Travelers who are looking for cheap flights to Washington, DC, have the option of flying into the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport or the Dulles International Airport. The Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is located in Arlington County, Virginia, and is the closest and easiest airport for domestic travelers who are going on vacation in central DC. There are three terminals, named A, B and C. It is usually called the “National Airport,” “Reagan Airport,” or “Reagan National.”
The Dulles International Airport is located in Chantilly, Virginia, and is bigger and busier. It has a Main Terminal, and then two Midfield Terminal buildings.
There is also the alternative Baltimore-Washington International Airport (DWI), located south of Baltimore, Maryland. This airport is about 39 miles from downtown DC, which is accessible on I-95. For travelers without cars, the MARC and Amtrak stations are accessible from this airport, where they can take trains to the Washington DC Union Station. There is a lot of security at this airport, so travelers should arrive early and expect to stand in long lines.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) Information
The Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) has several amenities, including a pet relief area, baggage carts, banking services, foreign currency exchange, nearby hotels, a chapel, a lost and found, paging, a postal service, shops, newsstands, restaurants, shoeshine, public art and baggage assistance.
Airlines That Fly Into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
The Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is fairly busy with a high volume of air traffic, and has strict security, due to its proximity to the Whitehouse and several other important national institutions. It is mainly a domestic airport, but there are a handful of flights also to Canada, Bermuda, Nassau and the Bahamas. It is a focus city for US Airways, and some other major airlines that service this airport include Alaska Airlines, Frontier, Delta and United.
Washington, DC Transit Information
Distance to city: 4 miles
Bus to city
- Fare: $1.45
- The Metrobus offers service from the airport to the city during weekend mornings, while the Metrorail station is closed.
Train to city
- Fare: $1.75-4.60, depending on distance
- The Washington Metrorail has an elevated station at the concourse levels of Terminals B and C. There is access to the Blue and Yellow lines.
Taxi to city
- Fare: $12 aprroximately
- There are many taxis stationed outside the terminals.
Other options
- There is a SuperShuttle service that operates out of this airport and can take people into the metropolitan area.
Car Rental Companies at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
The car rental facility is located on the first floor of the main terminal, in Garage A. People have the option of taking a shuttle there.
Dulles International Airport (IAD) Information
The Dulles International Airport (IAD) has finished an expansion project on the International Arrivals building. They are currently working on construction to open a Metrorail station at the Dulles International Airport; a new runway opened up in 2008. Amenities at IAD include access for travelers with disabilities, pet relief areas, baggage carts, foreign currency exchange, nearby hotels, a chapel, lost and found, paging, baggage assistance, smoking areas, gift shops, restaurants, travelers aid counters, ATMs, newsstands, duty free shops, nail salons, massage parlors, and shoeshine services.
Airlines That Fly Into Dulles International Airport
The Dulles International Airport (IAD) has very tight security, handling all sorts of international arrivals, so this will lead to long lines. It is a busy airport that has non-stop service to 80 domestic destinations, and 40 international ones. United Airlines uses this airport as an East Coast hub, and some other major airlines that service this airport include JetBlue, American, Continental, Delta and Southwest.
Dulles International Airport Transit Information
Distance to city: 26 miles
Bus to city
- Fare: $1.45
- The 5A Metrobus route goes from this airport to downtown Washington DC. It makes two or three stops in Virginia before going to DC.
Train to city
- Not available; it is currently under construction and will not be ready for years.
Taxi to city
- Fare: $65-70
Other options
- There is a shuttle service to DC under SuperShuttle.
Car Rental Companies at Dulles International Airport
Passengers can reach the Dulles Car Rental facility by taking a short shuttle ride from the main terminal.