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Transportation in Washington, DC

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Washington, DC Airport Information

Washington, DC is served by three major airports: Ronald Reagan National Airport, Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore/Washington International Airport. All the airports are easily accessible from the city by ground and public transportation, and most hotels offer shuttle services.

Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Located in Arlington, Virginia, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport sits across the Potomac River from DC. Built in 1941, the airport's original terminal, Terminal A, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Terminal B/C opened in 1997 as the first of its modernization efforts. In 2007, the airport saw 18.7 million passengers. With 44 airline gates, the airport offers non-stop service to 74 destinations.

Known for its impressive architectural elements and unparalleled views of downtown DC and key monuments, Reagan National offers a great welcome to visitors. To make their experience more comfortable, the airport features over 50 restaurants, lounges and shops. Eateries include Fuddruckers, McDonald's, Legal Sea Foods and Matsutake Sushi, while retail outlets range from Brookstone to Jos. A. Banks.

Reagan National has parking options in four lots: an hourly garage, a daily garage, an hourly and daily garage and an economy lot. Overall, space is available for over 7,500 vehicles. For easy access to downtown DC and its attractions, travelers can take advantage of the airport's Metrorail station or other ground transportation operators.

Airline carriers serving Ronald Reagan National Airport

  • Air Canada
  • Air Canada Jazz
  • AirTran
  • Alaska Airlines
  • American Airlines
  • American Connection
  • Continental Airlines
  • Delta
  • Frontier
  • Midwest Airlines
  • Northwest Airlines
  • Spirit Airlines
  • United Airlines
  • US Airways
  • US Airways Shuttle
  • US Airways Express

Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Located in Chantilly, Virginia, Dulles International Airport is about 26 miles from downtown Washington, DC. In 2007, the airport saw over 24.7 million passengers crossing through one of 143 airline gates. A hub for both domestic and international travel, Dulles has 11 domestic carriers and 22 international carriers, offering service to 88 non-stop U.S. destinations and 42 non-stop international destinations.

Currently in the midst of a construction program known as D2, or Dulles Development, the airport is continuously aiming to improve the passenger experience. In 2008, the airport expanded its three-runway system to add a new 9,400-foot-long runway, the first of two additional runways being built as part of the program. Other plans include the renovation of Concourse B and an automated people mover system known as AeroTrain, scheduled to open in 2009.

Dulles International's first-class shopping and dining options occupy over 50,000 square feet at the airport. Guests can enjoy fare of all kinds, from a light snack at Cinnabon or Five Guys to a full meal at Gordon Biersch, Tequileria or Vino Volo Wine Room. Books, souvenirs, clothing, gifts and more are available at retailers such as Borders Books, Fox News Channel, Brooks Brothers and the Smithsonian Museum Store. The airport is also home to service stops such as 10-Minute Manicure, Masssage Bar, Travelex Foreign Exchange and Chevy Chase Bank.

The airport has over 25,000 public parking spaces in an economy lot, two daily garages, an hourly lot and valet parking. Daily parking garages cost a $17 maximum for 24 hours; the economy lot charges a $10 maximum for 24 hours. Travelers can also reach downtown DC and surrounding areas on the Washington Flyer SuperShuttles, Taxis, or Coach Service, which offers a direct connection to the Metrorail system.

Airline carriers serving Dulles International Airport

  • Aeroflot
  • Air Canada
  • Air France
  • Aer Lingus
  • AirTran
  • ANA
  • American Airlines
  • American Connection
  • Austrian
  • Avianca
  • British Airways
  • Cayman Airways
  • Continental Airlines
  • Copa Airlines
  • Delta
  • Ethiopian
  • Iberia
  • JetBlue
  • Korean Air
  • Lufthansa
  • Northwest Airlines
  • Qatar Airways
  • Royal Dutch Airlines
  • Saudi Arabian Airlines
  • South African Airways
  • Southwest
  • SAS
  • Sun Country Airlines
  • Grupo Taca
  • United Airlines
  • United Express
  • United Express
  • US Airways Express
  • US Airways Express
  • Virgin Atlantic

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
About 30 miles northeast of Washington, DC, Baltimore Washington International serves over 57,000 passengers every day on one of 644 daily scheduled domestic flights or one of 16 schedule international non-stop flights. Overall, the airport runs about 727 commercial operations per day thanks to its 49 airlines.

Named after Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, Baltimore/Washington International offers a host of eateries and retail outlets in its popular AIRMALL. An attraction in itself, the high-quality AIRMALL has won various awards, including Best Overall Concessions from Airport Revenue News. Guests can pick up a meal on the go from Au Bon Pain or sit down for Baltimore favorites of crab cakes and steamed shrimp at Obrycki's. Shops include Hudson News, The Body Shop, Borders, Sunglass Hut, Fire & Ice and Brookstone.

