Washington, DC City Guide - Getting There By Air

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Tel: (703) 572 7635.
Website: www.mwaa.com/dulles

The airport is located 42km (26 miles) west of the city and operates both domestic and international flights. Over 23 million passengers used the airport in 2006. There are public parking facilities for 25,000 vehicles.

Airport facilities: These include a USO Lounge to serve military personnel, plus a bureau de change, ATMs, visitor information, several car hire companies including Avis, Dollar and Hertz, duty-free, shops, restaurants and bars. Business service centres are located at the east end (tel: (703) 572 2963) and west end of the upper level of the main terminal. They provide bureau de change facilities, insurance, fax, stamps, photocopying and notary services, and are open daily 0700-2100.

Transport to the city: The Washington Flyer Coach Service (tel: (703) 661 6655 or 1 888 927 4359/WASHFLY; website: www.washfly.com) operates a service linking Dulles with West Falls Church Metro station every 30 minutes 0545-2215 during the week and 0745-2215 at weekends (journey time - 25 to 30 minutes). Washington Flyer Taxi Cabs (tel: (703) 661 6655) depart from the lower level of the main terminal (journey time - 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the traffic). SuperShuttle buses (tel: (202) 296 6662 or (703) 416 6661 or 1 800 258 3826; website: www.supershuttle.com) operate a 24-hour service to downtown (journey time - 50 minutes).


Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI)
Tel: (410) 859 0124 or 1 800 435 9294.
Website: www.bwiairport.com

The airport is located 55km (34 miles) northeast of downtown Washington and serves both domestic and international airlines. Just over 20.7 million people passed through BWI in 2006.

Airport facilities: These include bureaux de change, ATMs, visitor information, several car hire companies including Alamo, Avis and Hertz, duty-free, shops, restaurants and bars. Several Travelex Business Centers, located throughout the airport, offer fax and photocopying and mailing services.

Transport to the city: SuperShuttle buses (tel: (202) 296 6662 or (703) 416 6661 or 1 800 258 3826; website: www.supershuttle.com) operate a request service to downtown (journey time - 1 hour). MTA/MARC trains (tel: (410) 539 5000 or 1 866 743 3682; website: www.mtamaryland.com) connect the airport with Union Station Monday-Friday 0500-2400 (journey time - 40 minutes). BWI Express Metro bus service (tel: (202) 962 1234 or (202) 637 7000; website: www.wmata.com) provides a direct connection between the airport and the Greenbelt Metro Station. Amtrak trains (tel: (215) 349 1160 or 1 800 872 7245; website: www.amtrak.com) run a regular service from the airport to Union Station. The taxi fare to downtown costs about US$65.


Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Tel: (703) 417 8000.
Website: www.mwaa.com/reagan

The airport is located 5km (3 miles) south of the city along the Potomac River. The airport's three terminals serve over 60 domestic destinations and three Canadian/Caribbean ones. Nearly 19 million passengers use the airport annually.

Airport facilities: These include bureaux de change, ATMs, visitor information, car hire (Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz and National), shops, restaurants, bars and cafes. Fax, photocopying, notary and other services are provided by the Business Service Center in Terminal C (tel: (703) 417 3200) in Terminals B and C daily from 0700-2100.

Transport to the city: Metrorail lines (tel: (202) 962 1234 or 637 7000; website: www.wmata.com) link the airport to downtown. SuperShuttle buses (tel: (202) 296 6662 or (703) 416 6661 or 1 800 258 3826; website: www.supershuttle.com) operate a regular service to downtown (journey time - 30 minutes). Taxis to downtown normally cost between US$12-22.

Approximate flight times to Washington, DC: From London is 8 hours; from New York is 1 hour 15 minutes; from Los Angeles is 5 hours; from Toronto is 1 hour 30 minutes and from Sydney is 20 hours.