Roberta Aguirre
Baltimore/Washington International Airport, commonly known as BWI, is located about 45 miles north of Washington, D.C., and just south of Baltimore, Maryland. It is one of three major airports that serve the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area, along with Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. BWI is a major hub for Southwest Airlines and recorded 12,849,636 passenger enplanements in 2023, making it the busiest airport in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. The airport is easily accessible by train or taxi from Washington, D.C., and offers convenient parking and low fares for travellers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) |
| Location | 32 miles from Washington, DC; 45 miles north of Washington, DC; just south of Baltimore, Maryland |
| Transport Options | Car, taxi, train (MARC, Amtrak) |
| Transport Time | 40-80 minutes by car; 33 minutes by train |
| Transport Cost | $5-$9 by car; $2-$340 by train |
| Airlines | Southwest Airlines, Piedmont Airlines, US Airways, Ghana Airways, Eastern Airlines, McDonnell Douglas, DC-10s, Capital, American, National, TWA, United, Delta, Allegheny, Boeing, Douglas, DC-8s, Southwest |
| History | Land purchased from Friendship Methodist Church in 1946; opened in 1950; named after Thurgood Marshall in 2005 |
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What You'll Learn
- Baltimore/Washington International Airport, commonly known as BWI, is located about 45 miles north of Washington, DC
- BWI is one of three major airports serving the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area
- BWI is accessible by train, taxi, shuttle, or car from Washington, DC
- BWI is named after Thurgood Marshall, a Baltimore native and the first African American to serve as a US Supreme Court Justice
- BWI is a hub for low-cost flights, with Southwest Airlines as its largest carrier
Baltimore/Washington International Airport, commonly known as BWI, is located about 45 miles north of Washington, DC
The airport has a long history, with its construction beginning in 1946 on land purchased from the Friendship Methodist Church. It was dedicated on June 24, 1950, by President Harry S. Truman, who arrived for the occasion in the then-official presidential airplane, a Douglas DC-6. Over the years, BWI has undergone expansions and improvements, including the addition of new runways and concourses.
BWI offers a range of transportation options for travellers to and from Washington, DC. While driving is a convenient option, it can be time-consuming due to traffic, especially during rush hour. Taking a taxi is another possibility, providing door-to-door service, but it can be more expensive than other alternatives. For a more affordable and efficient journey, passengers can opt for the MARC train, the local commuter train connecting BWI to Washington, DC, and other parts of Maryland. The Amtrak train is another viable choice, offering a faster connection to the city centre than a taxi, and at a lower cost.
BWI provides a range of amenities and services to cater to the needs of travellers. It boasts convenient parking options, a modern terminal, and a reputation for easy arrivals and departures. The airport also features various stores, food and drink options, fitness facilities, children's play areas, art exhibits, and an observation gallery.
Located just south of Baltimore, Maryland, BWI serves as a gateway to both Baltimore and Washington, DC. It provides access to a wealth of cultural, historical, and leisure attractions in the region, including Fort McHenry, the Inner Harbour, and Oriole Park in Baltimore, as well as the Smithsonian Museums, the National Mall, and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC.
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BWI is one of three major airports serving the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area
Baltimore/Washington International Airport, commonly known as BWI, is one of three major airports serving the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area. The airport is located about 45 miles north of Washington and just south of Baltimore, Maryland. BWI is a major hub for Southwest Airlines, which serves an average of 245 daily departures to the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean. In 2011, Southwest Airlines accounted for 56.12% of the airport's passengers.
BWI is named after Thurgood Marshall, a Baltimore native and the first African American to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. The airport has five concourses with 78 gates, including 14 international gates. Concourse A/B is exclusively used by Southwest Airlines, while Concourse C is used by Southwest, American, and Contour. BWI offers convenient parking, a modern terminal, and an "Easy Come, Easy Go" reputation, making it a popular choice for travellers.
Travellers can easily access BWI by car, train, or shuttle. The airport is well-connected to Washington, DC, by public transit, and the Amtrak or MARC train is a fast and affordable option for travellers. The distance between Washington, DC, and BWI is approximately 32 miles, and the drive typically takes 40-80 minutes, depending on traffic. However, driving during rush hour can take over an hour, and parking in Washington, DC, can be challenging and expensive.
BWI has a rich history, with its land purchased from Friendship Methodist Church in 1946. The airport was dedicated on June 24, 1950, by President Harry S. Truman, who arrived by plane from nearby Washington National Airport. BWI has undergone expansions and improvements over the years, including the addition of new runways and taxiways. The airport has also been served by various airlines, such as Eastern Airlines, which operated the first scheduled flight into the airport in 1950.
In summary, BWI is a significant and convenient airport serving the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area. With its accessibility, modern facilities, and a range of travel options, BWI is a popular choice for travellers flying into or out of the region.
