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Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is conveniently located near downtown Washington, DC, with easy and affordable access to the city centre via the Metrorail system. The airport is accessible from Terminal 2 through two enclosed pedestrian bridges and from Terminal 1 via an Airport Shuttle Bus or a 10-15 minute walk. The Metrorail station offers both Yellow and Blue line services, with the Yellow Line being the faster option to reach downtown. The cost-effective travel option provides access to locations throughout Washington, Virginia, and Maryland, with fares ranging from $2.25 to a maximum of $6 per person.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location of the Metrorail station | Connected to the concourse level of Terminal 2 Reagan National Airport |
| Lines | Yellow or Blue |
| Fares | Vary by distance and time of day; fares during the day range from $2.25 to $6.75; after 9:30 pm and on weekends, fares range from $2.25 to $2.50 |
| Operating Hours | Monday–Thursday: 5:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.; Friday: 5:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.; Saturday: 7:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.; Sunday: 7:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. |
| Shuttle service | Available |
| Alternative options | Car rental, taxi, Uber, Lyft |
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What You'll Learn
- The Washington, DC Metrorail system has an elevated station connected to Reagan National Airport's Terminal 2
- The Metro fare is $6 or less with a SmarTrip card
- The Metro is the most cost-effective way to get downtown
- The Yellow Line is faster than the Blue Line if you're headed downtown
- There are shuttle buses from Terminal 1 to the Metro station
The Washington, DC Metrorail system has an elevated station connected to Reagan National Airport's Terminal 2
The Washington, DC Metrorail system includes an elevated station connected to Reagan National Airport's Terminal 2. This station is located at 2401 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Access Road in Arlington, Virginia, and is considered the local Washington DC airport. The Metrorail system provides easy and affordable access to locations throughout Washington, Virginia, and Maryland.
The station platform is elevated and covered and is the last above-ground station on the Yellow Line in Virginia, heading into Washington, DC. It is one of only two stations in the system with three tracks, the other being West Falls Church. The station is situated across Smith Boulevard from Terminal 2, with the mezzanine directly connected to Level 2 of the terminal (security checkpoints/gates level) via two enclosed pedestrian bridges. Terminal 2 also provides a covered moving walkway to access all airline terminals.
To get to the Metrorail station from Terminal 2, passengers can use either of the two enclosed pedestrian bridges on the concourse level that connect directly to the station. From the north end of the train platform, passengers can exit to the terminal. For those arriving or departing from Terminal 1, it is possible to walk to the Metro station, which takes about 10-15 minutes, or take the "Airport Shuttle" bus to Terminal 2 and access the enclosed bridge to the Metrorail station.
The Metrorail farecards can be purchased at machines located at all entrances to the Airport Metrorail station, with a maximum fare of $6 or less when using a SmarTrip card. Fares vary by distance and time of day, with day fares ranging from $2.25 to $6.75, and after 9:30 pm and on weekends, ranging from $2.25 to $2.50. The station is fully accessible via elevators.
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The Metro fare is $6 or less with a SmarTrip card
Yes, you can take the train from Ronald Reagan Airport to downtown Washington, D.C. The airport has a Metrorail station connected to the concourse level of Terminal 2. The station can be accessed from Terminal 1 by boarding the "Airport Shuttle" bus or via a 10-15 minute walk. The maximum fare to any station on the Metrorail system is $6 or less with a SmarTrip card, which can be purchased at the station.
SmarTrip cards are used to pay for fares on all Metrorail stations in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, as well as Metro parking garages and lots, Metrobus routes, and some regional bus providers. The cards can be purchased from fare machines at the station and loaded with money. To pass through the fare gate, tap the SmarTrip card to the circular targets on the rail fare gate. SmarTrip cards can also be used on mobile devices by holding the device above the reader at the rail fare gate.
Fares on the Metrorail system vary by distance and time of day. During the day, fares range from $2.25 to $6.75, while after 9:30 p.m. and on weekends, fares range from $2.25 to $2.50. The Metro station at Ronald Reagan Airport is a split platform, with one set of escalators leading to southbound trains and the other to northbound trains. From the airport, you can take the Yellow or Blue Lines to get downtown, with the Yellow Line being the faster option.
The Yellow Line will take you to L'Enfant Plaza in four stops, while the Blue Line takes twelve stops to reach the same station. If your destination is past L'Enfant Plaza, it is recommended to take the Yellow Line and then change to the Blue Line. However, if you are not in a rush and have luggage, it may be better to take the Blue Line directly from the airport.
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The Metro is the most cost-effective way to get downtown
The Washington, DC Metrorail system has an elevated Metrorail station connected to the concourse level of Terminal 2 at Reagan National Airport. The Metrorail system provides easy and affordable access to locations throughout Washington, Virginia, and Maryland. The Metro is the most cost-effective way to get downtown from Ronald Reagan Airport.
