Ruth Haines
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). Each airport has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on travellers' specific needs, such as location, transportation options, and the availability of nonstop international and domestic routes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airports in Washington DC | Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) |
| Location of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport | Washington, DC |
| Year of construction of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport | 1941 |
| Location of Washington Dulles International Airport | Dulles, Virginia |
| Year of construction of Washington Dulles International Airport | 1962 |
| Location of Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport | Baltimore, Maryland |
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What You'll Learn
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is the closest airport to downtown Washington and the inner suburbs. It is the most convenient of the three area airports for visitors staying in the city itself or in Arlington and its nearby suburbs. It is also the least busy of the three D.C. airports, offering nonstop flights to 106 destinations, primarily within the continental U.S. and a few airports in Canada and the Caribbean. However, a short runway limits the size of the aircraft that fly in and out of Reagan, meaning larger planes that can handle long-haul international routes will have to land at Dulles or Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) instead. There's also a perimeter rule, so flights beyond a 1,250-mile radius of Reagan are prohibited, save for a few exceptions.
The airport opened in 1941 and was originally named Washington National Airport. Part of the original terminal is still in use as Terminal 1. The much larger Terminal 2 opened in 1997. In 1998, Congress passed and President Bill Clinton signed a bill renaming the airport in honour of the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan, who was in office from 1981 to 1989. Opponents of the renaming argued that a large federal office building had already been named for Reagan, and that the airport was already named for George Washington, the first president of the United States.
The airport has a variety of lounges, including three American Airlines Admirals Clubs in Terminal 2, a Delta Sky Club, a United Club, and a USO lounge for retired and active military members pre-security. The airport also has a range of dining options, including Ben's Chili Bowl, a Washington, D.C. landmark, and CAVA, a fast-casual restaurant that offers a unique and flavorful Mediterranean-inspired dining experience.
The airport is accessible via its own Metro stop on the Blue and Yellow lines, with a ride to the National Mall taking less than six minutes. A taxi ride to the National Mall will cost about $15 to $20, but traffic may affect both the length and cost of the ride. Rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft are also good options to get to and from the airport. The airport has multiple garages and parking lots for those who prefer to drive.
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Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Dulles Airport is the primary international airport for the D.C. region, offering almost 157 nonstop domestic and international destinations on nearly 40 airlines. It is a major hub for United Airlines, with the majority of the market share held by United and United Express. Other airlines serving IAD focus on international or domestic routes not served by United. As of February 2025, more than 50 airlines serve the airport.
IAD ranks fourth in the US in terms of land area, and in 2024, it was the busiest airport in the Washington–Baltimore metropolitan area and the 28th busiest airport in the United States. It also has the most international passenger traffic of any airport in the Mid-Atlantic outside the New York metropolitan area, with approximately 90% of the international passenger traffic in the Baltimore–Washington region. In 2024, IAD was ranked the 11th best airport in the world by AirHelp, a passenger rights tech company, with an overall rating of 8.22 out of 10 based on on-time performance, customer opinion, and food and shops.
The airport has a wide range of dining options, including contemporary American cuisine, casual dining, and sports lounges. Bracket Room, for example, offers an extensive menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, while Commanders Burgundy and Gold Club provides a relaxing dining atmosphere with large-screen televisions for sports enthusiasts.
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Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
BWI is named after Thurgood Marshall, a Baltimore native and the first African American to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. The airport serves as one of 12 U.S.-based operating bases for Southwest Airlines. In 2023, BWI recorded 12,849,636 passenger enplanements, making it the busiest airport in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.
BWI Airport is easily accessible via MARC and Amtrak train routes, which connect to Union Station. It is also connected to the Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad line and the proposed Baltimore–Washington Parkway. In 2005, Concourses A and B were expanded and renovated to accommodate Southwest Airlines' extensive presence at the airport.
BWI offers low fares, convenient parking, and a modern terminal. The airport has grown to serve over 90 domestic and international destinations and handles more than 27 million passengers annually. In 2024, BWI ranked second in the Baltimore/Washington area for passenger traffic, just behind Washington/Dulles International Airport.
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College Park Airport (CGS)
Washington, D.C. does not have any public airports within its boundaries. However, there are several airports that serve the area, including College Park Airport (IATA: CGS). College Park Airport is located in the City of College Park, in Prince George's County, Maryland. It is the oldest continuously operated airport in the world, having been established in August 1909 by the United States Army Signal Corps to serve as a training location for Wilbur Wright to instruct two military officers to fly the government's first aeroplane. Civilian aircraft began flying from College Park Airport as early as December 1911. The airport was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and today operates as both a historic site and an airport.
College Park Airport has been the site of many "firsts" in aviation history. In 1909, Wilbur Wright taught Lieutenants Frederic Humphreys and Frank Lahm, with Humphreys becoming the first military pilot to solo in a government aeroplane. That same year, Mrs Ralph Henry Van Deman became the first woman to fly in a powered aircraft in the United States. In 1911, the nation's first military aviation school was opened at College Park, and in 1918, the first Postal Airmail Service was inaugurated, serving Philadelphia and New York City. The original airmail hangar remains at the airport today.
College Park Airport is owned and operated by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), which purchased the airport in 1973. The airport is open to visitors during normal operating hours, which are 7 am to 10 pm daily. Due to security restrictions, visitors who are not escorted by a registered pilot must provide a government-issued photo ID to access the observation deck.
The airport's operations have been severely restricted by the Transportation Security Administration since the 9/11 attacks due to its proximity to the national capital. However, civilian pilots can still use the airport after undergoing a one-time background check procedure.
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Transport options to/from Reagan Airport
Washington, D.C. does not have any public airports within its boundaries. However, there are several airports that serve Washington, D.C., including Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI).
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is the closest airport to downtown Washington and the inner suburbs. It is accessible via its own Metro stop on the Blue and Yellow lines, with a ride to the National Mall taking less than six minutes. A taxi ride to the National Mall will cost about $15 to $20, but there will be a lot of traffic during rush hour. An Uber or Lyft ride will cost around $50. Ride App Pickup and off-airport shuttles are also available from the airport. Reagan Airport has multiple garages and parking lots for those who prefer to drive.
The airport is also accessible by bus, with a journey to the Metro's Silver Line at Wiehle-Reston East costing about $4 to $7 and taking about 55 minutes.
GO The Airport Shuttle offers shuttle services to and from Reagan Airport, including private van and sedan services.
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Frequently asked questions
There are three major airports in the Washington, DC region: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI).
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is the largest airport in Washington DC. It is the principal airport in the city and also acts as a hub for United Airlines.
Reagan Airport is the closest airport to downtown Washington and its inner suburbs. It is accessible via the Blue and Yellow lines of the Metro, the city's subway system.
Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) is the busiest airport serving the National Capital Region. It serves travellers from northeastern American cities like Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Richmond.
Local favourites at Reagan Airport include Good Stuff Eatery, CAVA, and the legendary Ben's Chili Bowl.
