
Washington Dulles International Airport, commonly known as Dulles Airport, is located in Loudoun and Fairfax counties in Northern Virginia, 26 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. It is one of the busiest airports in the United States, serving over 23 million passengers annually and offering flights to more than 125 destinations worldwide. The airport is named after John Foster Dulles, who served as Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower during the Cold War. With its iconic main terminal designed by Eero Saarinen, Dulles Airport has become a well-known landmark and a popular filming location for movies set in Washington, D.C.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Name | Washington Dulles International Airport |
Former Name | Dulles International Airport |
Airport Code | IAD |
Location | Loudoun and Fairfax counties in Northern Virginia |
Distance from Washington, D.C. | 26 miles (42 km) |
Area Covered | 11,830 acres (47.9 km2) |
Year Opened | 1962 |
Named After | John Foster Dulles |
Number of Passengers | Over 23 million per year |
Destinations | More than 125 destinations worldwide |
Accessibility | Washington Metro's Silver Line |
Concourse | B, C, and D |
What You'll Learn
Washington Dulles International Airport is 26 miles from DC
Washington Dulles International Airport is located 26 miles (42 km) west of Washington, DC, in Loudoun and Fairfax counties in Northern Virginia. It is named after John Foster Dulles, who was the Secretary of State under Dwight D. Eisenhower. The airport is one of the nation's busiest, serving the Baltimore-Washington DC-Northern Virginia metropolitan area and the District of Columbia. It is the busiest airport in Virginia and the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area, serving over 23 million passengers annually and accommodating more than 60,000 passengers daily to over 125 destinations worldwide.
The airport is accessible via the Washington Metro's Silver Line, with each ride taking about an hour from downtown DC and costing $6.75. It is also accessible by taxi or rideshare, which costs around $60-70 into DC. The Dulles Access Highway is restricted to airport use only, with all vehicles travelling to or from the airport on airport business.
The airport occupies 13,000 acres (20.3 sq mi; 52.6 km2) and is located on the border of Fairfax County and Loudoun County, Virginia, straddling the Loudoun-Fairfax line. It lies in two unincorporated communities, Chantilly and Dulles, and is west of Herndon and southwest of Sterling.
Washington Dulles International Airport was opened in 1962 and was originally known as Dulles International Airport until its name change in 1984. The airport's main terminal, designed by the Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, is a well-known landmark and is highly regarded for its graceful beauty, suggestive of flight. The airport was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy and Eisenhower on November 17, 1962, and has since been featured in several movies, including the 1964 film "Seven Days in May" and the 1983 comedy "DC Cab".
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Dulles Airport is named after John Foster Dulles
Washington Dulles International Airport is located in Dulles, Virginia, 26 miles (42 km) west of Washington, D.C. The airport is named after John Foster Dulles, who served as Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1959. Dulles played a significant role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War, advocating for the containment of communism and the pursuit of international mutual security agreements.
John Foster Dulles was born in Washington, D.C., on February 25, 1888, and grew up surrounded by members of the foreign affairs community. His grandfather, John W. Foster, and uncle, Robert Lansing, had both served as Secretary of State. Dulles began his diplomatic career at a young age, accompanying his grandfather to the second international peace conference at The Hague in 1907. He later attended Princeton University, graduating as a member of Phi Beta Kappa in 1908.
Throughout his career, Dulles held various positions and played a key role in significant historical events. He served as legal counsel to the U.S. delegation at the Versailles Peace Conference after World War I and was a member of the war reparations commission. Dulles also helped prepare the United Nations charter at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C., and served as a senior adviser at the United Nations conference in San Francisco in 1945.
As Secretary of State, Dulles worked closely with the Central Intelligence Agency, which was run by his brother, Allen Dulles. He focused on international mutual security agreements and reducing the number of U.S. troops and conventional weapons. Dulles also played a role in the Suez Canal crisis of 1956, initiating the Manila conference in 1954, which led to the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) pact.
In recognition of his contributions, the Washington Dulles International Airport, as well as several educational institutions and buildings, have been named after John Foster Dulles.
