
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is a public airport located in Arlington County, Virginia, United States. It is one of three major airports in the Washington, DC region, and the closest airport to the nation's capital. The airport, which opened in 1941, was originally named Washington National Airport. In 1998, it was renamed in honour of the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport |
| IATA | DCA |
| ICAO | KDCA |
| FAA LID | DCA |
| Location | Arlington County, Virginia, United States |
| Distance from Washington, D.C. | 5 miles |
| Ownership | Federal government |
| Operator | Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority |
| Year opened | 1941 |
| Terminals | 2 |
| Concourses | 5 |
| Destinations | 100-plus |
| Airlines | 8 |
| Public transport | Metrorail (Blue and Yellow lines), taxi, Uber, Lyft |
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What You'll Learn
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is located in Arlington, Virginia
- It is one of two airports in the Washington, DC region that are federally owned
- The airport was renamed in 1998 to honour Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States
- The airport has two terminals, A and B, with five concourses
- It is accessible via the Blue and Yellow lines of the Metrorail system

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is located in Arlington, Virginia
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has two terminals (A and B) with five concourses, and it primarily serves domestic flights. The airport is accessible via the Metrorail system, with a dedicated Metro stop on the Blue and Yellow lines. Taxis are available 24/7 from the airport, and rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft also operate from the airport. The airport has multiple garages and parking lots for those who prefer to drive.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport offers nonstop flights to over 100 destinations on eight airlines. It is also the airport that senators and representatives often use when heading home to their districts. The airport has a range of amenities, including lounges, a duty-free shop, ATMs, foreign currency services, and pet relief areas. However, it is worth noting that the airport does not have a children's play area or baggage storage facilities.
The airport has a rich history, dating back to 1941 when it first opened. In 1997, the larger Terminal 2 was inaugurated, and in 1998, the airport was renamed after Ronald Reagan. Despite some opposition to the name change, the airport continues to bear the name of the former president. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has also faced some challenges, such as the tense situation in the air traffic tower in early 2025 and several mid-air collision scares.
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It is one of two airports in the Washington, DC region that are federally owned
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is located in Arlington County, Virginia, just across the Potomac River. It is the closest airport to the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., and is one of two airports in the Washington, D.C. region that are federally owned and operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). The other federally owned airport in the region is Dulles International Airport (IAD), located about 25 miles (40 km) to the west in Fairfax and Loudoun counties.
The Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, with the code DCA, is known for its simple layout and ease of navigation. It consists of two terminals (Terminal A and Terminal B) and five concourses, with gates labelled from A1 to E59. The airport primarily serves domestic flights, with nonstop flights to over 100 destinations on eight airlines. Due to its 1,250-mile perimeter for destinations, it does not have any customs or immigration facilities.
The airport has a variety of amenities, including lounges, restaurants, and shops. There are also pet relief areas, wheelchair rentals, and public restroom access. The airport can be easily accessed via public transportation, such as the Metrorail system's Blue and Yellow lines, or by taxi, rideshare apps, or car.
The airport was originally named Washington National Airport when it opened in 1941. In 1998, Congress passed a bill to rename the airport in honour of the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan, and President Bill Clinton signed the legislation. Despite some opposition to the name change, the airport officially became known as the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
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The airport was renamed in 1998 to honour Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is located in Arlington County, Virginia, just across the Potomac River. It is the closest airport to the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., and is one of two airports owned by the federal government that serve the Washington metropolitan area. The airport was originally named Washington National Airport when it opened in 1941, and part of the original terminal is still in use as Terminal 1. Terminal 2 opened in 1997, and in 1998, the airport was renamed in honour of Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, who was in office from 1981 to 1989.
The name change was not without controversy, as some opponents argued that a large federal office building, the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, had already been named for Reagan. Additionally, the airport was originally named for George Washington, the first president of the United States. Despite these objections, on February 6, 1998, President Bill Clinton signed the legislation changing the airport's name to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, honouring the former president on his 87th birthday.
The airport has two terminals, A and B, with five concourses, and primarily serves domestic flights. It is known as the short-haul airport of Washington, D.C., due to its 1,250-mile perimeter for destinations. Only flights to domestic destinations and a select few airports in Canada are served from DCA, so the airport does not have any customs or immigration facilities. Reagan Airport offers nonstop flights to over 100 destinations on eight airlines and is accessible via its own Metro stop on the Blue and Yellow lines.
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The airport has two terminals, A and B, with five concourses
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is located in Arlington County, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. It is the closest airport to the nation's capital and is one of only two airports in the Washington metropolitan area that are owned by the federal government. The airport has two terminals, A and B, with five concourses. Terminal A includes gates A1 to A9, while Terminal B includes gates B10 to E59. The terminals are served by public access roads for curbside pick-up and drop-off and have parking garages located outside.
Passengers can get between the terminals on foot via a walkway outside the secure area or by riding the terminal shuttle bus. There are seven lounges at DCA, including three Admirals Clubs and the United Club, which can be accessed by purchasing a day pass. The airport primarily serves domestic flights, with nonstop flights to over 100 destinations on eight airlines. However, it also offers flights to a select few airports in Canada. As a result, the airport does not have any customs or immigration facilities.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is easily accessible by public transportation. The Metrorail system serves destinations across Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland, and has a stop at DCA on the Blue and Yellow lines. Taxis are also available 24/7 from the airport, with fares to downtown Washington, D.C. averaging around $15-$20, excluding tip. Additionally, ridesharing apps like Uber, Lyft, and Via operate from the airport and may pick up passengers at designated areas.
The airport offers a range of amenities, including six pet relief areas, ATMs, and foreign currency services. There is also one duty-free shop located in the A concourse (gates A1 to A9) inside the secure area. Smoking is permitted only outside the terminals, at least 10 feet from the doorways, where ashtrays are provided. Baggage storage is available through an external company, BagHop, located on the baggage level of National Hall between doors 5 and 6.
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It is accessible via the Blue and Yellow lines of the Metrorail system
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is located in Arlington County, Virginia, just across the Potomac River. It is one of the three major airports in the Washington, DC region, along with Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
The airport is accessible via the Blue and Yellow lines of the Metrorail system, with a dedicated station connected to the terminal building by walkways. The station is elevated, and passengers can board the Blue or Yellow line trains to reach downtown Washington, D.C., and other destinations across the city. This makes the airport easily accessible for travellers wishing to get to and from the city centre using public transportation.
In addition to the Metrorail, passengers can also opt for taxi services, with taxi stands available 24/7 at designated locations near the terminals. Ridesharing services such as Uber, Lyft, and Via are also available at the airport. For those who prefer to drive, the airport provides multiple parking options, including parking garages and curbside pick-up and drop-off areas.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport primarily serves domestic flights within the United States and a few select airports in Canada. It has two terminals (Terminal A and Terminal B) with five concourses and offers nonstop flights to over 100 destinations on eight airlines. The airport is known for its simple layout and easy-to-follow signs, making it convenient for travellers to navigate.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is located in Arlington County, Virginia.
The airport code for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is DCA.
Ronald Reagan Airport is located about 5 miles from Washington, D.C.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is the closest airport to the nation's capital.
The airport was renamed in 1998 to honour the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan.






























