Owais Crawford
Baltimore is served by several airports in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. The Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, commonly known as BWI Marshall Airport, is the largest and busiest airport in the region. It is located just 9 miles south of downtown Baltimore and serves as a major gateway for travellers to the city. In addition to BWI, there are several other airports in the vicinity, including Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport, both in Virginia, and smaller airports such as Martin State Airport and Tipton Airport. Each airport offers varying distances from Baltimore and provides travellers with different options depending on their specific needs and destinations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airports in the Baltimore area | Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Martin State Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, Harrisburg International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, Tipton Airport, Lee Airport, College Park Airport, Carroll County Regional Airport, Phillips Army Airfield, Buzzards Pt Sea Plane Base Anc. Rvr Dc, Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility, Andrews Air Force Base, Montgomery County Airpark |
| Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) location | 9 miles south of downtown Baltimore, 32 miles northeast of Washington, D.C. |
| BWI annual travellers | 26-27 million |
| BWI ranking | Ranked #10 Best Airport in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler |
| BWI concourses | 5 concourses with 78 gates |
| BWI runway | Runway 15R/33L: 9,501 ft x 150 ft, Runway 15L/33R: 5,000 ft x 100 ft |
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What You'll Learn
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
The airport is named after Thurgood Marshall, a Baltimore native and the first African American to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. It is also referred to as BWI Airport or BWI Marshall Airport. BWI is known for its low fares, convenient parking, modern terminal, and easy accessibility.
BWI offers more than 700 daily domestic and international flights, serving over 75 cities nonstop. In 2023, the airport recorded 12,849,636 passenger enplanements, making it the busiest airport in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. BWI also ranked second in the region in 2024, serving 27.06 million passengers.
The airport has undergone several expansions and renovations to accommodate its growing passenger traffic. In 2005, Concourses A and B were expanded and renovated to house Southwest Airlines' major operating base at the airport. In 2018, construction began on a $60 million expansion of Terminal A, adding five gates for Southwest Airlines. In October 2022, a proposed renovation and expansion project was announced, described as the "largest capital project in the history of BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport".
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Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
The airport first opened in 1941 and was originally named Washington National Airport. Part of the original terminal remains in use today as Terminal 1, while the much larger Terminal 2 opened in 1997. In February 1998, President Bill Clinton signed a bill to rename the airport in honour of Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, who served from 1981 to 1989. The bill was drafted against the wishes of MWAA officials and political leaders in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., as a large federal building already bore Reagan's name.
The airport has experienced some notable incidents in recent years, including a near mid-air collision between a military jet and a Delta Air Lines plane in March 2025. Additionally, two American Eagle regional jets clipped wings while taxiing in April 2025, and an employee was arrested following a fight in the airport's air traffic tower, leading to scrutiny of the situation within the tower.
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Washington Dulles International Airport
The airport is named after John Foster Dulles, who was Secretary of State under President Eisenhower. It was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy and Eisenhower on November 17, 1962. The airport's main terminal was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen and is renowned for its graceful beauty and suggestive shape of flight. The terminal has since been expanded, more than doubling its original length, and a new security mezzanine has been added to accommodate more passengers.
The airport offers a range of dining options, including the Bracket Room, an upscale sports lounge and eatery, and the Commanders Burgundy and Gold Club, which offers a relaxing dining atmosphere with large-screen televisions for sports enthusiasts. The airport is served by the AeroTrain system, developed by Mitsubishi, which transports passengers between the concourses and the main terminal efficiently.
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Martin State Airport
Baltimore is served by several airports, including Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport. However, this response will focus on Martin State Airport, which is located approximately 21 miles from Baltimore, Maryland, in the Middle River area of Baltimore County.
In recent news, the Maryland Board of Public Works approved a $22.2 million construction contract for a new air traffic control tower at Martin State Airport. This modern tower will incorporate advanced technology and safety features, enhancing visibility and communication for air traffic controllers. The new tower will replace the existing facility, which has been in use for over 80 years, and is designed to support the airport's growth and improve aviation safety and efficiency.
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Tipton Airport
Baltimore is served by several airports in the surrounding area, including Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport.
The airport's current FBO hours are as follows:
- Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday: 8:30 am-6:00 pm
- Thursday and Friday: 8:30 am-4:00 pm
- Saturday: TBD
- Sunday: 8:30 am-6:00 pm
All visitors are required to check in with the operations staff during their stay. After hours, visitors can sign the registration log in the flight planning room. Fuel at the airport is self-serve, with low lead costing $5.51 per gallon and JetA $4.30 per gallon.
Directions to the airport from the Baltimore Beltway involve taking the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (MD Rt. 295) South towards Washington and exiting on MD Rt. 32 East towards Fort Meade. Once you reach MD Rt.198, take MD Rt. 198 South towards Laurel and follow the airport signs. Turn left at the stop sign and proceed past the FBO to Hanger 80.
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Frequently asked questions
The Baltimore–Washington Metropolitan Area is served by three major airports: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is the closest airport to Baltimore, located just 9 miles south of downtown Baltimore.
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is the busiest airport in the Baltimore area, serving over 27 million passengers.
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) has been ranked as one of the top 10 best airports in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler.
