None of the airports that service all of the Washington D.C. area are actually located in Washington D.C. Two airports, Reagan (DCA) and Dulles (IAD) are located in Northern Virginia, and Marshall Airport (BWI) is located just out the city of Baltimore, Maryland.
From my childhood within Arlington, Virginia and visiting my family that still reside in the area These three airports are the ones that have become ones I am most comfortable with. Each airport is distinct and differs in the distance the airport is D.C., flight availability and amenities at the terminal. If you haven’t flown through them it is difficult to decide which one should fly to.
If you’re planning to travel in Washington D.C. or the surrounding areas I’ll discuss the airports you can fly to with a comparison of Dulles and Reagan and BWI and provide some suggestions regarding what you should consider prior to making your booking for your flight. We always recommend taking a carry-on backpack to ensure ease of travel through airports.
Washington D.C. airports, codes for Airports
This article will review the 3 Washington D.C. airports:
Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Marshall Airport (BWI)
Reagan National Airport (DCA) Convenient, But restricted
One of D.C.’s three airports Reagan National Airport (DCA) is my preferred airport for three reasons.
DCA is:
Nearest To Washington D.C.
It is the easiest to reach via public transportation
Small efficient, effective, and simple to use
Transportation
Reagan is nearer than Washington D.C. than Dulles or BWI by quite a distance. While it’s not located within D.C. proper, it’s situated over from the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia. This makes it simple to access via an inexpensive Uber or taxi ride, or by the Metro that stops just near the Airport. The Metro is available till 11:00 p.m. during weekdays, and at 1:00 a.m. at weekends which means that even late-night travelers can benefit from the ease of trains.
For a DCA car service visit this website…
Amenities
The proximity of DCA to downtown makes it more closely monitored by the U.S. government. Although you won’t notice or feel a change in the general public however, security for travelers and airlines is much more strict than at other airports in the region. This is a good thing. Their stringent security guidelines together with (mostly) business traveler who use DCA makes it possible to get through security efficiently as well as the terminal itself well maintained.
Flight Options
The most significant drawbacks to DCA is that it has only domestic flights (plus two flights that fly to Canada) and can cost more as IAD as well as BWI. If you’re looking to travel to an international location through DCA then you’ll need to transfer, usually to Atlanta, New York, or Los Angeles.
The airport has 95 flight nonstops departing from DCA The airport serves numerous destinations. The majority of them are situated along the east coast and within the middle west. A few direct flights operate into smaller airports such as Chattanooga, Tennessee. There is the largest range of routes operated through American Airlines, although United, Alaska, JetBlue, Delta, Southwest, and Frontier are also operating from DCA.
Insider Tip
Do you want to travel to get from NYC from NYC to DC? Use your bus, instead or Amtrak instead. Between security at airports and transport from/to the airport, the train or bus are nearly as quick, but will get you in the center of the city.
Dulles International Airport (IAD) It is the “Big Hub”
For the widest range of available flights and best standard of service, Dulles International airport is in my opinion, the top airport in the region. But there’s one caveat the airport isn’t that far from D.C.
Transportation
About 26 miles from the District itself, and over even the most remote metro stops in Northern Virginia, Dulles is close to the rolling agricultural land that lie in Leesburg, Virginia than it is to Washington, the capital of the United States. Depending on which part of the District you’d like to go, it will take you anywhere between 30 minutes and one hour to get to the destination. Taxi rides can cost you as high as $60 for one way.
The public transportation system isn’t great also, although it’s improving. In 2009 the Metro began work on a Silver Line to extend metro rail service starting from Northern Virginia suburbs out to the airport. The line has been completed and is expected to begin transporting passengers by 2022. For the time being you can avail an inexpensive shuttle to the stop at the moment in Reston. From D.C. This ride can take around 1 1/2 hours however, it is considerably less expensive than taxis.
Amenities
The distance aside, Dulles is a great airport in all other ways. Although IAD is huge and the post-security shuttles could be a bit complicated for those who are new to the airport moving from your check-in desk to your gates can be surprisingly efficient. Customs and security clearance is relatively quick, especially due to the fact that IAD is home to all the expedited customs and security programs Global Entry, CLEAR, and Mobile Passport.
