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There are three major airports in the Washington, D.C. area: Dulles International Airport (IAD), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
Each offers a vastly different experience in terms of airlines, destinations, and distance to downtown D.C. Here’s a guide to help you pick the Washington, D.C. airport that’s best for you.
Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Dulles International Airport is the primary international airport that serves Washington D.C. In 2022, more than 21 million passengers travelled through the airport.
Location and transportation options to downtown D.C.
Dulles is located approximately 25 miles from downtown D.C. in Virginia’s Loudoun and Fairfax counties.
- Drive: It usually takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to drive from downtown D.C. to Dulles and vice versa, depending on traffic. Parking rates range from around $14 to $39 (£10–30) per day, and most major car hire companies are stationed here.
- Taxi/ride-share: There are Washington Flyer Taxicabs at the airport, or you can use ride-share services like Uber, Lyft, and Alto, which have a designated pickup zone. As with self-driving, the trip can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. Rates start around $55 (£42) for both taxis and ride-shares can surge up to $80 (£61) or beyond during peak traffic hours.
- Train: The Silver Line Metrorail is connected to the baggage claim level of Dulles’ main terminal. The hours of operation are 5 am to midnight, Mondays through Thursdays; 5 am to 1 am on Fridays; 7 am to 1 am on Saturdays; and 7 am to midnight on Sundays. Trains usually arrive every 10 to 15 minutes. The journey from Dulles to Metro Center (a common transfer station in downtown D.C.) takes about 55 minutes and costs from $2 to $6 (£1.50–5), depending on your destination.
- Bus: A variety of buses offer shuttles to and from Dulles, including the Fairfax Connector, Virginia Breeze, and Megabus. These buses connect the airport with both urban and suburban destinations in and around D.C. Prices and travel times vary.
Airlines, destinations, and terminals
Dulles is home to 39 airlines (including United, which is has its hub here), that fly direct to 74 domestic and 60 international destinations. Given all these routes, Dulles is a frequent stopover spot. The airport has one main terminal and five concourses. Discover the full list of airlines at Dulles in this guide.
All five concourses are connected airside, so you’re free to explore them all once you’ve cleared security. But you can’t walk between all the concourses. Concourses A, B, and Z are connected by walkways, but to get to Concourses C and D, you’ll have to take either the AeroTrain or the Mobile Lounge shuttle bus.
Restaurants and shops
Dulles has a variety of dining and shopping options. Some of the more popular restaurants include Bistro Atelier (Concourse D), Rusty Taco (Concourse D), Devil’s Backbone Taproom (Concourse C), Vino Volo (Concourse B), and Chef Geoff’s (Concourse C).
Shopping options are fairly standard, and range from news stands to duty-free shops to designer boutiques, such as Chanel (Concourse B), Christian Dior (Concourse B), Montblanc (Concourse B), and Tumi (Concourse B).
Lounges
Things to do at Dulles
- Enjoy the architecture. Finnish architect Eero Saarinen designed the passenger terminal at Dulles, and it’s an icon of mid-century architecture.
- See public art installations as part of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s Arts Program. That includes the Daedelus 87, a human-powered aircraft hanging outside AeroTrain station in Concourse B.
- Visit the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Though this facility is located outside the airport, it’s just one bus stop away (take the free Fairfax Connector No. 983 from Ground Transportation bay #5E).
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is the busiest airport in the D.C. area. In 2022, 23.9 million passengers travelled through it. Despite this impressive number of passengers, Reagan is primarily a domestic airport, with limited short-haul international flights.
Location and transportation options to downtown D.C.
Reagan Airport is located about 4 miles from downtown D.C. in Arlington, Virginia, making it the most convenient airport for getting to the city.
- Drive: It takes anywhere from 15 minutes to 45 minutes to drive between downtown D.C. and the Reagan Airport, depending on traffic. Parking costs between $19 and $29 (£15–22) per day, and car hire from most major companies is available.
- Taxi/ride-share: Taxi stands can be found outside Reagan, or you can take a ride-share like Uber, Lyft or Alto via the designated pick-up zones. Prices for both start around $16 (£12) and go up from there, depending on traffic. Ride-share services also incorporate surge pricing for high-demand periods that could cause fares to rise.
- Train: The Metrorail is connected to the concourse level of Terminal 2. Fares are based on distance, and the maximum fare to any station is $6 (£5). The hours of operation are 5 am to midnight from Monday through Thursday; 5 am to 1 am on Friday; 7 am to 1 am on Saturday and 7 am to midnight on Sunday. It takes about 10 minutes to get from Reagan Airport to downtown D.C.
- Bus: Public transportation buses do not stop at Reagan, but hotel shuttles and tour buses do.
