Lois Larson
Washington DC is served by three major airports: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore/Washington International Airport. The Washington DC airport with the largest area is Dulles International Airport, which covers 52.6 square kilometres or 13,000 acres. This makes it one of the largest airports in the world. In comparison, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has 60 gates, while Baltimore/Washington International Airport is the busiest airport serving the National Capital Region.
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What You'll Learn
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is 5 miles from DC
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, formerly known as Washington National Airport, is the closest airport to Washington, D.C., located just five miles away from the city. It is one of two airports owned by the federal government that serve the Washington metropolitan area. The other airport is Dulles International Airport, which is located about 25 miles west of Washington, D.C.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a public airport in Arlington County, Virginia, United States. It first opened in 1941 and was renamed in 1998 to honour the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan. The airport has two terminals, with Terminal 2 being much larger and featuring several airport lounges, including the American Airlines Admirals Clubs and the Delta Sky Club. The airport also has a variety of dining options, including Ben's Chili Bowl, a Washington, D.C. landmark, and Five Guys, a popular burger chain in the area.
The airport has undergone several expansions and renovations over the years. In February 2018, construction began on a new concourse north of Terminal 2 to accommodate 14 new regional jet gates. This project, known as Project Journey, was completed in April 2021. Additionally, new higher-capacity security checkpoints were opened in November 2021, improving the flow of passenger traffic.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a busy airport, serving a significant number of passengers each year. However, efforts have been made to restrict its growth to reduce congestion and drive traffic to alternative airports. The airport has also faced scrutiny due to several incidents, including a recent mid-air collision between military aircraft and a commercial plane, as well as operational issues in the air traffic tower.
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Dulles International Airport is 26 miles from DC
Washington, D.C. is served by three major airports: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). Of these three airports, Washington Dulles International Airport is the furthest from the city, located about 26 miles outside of Washington, D.C. in Dulles, Virginia. The airport is connected to the city via the Silver Line of the Washington Metro, which takes approximately one hour and costs around $6.
Before 2023, travellers had to take a bus to a Metro station about 15 to 20 minutes away from the airport and then transfer to the train. However, the Silver Line has since been extended, allowing passengers to take the Metro directly from the airport to various downtown stations in D.C., including Foggy Bottom/GWU, Farragut West, McPherson Square, Metro Center, Federal Triangle, Smithsonian, and L'Enfant Plaza. The Metro station at the airport can be accessed by going to the baggage claim level and following the signs to an underground walkway, which leads to the station in about 10 minutes.
In addition to the Metro, travellers can also take a taxi or ridesharing service from the airport to the city. Washington Dulles Airport exclusively uses Washington Flyer taxis, which can be found outside the main terminal 24/7. The taxi ride costs around $60 to $70 for a one-way trip, excluding tip. While this option can be expensive, traffic can be light for part of the way, especially since the Dulles Toll Road is exclusive and free for cars coming from Dulles to I-495, the highway surrounding Washington, D.C. However, travellers may encounter traffic on I-66, depending on the time of day.
For those looking for a more economical option, there is an intercity bus service operated by Megabus called Virginia Breeze. This bus picks up at Curb 2A at Dulles Airport and takes passengers to the Bus Deck at Union Station, with one stop in Arlington. The ride takes between 45 minutes and one hour and 10 minutes, and tickets start at $15. Overall, Washington Dulles International Airport, located 26 miles from Washington, D.C., offers several transportation options for travellers to get to and from the city.
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Baltimore/Washington International Airport is the busiest in the region
Baltimore/Washington International Airport, also known as BWI, is the busiest airport in the region. It is located just nine miles south of downtown Baltimore and 32 miles northeast of Washington, D.C. BWI is one of three major airports serving the Washington–Baltimore metropolitan area, along with Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
BWI is a major transportation hub and serves as a gateway to the U.S. Capital Region. It is the only airport in the region with a rail station, allowing convenient connections to Washington, D.C., in just 26 minutes. In 2017, BWI served a record-breaking 26.3 million passengers, and in 2023, it recorded 12,849,636 passenger enplanements, making it the busiest airport in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.