Most importantly, the airport is well-serviced with restaurants, shops and other amenities.
Flight Options
If you’re looking in search of flights that go to D.C. area, you’ll have the best options for flights from IAD, especially with United as IAD can be one of the United’s hubs. IAD offers the highest number of flights available of those three D.C. airports with nonstop flights to 57 international as well as more than 81 domestic destinations. Domestic flights are typically slightly less expensive out of IAD more than DCA.
Insider Tip
If you’re planning to visit D.C. make sure you plan your arrival outside of peak hour which is around 6:45-9:00 a.m. and 3:00-7 p.m. From Monday to Friday. The traffic flow throughout the DMV is among the most difficult in the country I wouldn’t recommend the prospect of a two-hour drive following an hour-long flight.
Marshall Airport (BWI): Basic, but budget-friendly
Traveling to Baltimore to travel towards D.C. may seem counterintuitive However, Marshall Airport (BWI) is just under one hour’s driving distance to Washington D.C. and only 30 minutes from there via train. The main advantages of BWI however, are the low cost flights and affordable facilities.
Transportation
The most convenient way to get there and back to BWI is via train. At Union Station, travelers can take a 20-30-minute Amtrak train at $16+ or 35 minutes MARC train that costs just $7 (one direction). The trains run between 3:00 a.m. until 12:30 a.m. This is the same for the journey into the city of Baltimore by taking an MARC train or an Amtrak train.
Other options for transportation aren’t as efficient or cost-effective. Taxis, Ubers, as well as shuttles can take around one half an hour to get from BWI until downtown D.C. You can expect an Uber or taxi to cost anywhere from $40 to 90 and shuttles for $37 for each person.
Amenities
In comparison with Reagan in comparison to Reagan and Dulles, BWI has a reputation of being basic and unappreciated. As I flew through BWI in 2014, I felt grimy and like there was no food options other than fast food.
It is a blessing that BWI has recently launched an expansion of $100 million which will offer new dining and services as well as better security and improved mobility between terminals. BWI has experienced major improvement. From a gym at the terminal for D/E to more efficient security lines, BWI is getting closer to those of Virginian neighbors.
In addition to the latest adjustments, BWI is budget-traveler friendly. They offer day-passes to the lounge costing only $17.50 and a non-premium markup on beverages and food There are no flights, and neither the snacks served at the airport are expensive at BWI.
Flight Options
Though technically an international one, the majority of the routes operated by BWI are domestic. Eight international destinations are served with non-stop flights.
What it isn’t in choices, BWI makes up for its affordability. Flights to and from BWI are typically less expensive that Reagan and Dulles with affordable Southwest Airlines operating the largest amount of flights between and BWI. Two other airlines that are budget-friendly, Spirit and Iceland’s WOW Air, also offer direct flights. Meanwhile, larger airlines such as United, American, and Delta offer great deals on their tickets as well.
Insider Tip
It’s not possible to take a walk or jog from the BWI station to the airport the way it is at Reagan, as it’s offsite. Instead, you’ll get an easy shuttle bus from the station. It’s best to plan an additional 10-15 minutes to do this.
DC Airport Summary
Now is the time to make your booking and prepare your travel bag.
In the case of domestic flight, Reagan (DCA) is the ideal airport for flights when you travel towards Washington D.C. Reagan is the closest airport to D.C. proper (even though it technically is in Virginia) It’s small but easy to get around and is easily accessible to D.C.’s subway system.
Dulles (IAD) is considered to be the most suitable option for international flights as it offers more nonstop flights to international routes, and the international flight to Reagan could require a layover somewhere else.
Although I typically prefer Reagan due to the fact that it’s the closest and easiest airport to travel to From Washington D.C., I’ll frequently find much cheaper flights from Dulles. Dulles may also provide the sole alternative for international flights, and is, despite being it’s large, it’s a pretty efficient and pleasant airfield to maneuver.
BWI is worth the cost only if you’re on the north of D.C. or are willing to take a train at Union Station. There are low-cost flights with low-cost airlines from BWI and often beats the competition in terms of cost.