Ruth Haines
Washington Dulles International Airport is open 24 hours a day, but there are no designated free sleeping areas in the terminal building. While the airport does not close, the security checkpoints do, usually around 10 pm, and anyone arriving after this time will have to stay in the public, landside areas until checkpoints reopen around 4 am. If you're looking for a comfortable night's sleep, it's best to pre-book a stay in an airport hotel, some of which are connected to the airport by free shuttles. However, if you do choose to stay in the airport, there are a few tips you should follow to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| 24-hour airport | Yes, but security checkpoints close at 10:00 pm and reopen at 4:00 am |
| Sleeping areas | No designated sleeping areas. Sleepbox Lounge has capsule rooms. |
| Safety | No reports of safety issues, but general precautions should be taken when sleeping in any airport. |
| Food | Limited 24-hour food options, mostly before security |
| Lounges | Air France KLM Lounge, Be Relax Spa, Capital One Lounge, United Club, Virgin Atlantic Lounge |
| Prayer Room | Yes, open 24 hours |
| WiFi | Free |
| Showers | Sleepbox Lounge has showers |
| Nearby hotels | Hyatt Regency Dulles, partner hotels with ParkSleepFly, and more |
| Luggage storage | No, but there are nearby options |
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What You'll Learn
Safety tips for sleeping in the airport
Washington Dulles International Airport is open 24 hours a day, but the security checkpoints close at around 10 pm and do not reopen until 4 am. If you arrive after the checkpoints close, you will have to stay in the public landside areas.
Sleeping in any airport can be risky, especially when travelling alone, so it's important to take precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are some safety tips for sleeping in Washington Dulles Airport:
- Know where the security office is, and try to sleep somewhere with video cameras.
- Ask security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
- If you're travelling alone, stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help deter potential thieves.
- Hide your valuables. Don't leave them in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft.
- If you're looking for uninterrupted sleep, there are nearby airport hotels connected by free shuttles.
- To improve your sleep quality, bring a blanket, wear layers, and use earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones to block out the airport noise.
- If you're an economy class passenger, you can pay to access one of the airport lounges.
- If you're travelling with a pet, there are designated pet relief areas throughout the airport, with two located beyond security.
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Nearby hotels
While it is possible to stay overnight at the airport, it may not be the most comfortable option. The airport is open 24 hours a day, but there are no designated free sleeping areas in the terminal building. The security checkpoints close around 10 pm, so if you arrive after that, you'll have to stay in the public landside areas until they reopen at 4 am.
If you're looking for a more comfortable option, there are several nearby hotels connected by free airport shuttles. These include:
- Hyatt Regency Dulles, which offers a complimentary airport shuttle, fitness centre, pool, on-site restaurant, and business centre.
- Sleepbox Lounge, which has a number of capsule rooms.
Other nearby hotels include:
- Washington Dulles Airport Marriott
- Holiday Inn Washington Dulles International Airport
- Extended Stay America Washington, DC - Sterling
- Candlewood Suites Hotel Sterling, VA
These hotels offer park, sleep, and fly packages, allowing you to reserve a room and a parking space for your trip. They also provide shuttle services to and from the airport, making your travel experience more convenient.
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Airport lounges
Washington Dulles International Airport features 13 operational lounges across the Main Terminal and four concourses. Almost all lounges are located post-security and require a valid boarding pass for access.
- Capital One Lounge: This lounge offers paid walk-up access for any traveller, even those without a Capital One credit card. Access is currently priced at $90 per person.
- Lufthansa Business Lounge: Access can be purchased online in advance through the official Lufthansa website, with prices starting from US$49, or on a walk-up subject to availability.
- Air France-KLM Lounge: Paid access is available online in advance from US$50, and sometimes at the reception desk, but it is not guaranteed. Sanctifly premium members can also use points to access this lounge.
- Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse
- Turkish Airlines Lounge
- British Galleries Lounge
- United Club Lounges
If you are looking for uninterrupted sleep, there are also nearby airport hotels connected by free airport shuttles.
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Prayer room
Washington Dulles International Airport has an Interfaith Chapel that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The chapel is located in Concourse A, directly across from Gate A32. It is a quiet and tranquil space for prayer and reflection, with spiritual reading material available in several languages, including English, Spanish, French, Urdu, Amharic, and Polish. The chapel is open to everyone, including employees, passengers, and visitors.
The airport also has a Prayer Room with an ablution facility, which is located in one of the airport lounges. This lounge is known as the dual-branded Chase and Etihad lounge and offers a premium experience with amenities catering to both Chase and Etihad passengers. The lounge features a unique layout, with a main seating and buffet area, and a separate quieter section with a full-service bar and an indoor "zen garden". The lounge also provides a family room, private restrooms, and a shower suite. Etihad Guest Platinum and Gold members receive complimentary entry when flying with Etihad, and Platinum and Gold members may invite one guest when travelling in Business or First. For other travellers, single-visit passes can be purchased online or at the lounge entrance, subject to availability.
In addition to the Interfaith Chapel and Prayer Room, the Airport Chaplaincy at Washington Dulles provides basic pastoral care to passengers, airport staff, and airline personnel. Jewish, Christian, and Muslim prayer services and Catholic Mass are offered. This service is available 24 hours a day, and the chaplaincy can provide assistance in emergency or other difficult situations upon request.
Overall, Washington Dulles International Airport offers a range of options for those seeking a quiet space for prayer and reflection, with the Interfaith Chapel, Prayer Room, and chaplaincy services all contributing to a multi-faith friendly environment.
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Things to do on a layover
Washington Dulles International Airport is open 24 hours a day, but the security checkpoints close around 10 pm. If you arrive after this time, you'll need to stay in the public landside areas until they reopen at 4 am. If you're spending the night in the airport, head to Concourses C and D for the most comfortable experience. It's a good idea to know where the security office is and to look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. If you're travelling alone, stay near other travellers or close to security.
If you have a long layover, you could leave the airport and explore the local area. The National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is just 5 miles from the airport, and Reston Town Center is even closer, with shops, restaurants, and a movie theatre. If you want to go into Washington, DC, the Silver Line Express Bus and Metro will get you there in about an hour each way. In the city, you can visit museums, grab food from a truck, and check out the wide variety of attractions.
If you don't want to leave the airport, you can pay to access one of the airport lounges, such as the Air France KLM Lounge in the Main Terminal. You can also visit the Prayer Room, which is open 24 hours a day, or the Be Relax spa. If you're travelling with kids, there's a play area called "FunWay" near Gate B70. When it's time to eat, you can grab a quick bite at Dulles Gourmet Market, which is open 24 hours a day, or head to one of the many Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts.
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Frequently asked questions
No, there are no designated free sleeping areas in the terminal building. However, the airport is open 24 hours a day, so you can stay in the public, landside areas.
Yes, the Sleepbox Lounge has a number of capsule rooms.
Yes, there are many hotels near the airport, some of which offer shuttle services.
Sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask security personnel for advice on the safest places to sleep.
Yes, the Dulles Gourmet Market is open 24 hours and offers sandwiches, salads, and gourmet snacks.
