I will be flying LAX to IAD on July 8th one way, to catch an Int'l flight out of IAD at 11:00pm.

I was thinking of making use of the 8th by leaving on an early morning flight, do a stopover somewhere between LAX & IAD for upto 5-6 hours, then headout to IAD and arrive 2 - 2.5 hours before my Int'l flight at 11.

Its a family trip so I have 2 under 8 years kids and the wife. Any suggestions on cities to visit and routing to take.

Ideally I would like to spend no more the $225 per person, with just the 1 stop being in the city suggested.

Are you looking for award space like your other post says? If so, then you will be driven by availability - if any.

Also, even IF you could find availability, I think it would be pushing it to try and see a city in a couple of hours. Remember, you need to deplane, exit the airport, get transportation to the city, get back to the airport, go through security etc. You will probably have a couple of hours at most to see the sites - not something I would want to do with a 2 year old and an 8 year old.

Frankley I have given up on award availability. this would be a paid booking.

You do have a valid point in terms of time left for touring. Maybe an overnight flight the night before ? Will likely get a day use room in this case.

Since this is not about miles/points I'll move to TB.

lots to be seen in the dc area....go early...

edit to add.....you would want to arr at iad no later than 9pm i assume....

w/the 3 hour time change, you would need to depart lax at noon & prob be at lax at 11am....

i dont see any time for an in route stopover.....even a dc visit would have to be quick...

Two kids under 8? I'd go absolute miminal irrops risk and minimal hassle on this one: morning flight, nonstop LAX-IAD.

If all goes well and you roll into Dulles in the afternoon, maybe visit that Smithsonian air museum out in Herndon. Grab dinner in Reston, have a stroll around, head back to Dulles at 9 or so. There really isn't enough time to go into DC itself.

No connecting itin is going to give you any time to visit another city.

If you want to add a day to the trip, then you have a bunch of options...although you may end up with cranky kids if you're doing back-to-back redeyes and trying to do a ton of sightseeing in between.

To preserve the joy/sanity of the international trip, I'd keep the transcon part of the trek as simple as possible.

+1 Most LAX-IAD nonstops land after 4 PM on the East Coast, giving OP under 4 hours, allowing for time to get from the mid-field gates to the main building and outside, and reversing + TSA

The whole family has been awake since 5 AM @ LAX, breakfast (maybe not for the still sleeping kids) & ride out to the airport, luggage & checking in, security & out to the gate for pre-boarding with the kids - munching on whatever in flight.

Getting around from IAD is either via expensive taxi as the train/bus/Metro transfer is just not practical for 3 or 4 together - unless OP has been to DC area before & comfortable with a car rental to drive around to sightsee (errr, the rush hour traffic on I-66 HOV toll road isn't exactly fun either)

Either take a late morning departure with enough slack to not misconnect at IAD, or, arrive early/mid-afternoon - get a day room near IAD with free shuttle services, check in and relax, take a shower, have a late lunch/early dinner or whatever, watch TV, swim if there's an indoor pool or take a nap and just relax, then - go back to IAD for the continuation segment around 9'ish.

Or, skip the hotel day room idea and head to 1 of the 2 nearby mall via taxi -

Reston Town Center - 50 stores, 30 restaurants & move theater, etc.
Distance from IAD: 6.0 mi http://www.restontowncenter.com/

Dulles Town Center - 185 stores, 5 department stores, 23 fast food and 10 fine restaurants, etc.
Distance from IAD: 7.5 mi http://www.shopdullestowncenter.com/

Reston Town Center & Dulles Town Center seem like a good idea.

Tnx