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Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is located in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. It was built over the Blue Ridge Airport, which was Loudoun County's first official airport. The airport is one of the busiest in the world, with nonstop flights offered by 46 airlines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Washington Dulles International Airport |
| Former Name | Dulles International Airport |
| Airport Code | IAD |
| Location | Outside Washington, D.C. |
| Address | Dulles Airport, Dulles Access Highway, Virginia |
| Nearest Metro Station | Silver Line trains |
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What You'll Learn
Washington Dulles International Airport's address
Washington Dulles International Airport is located in Virginia, outside Washington, D.C. The airport's address is 1 Saarinen Circle, Dulles, VA 20166, USA.
The airport is named after John Foster Dulles, who was the 52nd US Secretary of State. It was originally called Dulles International Airport but was renamed in 1984 to include the city of Washington. The airport is a major hub for international travel, serving the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia regions.
The airport is located about 26 miles (42 km) west of downtown Washington, D.C. To get to the airport by car from Washington, D.C., one can take the Dulles Access Highway, which is restricted to airport traffic only. From I-66, take exit 67 and follow the signs to the airport. Alternatively, one can go south on I-95 to exit 27 (I-495 West), and then follow the signs to the airport.
The airport is also accessible by public transportation. The Silver Line of the Metrorail system serves the airport, with a transfer to the Blue Line at Reagan National Airport (DCA). For those travelling by bus, the Washington Flyer Coach provides service between the airport and Washington, D.C.
Washington Dulles International Airport is a busy airport, serving as a hub for several major airlines. The airport has a unique design, with a hanging roof suspended from diagonal supports, and is known for its graceful beauty.
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Directions to the airport
Washington Dulles International Airport is located in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States, outside Washington, D.C. The airport was built over the Blue Ridge Airport, which was Loudoun County's first official airport.
If you are using a GPS device, you can simply enter "Dulles Airport" as your destination. If your device does not recognize the location, you can use the airport's physical street address, which can be found on its website.
When travelling to the airport by car, there are several routes you can take, depending on your direction of arrival. If you are coming from the west, take the I-66 to exit 67 (VA-267 W - Dulles Airport/I-495 N/Baltimore). From there, follow the signs to the airport, which is approximately 16 miles from exit 67.
If you are coming from the south, take the I-95 to exit 27 (I 495 West - "Capital Beltway") and then take exit 45A. Follow the signs to the airport, which is approximately 13 miles from this exit.
For those travelling from the north, take the I-95 to exit 170B (I 495 North - "Capital Beltway" in the direction of Tysons Corner), and then take exit 45.
Another option is to take the I-81 north to I-66 East. Follow the I-66 East to exit 53 (Route 28 North). From there, follow Route 28 directly to the airport.
It is important to note that the Dulles Access Highway is restricted to airport use only, and all vehicles travelling on this road must be going to or coming from Dulles Airport on airport business.
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The airport's history
Washington Dulles International Airport is located in Dulles, Loudoun County, Virginia. The airport is named after the late Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles. It is one of three major airports serving the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area.
The Airports History
Dulles International Airport was built over the lesser-known Blue Ridge Airport, Loudoun County's first official airport, which was chartered in 1938. Construction of Dulles began on September 2, 1958, and it opened four years later in 1962. The airport was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy and former President Dwight D. Eisenhower on November 17, 1962. An Eastern Airlines Super Electra, flying from Newark, New Jersey, was the first commercial aircraft to land at the airport.
The main terminal, designed in 1958 by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, is renowned for its graceful beauty and is suggestive of flight. The terminal was a compact, two-level structure, 600 feet long and 200 feet wide. It was built without extensions onto the airfield for aircraft loading but was designed to be expanded, which it was, 34 years later, in 1996. The terminal features a distinctive 193-foot-high, glass-enclosed control tower cab. When it opened, the airport had three long runways and one shorter one.
The airport was one of the first in the country to adopt the Accelerated Inspection System. By 1985, the original design, featuring mobile lounges, was no longer suitable for Dulles's role as a hub airport, and so midfield concourses were constructed. The first expansion was completed in November 1977, with the widening of the jet parking ramp. In 1982, new passenger waiting areas were added to the upper level, and a new baggage area was added below. Midfield Concourses C and D, five cargo buildings, a hotel, and economy parking lots were also added through the 1980s. The terminal was expanded again in 1996, in accordance with the original Saarinen design.
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The airport's terminal complex
The terminal complex at Dulles International Airport consists of the Main Terminal, which includes four of the original gates, known as the "Z" Gates. There are also two parallel midfield terminal buildings: Concourses A/B and Concourses C/D. The entire complex has a total of 139 gates, 123 of which have jetways, and 16 are hardstand locations where passengers can board or disembark using the airport's plane mate vehicles.
Dulles is one of the few remaining airports to utilize mobile lounges (also known as "plane mates" or "people movers"). These are now only used for transport to the International Arrivals Building and Concourse D. An expansion of Concourse B, used by many low-cost airlines and international arrivals, has been completed. The building housing Concourses C and D will be knocked down to make room for a more ergonomic building.
The airport was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen and is highly regarded for its graceful beauty and suggestive form. The main terminal was conceived in early planning sessions in 1959, with the airport opening in 1962. The airport was originally named Dulles International Airport, but its name was changed in 1984 to Washington Dulles International Airport.
The airport is located outside Washington, D.C., and can be reached by going west on I-66 to exit 67 (VA-267 W - Dulles Airport/I-495 N/Baltimore). Follow the signs to the airport, approximately 16 miles from exit 67. The Dulles Access Highway is restricted to airport use only.
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The airport's unique architectural design
Washington Dulles International Airport is located 26 miles west of the central business district of Washington, D.C., in Chantilly, Virginia. The airport is named after John Foster Dulles, who was Secretary of State under President Eisenhower.
The airport's main terminal is an iconic example of mid-century architecture in civil design. Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, known for his innovative and sculptural forms, designed the terminal to be suggestive of flight. The main terminal, completed in 1962, resembles a curved wing, with slender concrete pylons lifting it up between walls of glass. Saarinen described the structure as "a strong form between earth and sky that seems both to rise from the plain and hover over it".
Saarinen's design revolutionised airport movement by incorporating mobile lounges, or "people movers", which allowed passengers to be transported directly from the terminal to the aircraft. This design eliminated the need for multiple gates that typically cluttered terminals. The main terminal was also reconfigured, with additions made to both ends, doubling the structure's length.
The terminal's entrance was designed to stand out against the repetitive structure, providing graceful access to the building for automobiles and pedestrians. The overall elliptical form of the building was a contribution by Kevin Roche, who worked in Saarinen's office during the project.
Although Saarinen did not live to see the completion of the terminal, his vision for the airport's future was maintained through subsequent expansions. The airport authority chose not to incorporate large parking structures that would obscure the terminal's facade, preserving Saarinen's original intent through the transformations required over the decades.
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Frequently asked questions
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is located in Sterling, Virginia.
The address is 1 Saarinen Circle, Sterling, VA 20166, US.
The Dulles Access Highway is restricted to airport traffic only. To get to the airport, you can go north on I-81 to I-66 East, and follow I-66 East to exit 53 (Rt. 28 North). Then, follow Route 28 to the airport.
Yes, the airport is served by Metrorail, taxi, and rideshare services (Uber/Lyft). The Silver Line train connects to the Blue Line train, which serves Reagan National Airport (DCA).
Dulles International Airport is known for its unique architectural design, including its main terminal designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen. The terminal has a graceful beauty suggestive of flight and is regarded as an iconic feature of the airport.
