 min). Enter your flight and we'll time your departure with live traffic and today's waits.
FAQ: TSA PreCheck at DCA
Is TSA PreCheck worth it at DCA?
Not on wait time alone right now. Over the last 22 days PreCheck averaged 5.1 minutes at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport against 5.2 minutes in the standard lane, about the same as the standard lane. PreCheck costs $78 for five years.
How much faster is TSA PreCheck at DCA?
Measured over the last 22 days and 4,719 paired readings, PreCheck at DCA averaged 5.1 minutes and the standard lane 5.2 minutes: about the same as the standard lane. Live numbers for both lanes are at the top of this page.
How early should I get to DCA if I have TSA PreCheck?
Plan on the standard advice, 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 before an international one, and treat the PreCheck saving as a cushion rather than a reason to cut it close: PreCheck lanes close earlier at some checkpoints and the saving varies by hour. Use the calculator on this page for a departure time based on live traffic and today's waits at DCA.
Is TSA PreCheck open at DCA right now?
The checkpoint list on this page shows every DCA checkpoint the airport reports with a PreCheck lane and whether it is open right now, from the airport's live feed. PreCheck lanes often close in the early morning and late evening even when the standard lane is open.
Which checkpoints at DCA have TSA PreCheck?
See "Which checkpoints have PreCheck at DCA" above. It lists each checkpoint with a PreCheck lane and its current status, refreshed every few minutes from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport's feed.