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BWI is accessible by train, taxi, shuttle, or car from Washington, DC
Baltimore/Washington International Airport, commonly known as BWI, is located about 45 miles north of Washington, DC, and is accessible by train, taxi, shuttle, or car. While the airport is a bit farther out from the city centre than other airports in the area, it is well-connected by public transit and easy to get to.
If you're travelling by train, you can take the MARC train, the local commuter train that shuttles passengers from Washington, DC, to other parts of Maryland. The BWI Airport stop is located just outside the airport and brings passengers directly to Union Station in Washington. Tickets cost $8, and the journey takes about 40 minutes, making it one of the fastest and cheapest ways to get to and from the airport. Another option is to take the Amtrak train, which is faster than a taxi and more expensive than the MARC train.
For those who prefer the convenience of door-to-door transportation, taxis are also available at BWI. Official cabs typically cost about $90 from the airport to downtown Washington, DC, but all taxis are metered so the price may vary. Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft tend to be cheaper, with rides starting at about $60.
If you're travelling with a large group, a shuttle or private vehicle may be a more cost-effective option. Companies like GO Airport Shuttle offer transportation services 24/7 from BWI to DC, and you can choose to reserve a seat in a shared van or book an entire van for your group. Driving to and from the airport takes about 40-80 minutes, depending on traffic and your specific destination in DC. Keep in mind that parking in Washington, DC, can be complicated and expensive, with costs upwards of $30 per day.
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BWI is named after Thurgood Marshall, a Baltimore native and the first African American to serve as a US Supreme Court Justice
Baltimore/Washington International Airport, commonly known as BWI, is one of three major airports serving the Washington–Baltimore metropolitan area. The airport is located about 45 miles north of Washington and just 9 miles south of Baltimore, Maryland. BWI is named after Thurgood Marshall, a Baltimore native and the first African American to serve as a US Supreme Court Justice.
Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993) was an American civil rights lawyer and jurist. He served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1967 to 1991. Before his judicial career, Marshall was a lawyer who fought for civil rights and led the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. He played a crucial role in the movement to end racial segregation in American public schools, winning 29 out of 32 civil rights cases he argued before the Supreme Court. This culminated in the landmark 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which ruled that segregation in public education was unconstitutional.
Marshall's legacy as a Supreme Court Justice is remembered for his staunch liberalism and commitment to equal justice. He fervently opposed the death penalty and supported abortion rights, dissenting in numerous cases where the majority refused to review death sentences. Marshall's impact extended beyond his legal career, as he profoundly shaped the political direction of the United States and transformed constitutional law. Vernon E. Jordan, a civil rights leader, praised Marshall for demonstrating that "the law could be an instrument of liberation."
In recognition of Thurgood Marshall's achievements and his connection to Baltimore, the state of Maryland renamed the airport in his honour in 2005. The official name of the airport is now Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. The airport also displays an exhibit chronicling Marshall's life and career on the upper level of the BWI terminal.
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BWI is a hub for low-cost flights, with Southwest Airlines as its largest carrier
Baltimore/Washington International Airport, commonly known as BWI, is one of three major airports serving the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area. BWI is a hub for low-cost flights, with Southwest Airlines as its largest carrier.
Southwest Airlines first arrived at BWI in September 1993, and the airline has since expanded its presence at the airport. In 2011, Southwest Airlines accounted for 56.12% of the airport's passengers, and as of 2019, it has offered more than 240 daily departures to 64 destinations. Southwest's selection of BWI as its East Coast hub was part of a strategy to serve secondary airports outside of major cities. This allowed the airline to maintain efficiency while still reaching large markets. Southwest's presence at BWI has been a boon to the airport and Maryland's economy, generating billions of dollars and providing convenience and cost savings for travellers.
BWI is well-connected to Washington, D.C., by public transport, and it is easy, quick, and inexpensive to travel between the airport and the city centre by train. The airport is also accessible by car, taxi, or shuttle, although travel time by car can vary significantly due to traffic. BWI offers convenient parking options and has a reputation for being an "Easy Come, Easy Go" airport.
In addition to Southwest Airlines, BWI is served by other airlines, including American, Contour, and Delta. The airport has five concourses with 78 gates, including 14 international gates. Concourse A/B is exclusively used by Southwest Airlines and offers 30 gates for their operations. BWI recorded 12,849,636 passenger enplanements in 2023, making it the busiest airport in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.
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Frequently asked questions
Baltimore/Washington International Airport, commonly known as BWI, is one of three major airports serving the Washington–Baltimore metropolitan area.
BWI is located about 45 miles north of Washington, DC, and the distance by road is around 32 miles.
The travel time from BWI to Washington, DC, depends on the mode of transportation and traffic conditions. Driving can take 40 to 80 minutes, while the train is the fastest option, taking around 33 minutes.
You can travel between BWI and Washington, DC, by car, taxi, train, or shuttle. The MARC train and Amtrak are popular train options, with Amtrak offering faster travel at a higher cost.
Washington, DC, offers a wealth of history and culture. Notable attractions include the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Smithsonian Museums, and various trendy neighbourhoods for dining, shopping, and nightlife.