The airport also offers two meeting spaces for events held on premises. The new Friendship Centre is furnished with tables, chairs, coat racks and a lectern and can be used for meetings, parties, banquets and more. Audio-visual equipment is provided by the airport. The airport's Conference Room is located in front of the Terminal.

Baltimore/Washington International offers parking in hourly, express, daily or long-term areas. Maximum rates at the daily garage are $10 and maximum rates at the long-term parking lot are $8. The airport has over 25,000 parking spaces.

Airline carriers serving Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport

  • Air Canada
  • Air Jamaica
  • AirTran
  • American Airlines
  • British Airways
  • Continental Airlines
  • Delta
  • Northwest Airlines
  • Southwest
  • United
  • USA 3000
  • US Airways

Washington, DC Train Information

Union Station
A fine example of Beaux Arts-style architecture, DC's Union Station serves eight Amtrak routes: Acela Express, Capitol Limited, Cardinal/Hoosier State, Carolinian/Piedmont, Crescent, Northeast Regional, Silver Service/Palmetto, and Vermonter. Traveling on Amtrak, guests from major cities such as Boston, Chicago, New York and Miami can reach DC.

Union Station is open 24 hours a day. The ticket office is open Monday through Friday from 4:30 AM to 10 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 5 AM to close.

Alexandria Station
Located in historic Old Town, Alexandria Station serves five Amtrak routes from its Federal Revival-style terminal. The Cardinal/Hoosier State, Carolinian/Piedmont, Crescent, Northeast Regional, and Silver Service/Palmetto routes all stop at the station. From there, passengers can access the King Street station of the Metro as well as Alexandria DASH and WMATA bus lines.

Alexandria Station is open daily from 6 AM to 9 PM.

Washington, DC Public Transportation

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)

Metrobus
Metrobus serves passengers 24 hours a day, seven days a week with 1,500 buses covering 150 square miles in DC, Maryland and Virginia. In 2007, Metrobus provided 131.5 million trips.

Metrobus schedules vary based on route and location. Fares are $1.35 using cash and $1.25 using SmarTrip, Metro's permanent, rechargeable plastic cards. Express fares are $3.10 using cash and $3 using SmarTrip. Exact fare is required.

Washington Metro

MetroRail
The 2nd busiest rapid transit system in the nation, Metrorail serves 86 stations and operates on 106 miles of track, both above and below ground. Its five color-coded lines service the downtown area and extend into Fairfax County, Arlington County and the City of Alexandria in Virginia and Montgomery County and Prince George's County in Maryland.

Metrorail schedules vary based on time and day, with high frequency service being offered during peak hours weekdays from 5 to 9:30 AM and from 3 to 7 PM. Metrorail fares vary based on distance traveled. Regular fare, in effect weekdays from opening to 9:30 AM and from 3 to 7 PM and weekends from 2 AM to closing, is set at $1.65 minimum and $4.50 maximum. Reduced fare, applicable all other times, is $1.35 minimum and $2.35 maximum. Reduced fares are available for seniors. Children ages 4 and under ride free with each adult paying full fare.

DC Circulator
Part of a public-private partnership among the District of Columbia Department of Transportation, WMATA and DC Surface Transit, the DC Circulator bus is operated by First Transit. Buses run on three lines: the Convention Center-SW Waterfront Route (Red), Georgetown-Union Station Route (Yellow), and Smithsonian/National Gallery of Art Loop (Purple).

The Red line runs daily from 7 AM to 9 PM; the Yellow line runs daily from 7 AM to 9 PM with extended night service; and the Purple line runs weekends from 10 AM to 6 PM. Fare is $1. Exact change is required. One-, three- and seven-day passes are available. Only SmarTrip cards are accepted for transfers.

Rental Cars
Avis, Alamo, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty service all three airports in the Washington, DC area. On-site rental car counters at Reagan National are located on the first floor in Parking Garage A. At Baltimore/Washington International, the car rental facility is accessible by a free shuttle departing from lower level terminal.

Taxis
Taxis are located near the baggage claim exits of each terminal at Reagan National. Fares average $15 to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. In DC, fares are set at $4.25 for the first mile and $1.50 for each additional mile.

Dulles International's Washington Flyer Taxis are located on the lower level of the Main Terminal. Charges are $2.80 for the first quarter mile and $0.45 for each additional quarter mile. Average fare to DC is $50; to Alexandria, $52; to Arlington, $45; to Tyson's Corner, $27; to Reagan National, $58.

The taxi stand at Baltimore/Washington International is located outside of baggage claim. Rates average $65 to Annapolis; $35 to Baltimore; $155 to Dulles; $100 to National Airport; and $90 to Washington, DC.

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