Cvent Online Destination GuideOnline Destination Search for Area VenuesOnline Destination Search for Area Services

Transportation in Washington, DC

Back to Destination List
Back to Cvent

Washington, DC Airport Information

Washington, DC is served by three major airports: Ronald Reagan National Airport, Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Ronald Reagan National Airport is located in Arlington along the Potomac River and only caters to domestic flights. Dulles International Airport is located in Fairfax County. Baltimore-Washington International Airport is located between Washington, DC and Baltimore, just along the Baltimore Washington Parkway. All the airports are easily accessible from the city and most hotels also offer shuttle services.

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Located about 26 miles outside Washington, DC on 11,830 acres across Virginia's Loudon and Fairfax Counties, the Washington Dulles International Airport has been in operation since November of 1962. Dulles International Airport was the first airport in the United States that was constructed for commercial jet aircraft. Approximately 23 million passengers traveled through the Dulles International Airport in 2006. Functioning as the hub for many major airlines, there are 10 Domestic and 21 International airlines that offer service to 124 destinations, 44 of which are International destinations.

Travelers should allow extra time when traveling through the Dulles Airport as all departing passengers must pass though security checkpoints located on the upper level of the Main Terminal and use walkways to reach Concourses A, B, or Z . A mobile lounge is available to transport passengers to Concourses A, B, C, D; it can add 10 to 15 minutes to travel time but most passengers consider this well worth the wait.

Due to the growth of the Washington, DC area, number of passengers, and number of aircraft in operation, Dulles International Airport has begun a large development phase. As a result of the development phase, two new Daily Parking Garages, moving sidewalks connecting the garages to the Main Terminal, new permanent Z-gates at the Terminal, improved ticketing counters, new baggage claim devices, and the construction of a new Airport Traffic Control Tower will be completed.

Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)
Located 45 miles outside of Washington, DC, there are approximately 650 daily scheduled passenger flights and 22 daily scheduled international non-stop flights out of the Baltimore-Washington International Airport. BWI has 52 airlines (passenger, charter and cargo) that operate out of four concourses: three domestic and one international. More than 56,000 travelers pass through the BWI Airport everyday.

In 2006, BWI was ranked among the best airports for passenger satisfaction in the United States. Passenger satisfaction was based upon eight factors: airport accessibility, check-in/baggage check, terminal facilities, food and beverage, retail services, baggage claim, and immigration/customs control.

Adding convenience for DC commuters, Amtrak trains, the MARC train, and the BWI metro provide service to the BWI Rail Station where the BWI Express Metro bus provides a direct connection to the BWI Airport. For those driving to BWI, parking is abundant with more than 29,000 total spaces available.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Arlington, Virginia's newly renovated Ronald Reagan National Airport is the closest airport to the Washington, DC area. Situated on 860 acres of land, the airport site was select by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938. The building is aesthetically pleasing with impressive architectural elements including a combination of arches, skylights and grand windows.

Serving more than 17.8 million passengers in 2005, Reagan National offers non-stop service to 74 destinations with a total of 44 airline gates. Nearly 100 restaurants, lounges and shops are available to help travelers pass time and relax in between flights. Restaurants include well-known chains like Gordon Biersch, Legal Sea Foods and T.G.I. Fridays.

The airport can be accessed by Metro using the dedicated airport stop on the yellow and blue lines. Other transportation options include taxi and Super Shuttle. Nearly 5,000 taxi cabs are dispatched from Reagan National everyday. Super Shuttle offers passenger transport from homes, businesses and hotels located within the metro area to and from the airport. Hourly, daily, and public parking options are available with a total of 7,900 parking spots. A complimentary shuttle is provided between all Terminals and the Economy Lot.

Airline carriers serving the airport

  • Aeroflot Russian Int. Airlines
  • Air Canada
  • Air Tran Airways
  • Air France
  • Air India
  • American Airlines
  • American Trans Air
  • Ana All Nippon Airways
  • Austrian Airlines
  • Air Greenland
  • Air Jamaica
  • American
  • America West
  • Alaska Airlines
  • British Airways
  • China Airlines
  • Concorde Airlines Inc
  • Continental
  • Delta Air Lines
  • Fly Ethiopian
  • Faucett Peruvian Airlines
  • Fly Ted
  • Frontier Airlines
  • Grupo Taca
  • Helo Air Inc
  • Hawaiian Airlines
  • Iberia-UAS
  • Icelandair
  • Jet Blue
  • Japan Air Lines
  • Kuwait Airways Corporation
  • KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
  • Korean Air
  • Midwest Airlines
  • Malaysia Airlines
  • Mexicana
  • Mesa Airlines
  • Max Jet
  • Northwest Airlines
  • North American Airlines
  • Olympic Airways
  • Pakistan International Airlines
  • Qantas Airways
  • Royal Jordanian Airline
  • Saudi Arabian Airline
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Span Air
  • South African Airways
  • Sun Country Airlines
  • Southwest
  • Signature Flight
  • Scandinavian Airlines
  • TACA Airlines
  • Trans World Airlines
  • US Airways
  • US Airways Express
  • United Airlines
  • USA 3000
  • Varig Brazilian Airlines
  • Virgin-Atlantic

