Roberta Aguirre
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (IATA: DCA, ICAO: KDCA, FAA LID: DCA) is a public airport located in Arlington County, Virginia, United States. It is situated about 5 miles (8 kilometres) from Washington, D.C., making it the closest airport to the nation's capital. The airport first opened in 1941 under the name Washington National Airport and was later 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 | 2401 Smith Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22202, Virginia, United States |
| Year opened | 1941 |
| Number of terminals | 2 |
| Number of gates | 58 or 59 |
| Number of runways | 3 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The airport's address
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (IATA: DCA, ICAO: KDCA, FAA LID: DCA) is located in Arlington County, Virginia, in the United States. The airport's address is 2401 Smith Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22202.
The airport is situated about five miles (eight kilometres) from Washington, D.C., and is the closest airport to the nation's capital. It is one of two airports serving the Washington metropolitan area that are owned by the federal government and run by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). The other airport is Dulles International Airport (IAD), situated about 25 miles (40 km) west of DCA in Fairfax and Loudoun counties.
DCA is easily accessible from various locations:
- From Richmond and Points South in Virginia: I-95 North to I-395 North. Take exit 10 (GW Parkway South) and then the Airport Exit.
- From Manassas and Points West in Virginia: I-66 East; Route 110 South to Route 1 South; then take the Airport Exit.
- From Baltimore and Prince George's County in Maryland: I-95 South over Woodrow Wilson Bridge; Route 1 North; then take the Airport Exit.
- From Frederick & Montgomery Counties in Maryland: I-270 South/ Washington, DC to I-495 South/ Northern Virginia; GW Parkway South; and then take the Airport Exit.
- From Washington, DC: I-395 South; GW Parkway South; and then take the Airport Exit.
The airport is also well-connected to the Metrorail public transportation system and public parking garages via two enclosed pedestrian bridges.
Explore Changi: Activities at Singapore's ORD Airport
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Driving directions
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is located in Arlington County, Virginia, about five miles from Washington, D.C.
When using a GPS device or mapping websites, input "Reagan National Airport" as your destination. If that doesn't work, try the airport's geographical address: 2401 Smith Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22202.
- From Richmond and Points South: Take I-95 North to I-395 North. Take exit 10 (GW Parkway South) and then the airport exit.
- From Manassas and Points West: Take I-66 East, then Route 110 South to Route 1 South. Take the airport exit.
- From Baltimore and Prince George's County, Maryland: Take I-95 South over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, then Route 1 North. Take the airport exit.
- From Frederick and Montgomery Counties, Maryland: Take I-270 South to Washington, DC, then I-495 South towards Northern Virginia. Take the George Washington Memorial Parkway South and take the airport exit.
- From Washington, DC: Take I-395 South, then the George Washington Memorial Parkway South. Take the airport exit.
Vegas Airport: A Haven for Lucky Winners?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Public transport options
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is a public airport in Arlington County, Virginia, United States, just five miles from Washington, D.C. It is the closest airport to the nation's capital.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is connected directly to Metro's Yellow and Blue Lines. Follow the signs to the covered walkways and into the station. The nearest metro station is the Pentagon City Metrorail Station, which is a 21-minute walk from the airport. The METRORAIL YELLOW LINE is the first metro that arrives at the airport, stopping nearby at 5:13 AM. The METRORAIL BLUE LINE is the last metro, stopping by at 12:25 AM.
The nearest train station to the airport is Crystal City, an 18-minute walk away. The first train to arrive at the airport is the MANASSAS LINE, stopping by at 6:04 AM. This is also the last train, leaving at 12:25 AM.
You can also take a shuttle from the airport to the MARC rail station and take the MARC train to Union Station. From there, transfer to Metro's Red Line.
The following bus lines stop near the airport: 23B, 43, 482, 598.
Apps such as Moovit can help you navigate public transport to and from the airport.
Airports: Christmas Trees and Security Concerns
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![National Geographic Road Atlas 2026: Adventure Edition [United States, Canada, Mexico]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81rRihqWqgL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
![National Geographic Road Atlas 2026: Scenic Drives Edition [United States, Canada, Mexico]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/814R4OsGtCL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Terminals and gates
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) has two terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Terminal 1 is the smaller of the two, with nine gates numbered A1 to A9. It serves airlines such as Air Canada Express, Frontier, and Southwest. Terminal 1 opened in 1941 and was originally called Terminal A. The first major expansion was completed in November 1950, adding 25,110 square feet of space.
Terminal 2 is the newer and larger terminal, with 50 or 49 gates across four concourses: Concourse B, Concourse C, Concourse D, and Concourse E. Concourse B serves Alaska Airlines, Delta, and United; Concourse C serves American and JetBlue; and Concourses D and E cater exclusively to American. Terminal 2 opened in 1997, replacing a collection of airline-specific terminals built during the 1960s. It was designed by architect Cesar Pelli and has 1 million square feet of floor space spread over three levels.
Concourse B in Terminal 2 has gates B10 to B22, Concourse C has gates C23 to C34, Concourse D has gates D35 to D45, and Concourse E has gates E46 to E59. The corridor connecting the four concourses of Terminal 2 is known as National Hall, which offers various restaurants, cafes, and fast food options. Terminal 2 also provides 100 ticket counters, 12 baggage claims, and four piers where airline gates are located.
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 59 or 60. This project, officially called Project Journey, was completed in April 2021. In addition, higher-capacity security checkpoints were built in two new buildings to the west of National Hall, allowing passengers to walk between concourses without re-clearing security.
Bali's Dual Airport System: Navigating Indonesia's Travel Hub
You may want to see also
Explore related products
History
The 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 serving the Washington metropolitan area that are owned by the federal government and operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). The other is the Dulles International Airport, located about 25 miles away.
The site of the airport, known as Gravelly Point, has a rich history dating back to colonial days. In 1746, Captain John Alexander built a home called "Abingdon" on the land. The house was purchased in 1778 by John Parke Custis, the adopted stepson of President George Washington, and it served as the birthplace of Washington's granddaughter, Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis. Abingdon was destroyed by fire in 1930, and its remnants were preserved and stabilised by the Airports Authority in 1998. An exhibit of artifacts from the site can now be found in Terminal A.
The need for a new airport in the National Capital area was recognised as early as the 1920s, with Hoover Field and Washington Airport, two privately operated fields, opening their doors in 1926 and 1927 respectively. However, it was not until the passing of the 1938 Civil Aeronautics Act that the federal government was authorised to build and operate an airport, resulting in the development of what is now known as the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The airport was designed by Howard L. Cheney and Charles M. Goodman, with construction beginning in 1938. The terminal building's design was intended to honour the classical architecture of the Nation's Capital and the colonial history of the site, featuring an observation terrace offering spectacular views of the airfield.
The airport, originally named the National Airport, opened for business on June 16, 1941, with President Roosevelt in attendance at the opening ceremony. In 1997, a new terminal complex, Terminal 2, was added, designed by Argentine architect César Pelli. Pelli's design included a large window overlooking airport operations and the Washington, D.C. skyline, adorned with 54 "Jeffersonian" domes that established a connection with the region's architecture.
In 1998, Congress passed a bill to rename the airport in honour of the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. Despite the official name change, many people continue to refer to the airport as "National" or "DCA", with only 31% of people surveyed in 2015 using the name "Reagan" and 12% using "Reagan National".
European Airports: Understanding Liquid Restrictions
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is located in Arlington County, Virginia, United States.
The address is 2401 Smith Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22202.
The airport is located about five miles (eight kilometres) from Washington, D.C.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is the closest airport to the nation's capital.
The airport opened in 1941 as Washington National Airport.
