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Airports in Washington DC : A Complete Guide for Airports Near Washington, D.C.


There are three airports in Washington D.C. which are accessible from the city center and whose names are as follows:


  • Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)

  • Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

  • Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)


Irony: None of the above mentioned airports actually are in Washington D.C. that provide services to the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.


The metropolitan territory of Washington, D.C., has three major global air terminals: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore / Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI). Each of these airports has its own positive and negative aspects that can fluctuate according to their particular needs: some offer better connectivity to everyone, while others have a relatively useful connection to their tourism plans.


Here we have put together a brief guide, which presents the advantages and disadvantages of each central point.

1. Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)


Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport, referred to regularly as Reagan or National, is located in Arlington, Virginia, about 4 miles from downtown Washington. It is absolutely the closest air terminal to downtown Washington and inland rural areas, and in this sense it is the most advantageous of the three-zone air terminals for guests staying in the city or in Arlington and its nearby rural areas. In addition, it is the least busy of the three DC air terminals.


Distance from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to the National Mall: a six-minute taxi that will cost around $ 15, but you can also take the subway too(Metro): a trip to the National Mall will take around 15 minutes and cost $ 2 to $ 3, subject to the time of day.


However, in any case, if you select Reagan as your target, getting in and out of D.C. is quite easy. You can directly access the Blue and Yellow metro lines from Reagan airport. You can also take a short taxi ride to and from the air terminal, however, during busy time, you can anticipate a lot of traffic.


Reagan offers direct flights to 97 cities, mostly within the United States, as well as to few cities in Canada and the Caribbean. It is imperative to keep in mind that a short runway restricts the size of the aircraft flying through Reagan, which means that larger planes that land on long stretches on international routes must land at Dulles or BWI. This is to indicate that there are not many direct flights worldwide from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA): you must take a corresponding flight or a direct flight alternatively from a different air terminal.


Quick Note on Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)

  • Airport area (Location): Arlington, VA

  • When to use this airport: best if you travel to the center or heart of Washington, D.C., or the Arlington area.

  • Stay away from DCA (If): avoid if you are flying from a long international flight and need a direct flight.


2. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)


Distance from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to the National Mall: a 40-minute taxi will cost around $ 65, however, traffic can influence your travel rates. Public transportation is restricted to taking a bus from the air terminal to the Metro Silver Line at Wiehle-Reston East, at a cost of around $10 and takes approximately 75 minutes.


The Washington Dulles International Airport is at a distance of 26 miles from Washington in Chantilly, Virginia. It is the busiest air terminal in the D.C. In case you fly international, this is probably the Washington DC airport you should choose, since it has 57 constant alternatives to Africa, Asia, Europe and South America (in addition to 87 implacable local courses).


As one of the nation's main airport Dulles would be fully occupied, shows hold up times at the security checkpoints and presentations to them continuously. Since the two mezzanines are associated with past security, travelers have the option of choosing the line with the shortest pause.


Getting to and from Dulles is more complex than getting to Reagan from downtown DC. It is a 40-minute drive from downtown Washington with no traffic, however, the time may exceed in the hours of increased audience. The suburbs of Virginia have an advantage over this airport due to its proximity. In case you are not renting your own vehicle, there are many transports and taxis for guests to move around the area. The biggest drawback of Dulles is that there is no direct public transport link to connect to D.C. until the Silver Line Metro extension is tentatively completed by 2020.


Quick note on Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

  • Airport area (location): Chantilly, VA

  • When to use this airport: if you are flying to and from an international location.

  • Stay away from yourself: avoid if you need quick and simple access to downtown Washington, D.C.

3. Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)


Distance from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) to the National Mall: 40 minutes by car if there is no traffic. Renting a car is a better option instead of taking a taxi that can get $ 100 out of pocket. You can also take an Amtrak train from the air terminal to the Washington DC Union Station for approximately $ 17 or you can take the BWI Express Metro bus to the Greenbelt subway station for a similar cost, however, it will take 70 minutes. MARC regional trains also connect to the Union Station, which costs $ 7 and lasts 35 minutes.


Entering between BWI airport and Washington D.C. is not as advantageous as the Reagan or Dulles units, as it is very far from the city. Be that as it may, the MARC (Maryland Rail Commuter Service) and the Amtrak train station are close to the BWI airport, and provide moderately agile and effective train management to D.C. Union Station So, although it is the most distant air terminal in the city, it is still a

sensible option for the next DC airport, particularly if you find a good deal on the flight ticket. You can also drive between BWI and DC moderately, but heavy traffic can make the route long.


The Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport, regularly known as BWI airport, is located south of Baltimore and is convenient to the suburb of Maryland through I-95 and I-295. It is about 45 miles from downtown Washington, D.C.


Southwest Airlines has its own terminal at BWI, so it offers several flights here and maybe sometimes they have a lower cost than you would find in Reagan or Dulles. But they have restricted international flights and are limited to direct flights from Canada, the Caribbean, Central America and London.


Quick Note on Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI))

  • Airport Area (Location): South of Baltimore, MD

  • When to use this Airport: If you are flying Southwest.

  • Stay away from If: Avoid if you are not comfortable with public transportation.


Hope you liked this information. Please share it to someone who is travelling to Washington DC.







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