- Bicycle/walking: Because the airport is located off the Mount Vernon Trail, you can easily walk or bike to the airport. There are free bike racks available, as well as a Capital Bikeshare station.
Airlines, destinations, and terminals
Reagan has two terminals with 58 total gates. The airport offers direct flights to six international and 102 domestic destinations. Eight airlines service the airport, which is a hub for American Airlines.
Restaurants and shops
For an airport with a fairly small footprint, Reagan has many restaurants and shops. Recommended restaurants include El Centro DF (C Gates), Kapnos Taverna (D Gates), Legal Sea Foods (National Hall), Matsutake Sushi (National Hall), and Reservoir (A Gates).
Shopping highlights include Brooks Brothers (National Hall), Johnston & Murphy (National Hall), Pen & Rose Boutique (National Hall), and the Smithsonian Museum Store (National Hall).
Lounges
There are five airside lounges at the Reagan Airport: three American Admirals Clubs, a Delta Sky Club, and a United Club. All of them are located in Terminal 2. There is also a USO lounge pre-security in Terminal 1.
What to do at Reagan
- Peruse public art exhibits throughout Reagan, including 30 permanent installations and two rotating exhibits.
- If you’re travelling with kids, visit the play space in the National Hall. It was developed in conjunction with the National Children’s Museum.
- Keep an eye out for Honor Flight arrivals. The Honor Flight Network flies veterans free of charge to Washington DC to visit their respective memorials. Volunteers and passersby greet and celebrate the veterans as they arrive at Reagan.
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is the operating base for Southwest Airlines and the 22nd-busiest airport in the US, with 22.8 million passengers in 2022.
Location and transportation options to downtown D.C.
BWI is located 31 miles from downtown D.C. in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
- Drive: It takes anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes to drive between downtown D.C. and BWI, depending on traffic. Parking costs between $8 and $22 (£6–17) per day, and car hire is available from most major companies.
- Taxi/ride-share: Taxi stands are available at BWI, or you can take a ride-share like Uber or Lyft via the designated pick-up zones. Prices for both start around $80 (around £60) and vary depending on traffic. Ride-share services also incorporate surge pricing for high-demand periods.
- Train: Both Amtrak and the MTA MARC provide train service between BWI and downtown D.C. There’s a free 24-hour shuttle service from the airport to the MARC/Amtrak station that usually runs every 10 minutes.
- Bus: Unfortunately, there aren’t any convenient bus routes from BWI to downtown D.C., though there are commuter buses for the local area in Maryland.
Airlines, destinations, and terminals
BWI has five concourses with a total of 78 gates. The airport is serviced by 18 airlines that fly direct to more than 90 national and international destinations. International destinations include London, Iceland, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
Restaurants and shops
BWI has numerous restaurants and shops to entertain you during your visit. Restaurant recommendations include Brother’s BBQ Pitstop (Main Terminal Food Court), Flying Dog Tap House (A/B Food Court), Sir Veza’s (Concourse D), and Zona Cocina (near gate B4). Shopping recommendations include Kiehl’s (BC Connector), Tumi (BC Connector), and Marshall Rousso (Concourse C).
Lounges
You can find the Chesapeake Club Lounge in Concourse E and The Club at BWI in Concourse D. Concourse C is also home to Minute Suites, providing a private place to relax.
What to do at BWI
- Get your sweat on at Roam Fitness airside gym or on one of the two designated one-km cardio trails through the concourses. Or if you have a long layover, consider leaving the airport to get some fresh air on the BWI Marshall Airport Hiker-Biker trail, which circles the airport and is more than 10 miles long.
- See public art throughout the airport. Most works are on the landside (pre-security), but the D Concourse Art Gallery is airside and highlights local artists celebrating the spirit of aviation and exploration.
- Visit the Observation Gallery on the pre-security side of near Security Checkpoint C, which overlooks the Tarmac. There, you’ll find a 28-foot tall NASA-sounding rocket and a half-sized model of the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft. There’s also a bistro if you’re looking to have a cocktail or a bite to eat.
Best D.C. airport to fly into
Each of Washington D.C.’s three major airports has its pros and cons. Overall, Dulles is the best airport for international travel, Reagan is the best for quick and easy access to downtown D.C., and BWI is best for those flying Southwest. Ultimately, all three airports are fairly convenient to fly into and out of, so you should pick the airport that has the best flight options for your trip in terms of destination, timing, and budget.
For more airport information, discover the full collection of KAYAK’s airport guides.
How this guide was created
I’ve been a travel writer for the better part of a decade, and I typically fly around 200,000 miles each year. This guide shares my experiences flying to and through Washington, D.C., also taking reviews and tips from other frequent travellers into consideration.
Disclaimer: Prices and information are correct as of 30.09.2024 and may vary with time.
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