The airport has a long history, with planning for a new airport to serve the region beginning in 1944, just prior to the end of World War II. The site was chosen due to its proximity to Baltimore and good visibility. Construction began in 1947, and the airport was dedicated by President Harry S. Truman in 1950. The first scheduled flight operated by Eastern Airlines, arrived at and departed from the airport on July 23, 1950.
BWI has been a hub for several airlines over the years, including Piedmont Airlines and US Airways. Southwest Airlines has been the airport's largest carrier since its arrival in 1993, and it currently serves an average of 245 daily departures to the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean. BWI also offers international flights to destinations such as Accra, Ghana, operated by Ghana Airways.
In recent years, BWI has continued to expand and improve its facilities. A new concourse was completed in 2021, adding 14 new regional jet gates. The airport also features various lounges, including the American Express Centurion Lounge and the Capital One Landing Lounge. BWI is named after Thurgood Marshall, a Baltimore native and the first African American to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
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Washington DC has three major airports
Washington DC, the capital of the United States, has three major airports: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Each airport offers unique advantages to travellers.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (IATA: DCA), located in Arlington, Virginia, is the closest airport to the nation's capital, just five miles away. It is one of two airports owned by the federal government and operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). The airport has two terminals, with Concourse D and Concourse E being exclusive to American Airlines. The airport offers a variety of dining and shopping options, including local favourites such as Good Stuff Eatery and CAVA. It is accessible via the Blue and Yellow Metro lines, taxi services, and ridesharing apps.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IATA: IAD), situated 26 miles from DC in suburban Virginia, is the primary international airport for the region. It serves nearly 157 nonstop domestic and international destinations on approximately 40 airlines, with United Airlines as its major hub. The airport features a main terminal building and two midfield terminals with a total of four concourses. It is connected to DC via the Metro's Silver Line, with rides costing around $6.75.
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (IATA: BWI) is located near Baltimore, Maryland, and is approximately 32 miles from Washington, DC. It offers over 90 domestic and international destinations and serves more than 27.1 million passengers annually. BWI provides easy accessibility through train routes, shuttle services, taxis, and ridesharing options.
Each airport in the Washington, DC, region caters to different needs, with Reagan National being the busiest overall, Dulles International serving as the primary international gateway, and BWI offering competitive flight deals. These three major airports collectively handle a significant volume of passengers and contribute to the efficient air travel network in the region.
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Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has 60 gates
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is located in Arlington County, Virginia, just five miles from Washington, D.C. It is the closest airport to the nation's capital and is one of two airports owned by the federal government that serve the Washington metropolitan area. The airport first opened in 1941 as Washington National Airport, and it was renamed in 1998 to honour former President Ronald Reagan.
Despite its expansions over the years, efforts have been made to restrict the growth of the airport. The Washington Airport Act of 1950 was passed to reduce congestion and drive traffic to alternative airports, leading to the opening of Dulles International Airport in 1962. Perimeter restrictions were imposed on DCA in 1966, and landing slots were limited in 1969.
In 2018, construction began on a new concourse north of Terminal 2 to accommodate 14 new regional jet gates, bringing the total number of gates at DCA to 60. The project, officially called Project Journey, was completed in April 2021. In addition to the new gates, higher-capacity security checkpoints were added, and the individual checkpoints for the four concourses in Terminal 2 were replaced. This allowed passengers to walk between concourses without having to go through security again.
The airport has two terminals, Terminal 1 and the larger Terminal 2, and five concourses, A, B, C, D, and E. Terminal 1 is the original terminal from when the airport first opened in 1941, while Terminal 2 opened in 1997. Concourse D (Gates D35–D45) and Concourse E (Gates E46–E59) are exclusive to American Airlines and their American Eagle brand. Terminal 2 also features lounges from various airlines, including American Airlines Admirals Clubs, Delta Sky Club, and United Club.
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Frequently asked questions
There are three airports in Washington DC: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore/Washington International Airport.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has 60 gates and two terminals. It is located about five miles from Washington, DC, in Arlington County, Virginia.
Dulles International Airport covers 52.6 square kilometres (20.3 square miles) or 13,000 acres. It has 139 gates, including 123 jetways and 16 hardstand locations.
Dulles International Airport is the busiest airport in the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area and the 28th busiest in the US. In 2023, it handled approximately 25 million passengers.