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The airport is located in Loudoun and Fairfax counties
Washington Dulles International Airport, commonly known as Dulles Airport, is located in Loudoun and Fairfax counties in Northern Virginia. It is about 26 miles (42 km) west of downtown Washington, D.C., and it straddles the Loudoun-Fairfax line. The airport is named after John Foster Dulles, who was the Secretary of State under Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Dulles Airport is situated in two unincorporated communities, Chantilly and Dulles, and it lies west of Herndon and southwest of Sterling. The airport covers a vast area of 11,830 to 13,000 acres (47.9 to 52.6 square km). It is the largest airport in the Washington metropolitan area and is accessible via the Washington Metro's Silver Line.
Dulles Airport is a busy and significant airport, serving as the primary international airport for the DC region. It handles a large volume of passengers, with over 23 million passengers annually and more than 60,000 daily passengers travelling to over 125 destinations worldwide. It is also a major hub for United Airlines. The airport has a rich history, with its original name being Dulles International Airport until it was changed to Washington Dulles International Airport in 1984.
The airport's main terminal, designed by the renowned Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, is a well-known landmark. It is highly regarded for its graceful and elegant design, which captures the essence of flight. The airport was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy and Eisenhower in 1962 and has been featured in various movies, including the 1964 film "Seven Days in May" and the 1983 comedy "DC Cab."
Dulles Airport is conveniently accessible by road, with routes such as I-66, I-81, and I-95 providing connections to the airport. The Dulles Access Highway is dedicated solely to airport traffic, ensuring smooth travel to and from the airport for vehicles on official airport business.
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It is one of the nation's busiest airports
Washington Dulles International Airport is located 26 miles (about 42 km) west of downtown Washington, D.C., in Loudoun and Fairfax counties in Northern Virginia. It is one of the nation's busiest airports, serving over 23 million passengers annually.
Dulles is the busiest airport in Virginia and the Baltimore Washington Metropolitan Area, with more than 60,000 passengers travelling to over 125 destinations worldwide each day. It is the primary international airport for the D.C. region, with nearly 157 nonstop domestic and international destinations serviced by about 40 airlines. It is a major hub for United Airlines, which has constructed a Polaris Lounge for international passengers in Concourse C.
The airport's busy status has led to the need for expansion and upgrades. A recent expansion of the B concourse has been completed, and there are plans to replace the building housing Concourses C and D with a more ergonomic structure. A new three-story south concourse building is also planned to be constructed above the AeroTrain station, replacing the Concourse A regional gates.
The airport's original control tower was replaced in 2007 with a taller one located away from the main terminal to accommodate significant growth. Dulles has been used as a filming location for several movies, including the 1964 film "Seven Days in May," the 1983 comedy "D.C. Cab," and the action movie "Die Hard 2: Die Harder," which centres on a terrorist takeover of the airport's tower and communication systems.
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The airport is accessible via the Washington Metro's Silver Line
Washington Dulles International Airport is located 26 miles from DC in suburban Virginia. Dulles Airport is also the primary international airport for the DC region, with almost 157 nonstop domestic and international destinations. It is accessible via the Washington Metros Silver Line, with each ride taking about an hour from downtown DC and costing $6.75. The Dulles Access Highway is restricted to airport use only, with all vehicles travelling to or from the airport on airport business.
The airport is named after John Foster Dulles, who was the Secretary of State under Dwight D. Eisenhower. It is situated in Loudoun and Fairfax counties in Northern Virginia, straddling the Loudoun-Fairfax line. Dulles lies in two unincorporated communities, Chantilly and Dulles, and is west of Herndon and southwest of Sterling.
Dulles is the busiest airport in Virginia and the busiest in the Baltimore Washington Metropolitan Area, serving over 23 million passengers a year. Daily, more than 60,000 passengers depart Washington Dulles to more than 125 destinations worldwide. It is run by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and covers an area of 11,830 acres (47.9 km2).
The airport was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy and Eisenhower on November 17, 1962, and its main terminal was designed by the Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen. It is regarded for its graceful beauty and suggestion of flight.
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Frequently asked questions
Dulles Airport, or Washington Dulles International Airport, is located in Loudoun and Fairfax counties in Northern Virginia.
Dulles Airport is located 26 miles from downtown Washington, DC.
The airport code for Dulles Airport is IAD.
To get to Dulles Airport by car, you can take the Dulles Access Highway, which is restricted to airport traffic only. Alternatively, you can take the I-66 or I-95 and follow the signs to the airport.