The airport Metro station has a split platform, with two separate sets of escalators leading to southbound and northbound trains. The station is located at 2401 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Access Road, Arlington, VA 22202, and is considered the local Washington DC airport. The maximum fare to any station on the Metrorail system is $6 or less when using a SmarTrip card, which can be purchased inside the Metro station. Fares during the day range from $2.25 to $6.75. After 9:30 pm and on weekends, fares range from $2.25 to $2.50. You can also calculate your fare between two stops using Metro's Trip Planner.
To get downtown, you can take either the Yellow or Blue Lines. The Yellow Line is usually faster, with only four stops to L'Enfant Plaza, compared to 12 stops on the Blue Line. If your hotel is near the Foggy Bottom station, you should take the Blue Line. However, if your hotel is near the Gallery Place station, the Yellow Line is the better option. If you need to get to a station served by both lines, such as L'Enfant Plaza, it is faster to take the Yellow Line and then change to the Blue Line at that station.
The Metro station is easily accessible from Terminal 2 via two enclosed pedestrian bridges on the concourse level. If you are arriving or departing from Terminal 1, you can take the Airport Shuttle Bus to the Metro station or walk for about 10-15 minutes. Terminals B and C are very close to the Metro station, while Terminal A is a bit further away.
While other options for getting downtown are available, such as car services or rental cars, the Metro is the most cost-effective and convenient choice for travellers, especially those on a budget.
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The Yellow Line is faster than the Blue Line if you're headed downtown
The Washington, DC Metrorail system has an elevated Metrorail station connected to the concourse level of Terminal 2 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The Metrorail system provides easy and affordable access to locations throughout Washington, Virginia, and Maryland. The station is located at 2401 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Access Road, Arlington, VA 22202, and is considered the local Washington DC airport.
To get to downtown DC from the airport, you can take either the Yellow Line or the Blue Line. However, the Yellow Line is usually faster if you're headed downtown. From the Reagan National Airport station, it is only four stops on the Yellow Line to get to L'Enfant Plaza, whereas it is 12 stops to get to the same station on the Blue Line.
If your destination is Foggy Bottom or Farragut West, the Blue Line is faster. However, if you're going to McPherson Square, Metro Center, or the Smithsonian, the Yellow Line is the better option, although the difference in time is minimal. The Yellow Line also tends to run more frequently than the Blue Line, as the Blue Line shares the Rosslyn station track with the Orange and Silver Lines.
If your destination is a station on the Blue Line that is past L'Enfant Plaza, such as Eastern Market or Stadium Armoury, it is faster to take the Yellow Line to L'Enfant Plaza and then transfer to a Blue, Orange, or Silver Line train. However, if you have a lot of luggage, especially during rush hour, it may be preferable to just take the Blue Line, as transferring trains can be stressful.
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There are shuttle buses from Terminal 1 to the Metro station
If you're looking to get from Ronald Reagan Airport to downtown, taking the train is a cost-effective option. The airport is served by the Washington, DC Metrorail system, which provides easy access to locations throughout Washington, Virginia, and Maryland.
To get to the Metrorail station from Terminal 1, you can exit the terminal to the street-side curb and board any "Airport Shuttle" bus. These shuttle buses will take you to Terminal 2 or North/South Parking 1 & 2, where you can access an enclosed bridge that connects directly to the Metrorail station. The shuttle bus service operates 24 hours a day, so you don't have to worry about the time of your arrival or departure.
Once you arrive at the Metrorail station, you can use the Yellow or Blue Lines to get to downtown Washington, DC. The Yellow Line is usually faster if you're headed downtown, with only four stops to get to L'Enfant Plaza. The Blue Line has 12 stops to reach the same station. If your destination is a station on the Blue Line beyond L'Enfant Plaza, such as Eastern Market or Stadium Armoury, it's recommended to take the Yellow Line first and then transfer to the Blue Line. However, if you're not in a rush and have luggage, you can take the Blue Line directly from the airport.
The Metrorail farecards can be purchased at machines located at all entrances to the Airport Metrorail station, and the maximum fare to any station on the system is $6 or less when using a SmarTrip card. The SmarTrip card can be purchased inside the Metro station, and it's useful if you plan on using the Metro multiple times during your stay. The Metro's website also has a Trip Planner tool that can help you calculate your fare between two stops.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can take the Metro train from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to downtown Washington, DC.
The maximum fare is $6 per person, but fares vary by time of day and length of journey. Fares during the day range from $2.25 to $6.75. After 9:30 pm and on weekends, fares range from $2.25 to $2.50.
If you are arriving at Terminal 2, you can use one of two enclosed pedestrian bridges on the concourse level to get to the train station. If you are arriving at Terminal 1, you can take an "Airport Shuttle" bus to Terminal 2 or walk to the train station.
You can take either the Yellow or Blue Lines. The Yellow Line is faster if you are going to L'Enfant Plaza, but if your hotel is near the Foggy Bottom station, you will want to take the Blue Line.
Yes, you can take a shuttle, taxi, Uber, Lyft, or car service from the airport to downtown.
