Washington DC Airport Guide
If you’re planning to fly to Washington, DC, it’s important to understand the differences between our 3 airports to save yourself time, money and headaches.
Shopping for flights can get complicated when there are 3 airports to choose from. You’ll obviously want to consider how much flights to each airport cost, but you’ll also want to consider if you can get a nonstop flight (vs. one that require a connection) and whether the flight times work with your schedule.
Assuming you don’t plan to rent a car when you visit DC (which is not recommended unless you absolutely need one), I’ve rounded up the transportation options and their prices for each airport, with links to each.
Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
Distance from downtown DC: 5 miles
Primary domestic carrier: American Airlines
Ground transportation options and approximate costs:
Overall: All else equal, this is the superior airport due to its convenience and low-cost of getting into the city. Fly to Reagan National if you can.
Washington Dulles International (IAD)
Distance from downtown DC: 25 miles
Primary domestic carrier: United Airlines
Ground transportation options and approximate costs:
- Taxi: $60-$70
- Lyft/Uber: varies
- Silver line express bus + Metro silver line: $9-$11 per person total
- 5A Metrobus (pdf): $7.50 (plus Metro fare to your final destination) per person
- SuperShuttle: $30 for the first person in your group, $10 for each additional person
Overall: Dulles is far and not particularly easy to reach from downtown. When Metro’s Silver Line extension to Dulles opens in 2020 it will make getting from the airport to downtown significantly easier.
Baltimore Washington International (BWI)
Distance from downtown DC: 35 miles
Primary domestic carrier: Southwest Airlines
Ground transportation options and approximate costs:
- Taxi: $90
- Lyft/Uber: varies
- MARC Penn Line commuter train: $7 per person
- Amtrak Northeast Regional train: $16-$27 (for walk-up tickets) per person
- B30 Metrobus (pdf) + Metro green line: $11-$13 total per person
- SuperShuttle: $41 per person
Overall: BWI is farther away than Dulles but easier to access because of the MARC and Amtrak train connections to Union Station. Southwest Airlines offers nonstop flights to many U.S. cities.