Washington, DC Train Information

Amtrak service is available at Union Station, which is located near the US Capitol in downtown Washington, DC Union Station is conveniently located on the D.C. Metro's red line. Amtrak is also accessible via suburban stations in Alexandria, Virginia and New Carrolton, MD. Amtrak Auto train also has a location in Lorton, Virginia. The Amtrak stations are well connected via the Greyhound Bus Service. The Virginia Rail Express and MARC train also provide regional rail service in Northern Virginia and Maryland.

Washington, DC Public Transportation

Bus/Rail System
The Washington, DC metropolitan area has one of the cleanest, safest, efficient and most accessible public transportation systems in the world. In fact, over 42 percent of professionals working in D.C. use mass transportation. As the second largest rail transit system and the fifth largest bus network in the United States, the Washington D.C. bus/rail system provides transportation services to over 3.5 million people within a 1,500 square-mile area.

The transit zone covers the District of Columbia, the counties of Montgomery, Prince George's, Arlington, Fairfax and Loudon, as well as the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church. All metro stations have route maps and staff available to assist travelers with directions or questions. Artwork has been installed throughout the Metrorail system by MetroArts to improve passengers' travel experiences.

Washington Metro
Washington Metro

MetroRail
The Metrorail system extends 106.3 miles and includes 86 stations. There are five Metrorail lines: Blue, Green, Orange, Red and Yellow. The Metrorail opens at 5:00 am on weekdays and 7:00 am on weekends. Sunday through Thursday it closes at midnight, while on Friday and Saturday nights it is open until 3:00 am.

Regular Metrorail fares range in price from $1.35 to $3.90 during weekdays from opening to 9:30 am, 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, and 2:00 am to closing. Reduced fares are available at all other times with a minimum fee of $1.35 and a maximum fee of $2.35.

Metrobus
Metrobus offers 338 routes across 171 lines. There are 12,301 bus stop and 3,133 bus shelters included within the D.C. transit zone. All buses have bike racks and provide accessibility to people with disabilities. Cameras have been installed on 640 buses in the fleet to provide extra security. The Metrobus system operates from 5:30 am to midnight during weekdays and from 5:30 to 3:00 am on the weekends.

The maximum Metrobus fares are $1.25 for Regular buses, $3 for Express Buses, and 60¢ for senior citizens and the disabled. One-day regional passes can be purchased for regular buses at a rate of $3 per day; the pass expires at 3am on the date of purchase. It is important to note that bus drivers do not carry change so passengers must present the exact fare at the time of boarding.

Super Shuttle
The Super Shuttle is a door-to-door shared van service that operates on an on-demand basis. Super Shuttle provides transportation services between homes, offices and hotels in the greater Washington, DC Metro Area and the two closest airports: Washington Reagan National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. Travelers are encouraged to take advantage of this cost effective and painless way to navigate through airport congestion.

Taxis
Taxis are an ideal way of getting around Washington, DC As an added plus, taxis tend to be cheaper in D.C. than in any other major US city as they operate on a zone system with flat rates displayed. Although several surcharges apply, the maximum basic fare within the district is typically around $10. Rates charged are based on the assumption that you are hailing a cab off the street. Surcharges are most often added for extra passengers, late hours and special services. If you telephone for a cab, you will be charged an additional $2.

Approximate Taxi Fares from Washington Dulles International Airport .

  • Pentagon
  • Alexandria, VA
  • Reston, VA
  • Rosslyn, VA
  • Tysons Corner
  • West Falls Church Metro
  • Bethesda, MD
  • BWI Airport
  • WAS Airport
  • Capitol Hill
  • White House
  • $51
  • $58
  • $18
  • $50
  • $30
  • $40
  • $55
  • $115
  • $58
  • $54
  • $51

Rental Cars
Rental cars in Washington, DC are plentiful, with all the major companies represented, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty.

Getting Around

Washington, DC is divided into four quadrants: Northwest (NW), Northeast (NE), Southeast (SE) and Southwest (SW), with the U.S. Capitol and the Mall at the center. The Capital Region is easily accessible from the I-95 corridor, which circumnavigates the area via the 495 beltways. US Routes 50 and 29 run from the east and west. US Route 1 runs from north to south. It is highly recommended that visitors avoid these roads during rush hours during the week.

Distance to...

  • 36 miles
  • 124 miles
  • 204 miles
  • 241 miles
  • 96 miles