Best Airports In Washington: A Comprehensive Guide

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). Washington State, on the other hand, has dozens of airports, with Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) being the busiest. Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport (PUW) and Pangborn Memorial Airport (EAT) are other airports in Washington State. This text will focus on the airports in Washington, D.C.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

The airport has two terminals, with part of the original terminal still in use as Terminal 1. A larger second terminal, now known as Terminal 2, opened in 1997. There are several airport lounges located across the airport, including three American Airlines Admirals Clubs and a Delta Sky Club. The airport also offers a range of dining options, including sit-down restaurants, cafes, and fast food options. Local favourites include Good Stuff Eatery's burgers and CAVA for fast-casual Mediterranean bowls.

Washington Dulles International Airport

The airport is easily accessible by car, with a federally owned limited-access highway connecting the terminal to the Capital Beltway (I-495) about 17 miles (27 km) to the east. This highway system has grown to include a parallel toll road to manage commuter traffic and an extension to connect to I-66. The airport is also serviced by Washington Flyer taxi cabs, with taxi stands located outside the main terminal. A taxi or rideshare into DC will cost around $60-$70, while an Uber ride from downtown DC to the airport will cost around $60-$80.

For those using public transportation, the airport is connected to DC via the Silver Line of the Metro, with each ride taking about an hour and costing $6.75. The AeroTrain, developed by Mitsubishi, also transports passengers between the concourses and the main terminal. As the first airport in the country to debut a system that calculates and displays wait times at security checkpoints in real-time, Dulles offers passengers the convenience of selecting the line with a shorter wait.

The airport offers a range of dining options, including casual and upscale restaurants, cafes, and fast food choices. Bracket Room, for example, is a full-service, upscale sports lounge and eatery serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Commanders Burgundy and Gold Club provides a welcoming dining experience with a chef-driven menu featuring food and beverage options from breakfast to dinner.

Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport

BWI Airport offers a range of conveniences for travellers, including low fares, convenient parking, and a modern terminal. The airport has a reputation for being a seamless travel experience, with an "Easy Come, Easy Go" motto. In terms of layout, BWI Airport features a single terminal with multiple concourses, each housing numerous gates.

The airport is named after Thurgood Marshall, a Baltimore native and the first African American to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. In 2023, BWI recorded 12,849,636 passenger enplanements, making it the busiest airport in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. The airport has also undergone significant improvements, with $41.5 million invested in enhancing travel experiences for domestic and international passengers.

BWI Airport serves as one of the operating bases for Southwest Airlines and has seen continuous growth and expansion. In 2016, a partnership with Towson University's WTMD radio station was announced, bringing a concert series to the terminal's baggage claim area. In 2018, construction began on a $60 million expansion of Terminal A for Southwest Airlines, adding five new gates. BWI Marshall Airport set a new annual record in 2018, surpassing 27.1 million passengers.

Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport

Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport 90 minutes before their flight to allow for check-in, baggage check, and security. The check-in counter and baggage check close 50 minutes before departure, and passengers must be through security and at the gate 30 minutes prior to departure.

The closest airport to downtown Washington, D.C., is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), which is located just across the Potomac River in Virginia. It is accessible via the Blue and Yellow lines of the Metro, the city's subway system, and offers nonstop flights to over 100 destinations. Taxis are available outside the baggage claim, with rides typically costing $15-20 to get into downtown D.C. Ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft are also available. Estimated costs for Uber are $15-$20 for UberX and $30-$40 for UberBLACK.

Another option is Washington Dulles International Airport, located 26 miles from D.C. in suburban Virginia. This airport is connected to D.C. via the Metro's Silver Line, with rides taking about an hour and costing $6.75. Taxis and ridesharing services are also available, with estimated costs of $60-$70 for a taxi and $60-$80 for Uber. Dulles Airport is a major hub for United Airlines, offering nearly 157 nonstop domestic and international destinations.

Seattle Tacoma International Airport

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, also known as Sea–Tac, is the primary international airport serving Seattle and its surrounding metropolitan area in the US state of Washington. It is located in the city of SeaTac, approximately 14 miles (23 km) south of downtown Seattle and 18 miles (29 km) north-northeast of downtown Tacoma. The airport is owned by the Port of Seattle and covers an area of 2,500 acres (1,000 hectares), with three parallel runways.

Sea–Tac is the busiest airport in the Pacific Northwest region of North America, serving 52.6 million passengers in 2024, breaking the previous record set in 2019. As of 2022, 31 airlines operate at the airport, serving 91 domestic and 28 international destinations across North America, Oceania, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The airport is the primary hub for Alaska Airlines, whose headquarters are located nearby, and it also serves as a hub and international gateway for Delta Air Lines.

The history of Seattle–Tacoma International Airport dates back to the 1940s when it was developed to replace Boeing Field, which had been converted for military use during World War II. Construction began in 1943 with funding from the federal government, the Port of Seattle, and the City of Tacoma. The first ceremonial landing took place on October 31, 1944, and the first commercial flights were operated by Northwest Airlines in May 1945. However, regular commercial flights were limited until September 1947 due to the US Army Air Force's use of the airport. The terminal was officially dedicated on July 9, 1949, and the airport has since undergone multiple expansions and renovations to accommodate increasing passenger traffic.

Today, Seattle–Tacoma International Airport offers a range of amenities and services for travellers, including dining, retail, and customer services. It is easily accessible by various ground transportation options, providing convenient connections to the surrounding areas.

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