What is the airport code for Washington DC

What is the airport code for Washington DC

Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC

Image by amtrak.com

 

*Vacation Mode is a for-profit site. It contains paid banner advertisements that are generated and managed by a third-party network. This site also includes relevant affiliate links (both in the content and on the sidebar) all of which we do our best to clearly mark as such.

 

What are the airport codes for Washington DC?

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (IATA code: DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IATA code: IAD), and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport are the three main airports in the Washington, DC area (airport code: BWI).

Best D.C. Airports, Advice by Locals

Reagan National Airport, Washington DC
Image by flyreagan.com

 

Dulles International Airport, Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Ronald Reagan National Airport, and others are all within driving distance of Washington, DC. What's more, which airport is the greatest option for visitors?

Consider location, affordability, the convenience of travel, and accessibility to major attractions when deciding which airport is best for you.

As a person who was born in Washington, DC and grew up in this area, all three airports are worth flying into.  Reagan National Airport is the closest.  It is right across the Potomac River from Washington, DC.  That is the only advantage.  All three airports are at the top of all airports in the United States.  You can't go wrong flying into any of them.  All provide transportation into Washington, DC and provide all and any information needed to make the most of a stay in the nation's capital.

DCA vs. BWI vs. Dulles

Washington, DC is served by three airports: Reagan National Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport. Each has a diverse set of services and amenities, making it difficult to decide which is best for your trip.

In addition to domestic and international flights, Reagan National Airport is located just outside the city boundaries and serves both. Even though it's the closest airport to the heart of Washington D.C., there are no flights from here to New York.

The major airport in Maryland and Virginia is Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Washington D.C.'s busiest station is located about 15 miles south of the city center and provides direct service to major cities across the country.

The second busiest airport in the United States, Dulles is home to more than 100 million passengers annually. There are direct flights to over 100 destinations from the airport, which is located 30 miles north of Washington, D.C.

What is the Closest Airport to Washington, D.C.?

 Ronald Reagan National Airport is the closest of the three airports servicing Washington, DC.  Reagan National is located in Arlington, VA, directly across the Potomac River in plain view from the nation's capital.

Where Are D.C. Airports Located?

Located just outside of Sterling, Virginia, Dulles International Airport serves United and US Airways. Arlington County, Virginia's Reagan National Airport is served by American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and Virgin America.

The District of Columbia also has a number of smaller regional airports. BWI (Baltimore–Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport); RDU (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport); and WAS (Washington–National Capital Regional Airport) are three examples.

Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Dulles International Airport
Image by mwaa.com

 

Dulles International Airport in Virginia is the state's busiest international gateway. Travellers can choose from more than 100 places across the world, including London, Paris, Tokyo, and Hong Kong.

While travelling into Washington D.C., visitors can easily explore the city from Dulles, which is located just outside of the city. Terminals B, C, and E are all located at Dulles Airport. Before booking a flight, it's crucial to extensively examine each terminal's amenities and services.

Terminal B houses American Airlines, Delta Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and US Airways. There is a big food court, stores, restaurants, bars, and lounges in Terminal B, which is just opposite to the main entrance. Shuttle buses connect arriving passengers with other domestic airlines.

Terminal C houses Alaska Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and Virgin America. Passengers that arrive here can walk directly to their connecting flight's gate from the baggage claim area. Between Terminals B and C, there are frequent shuttle bus services.

Passengers can fly to and from Qatar and Turkey from Terminal E on Allegiant, British Airways, Continental, Icelandair and Lufthansa. Passengers that arrive at this location will be able to drive right to the gate from the parking garage exit. From Terminals B and C to Terminal E, shuttle buses are available on a regular basis.

Terminal E is home to Allegiant, British Airways, Continental, Icelandair, Lufthansa, Qatar, and Turkish Airlines. Located near the parking garage exit, passengers arriving here can drive straight to the gate. Shuttle buses run frequently from Terminals B and C to Terminal E.

Thurgood Marshall Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)

BWI Airport
Image by hexagonsafetyinfrastructure.com

 

Known as BWI or Thurgood Marshall Airport, Baltimore-Washington International Airport (IATA: BWI; ICAO: KBWI) is a US airport in Maryland, about 10 miles (16 kilometres) southeast of Baltimore's downtown.

Thurgood Marshall, a prominent civil rights lawyer who was born and raised in Baltimore's Roland Park neighborhood, was the inspiration for the area's moniker. He went on to become the first African-American Supreme Court justice after his appointment. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority owns and operates the 1931-built airport.

The airport has two runways, 14R/32L and 14L/32R, each measuring 2,439 meters in length (1,983 m). Terminal A, C, D, E, and F are the five terminals.

Terminal A is used by Delta, Northwest, and United Airlines. Terminal B serves American Eagle, Continental Express, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and Virgin America. At Terminal C, you can catch a flight with one of the following airlines: Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, American Airlines, Cape Air; Horizon Air; Mesa; Piedmont; Republic; SkyWest; Spirit; Trans States; and Transat. Terminal D is used by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, among other carriers. Terminal E is used by American Airlines, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, and United Airlines, among other airlines. Terminal F is used by American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines, among other airlines.

Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit and Houston are just a few of the more than 100 daily departures from BWI to major destinations across the United States and around the world.

Beyond commercial flights, BWI offers nonstop service to Maryland's major cities, including the capital city of Annapolis as well as Baltimore and Frederick. It also flies nonstop to Ocean City and Salisbury.

Beyond commercial flights, BWI offers nonstop service to Maryland's major cities, including the capital city of Annapolis as well as Baltimore and Frederick. It also flies nonstop to Ocean City and Salisbury.

Amtrak's Northeast Regional train line stops at Baltimore Penn Station, while MARC commuter rail lines link to Washington, D.C.'s Union Station and other locations in Maryland.

Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)

Reagan National Airport, Washington DC
Image by fordav.com

 

Visitors can fly into Ronald Reagan National Airport, which lies just outside of Washington, D.C. Reagan International Airport is named in honor of President Reagan, who served as president from 1981 to 1987.

With two terminals, the airport has excellent parking options. Among the cities served by Terminal B's direct flights are Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Atlanta, and Miami. Direct flights to cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Dallas, Phoenix, Houston, Minneapolis, and more are available from Terminal C, among other airports.

Travelers should weigh the convenience of Terminal B versus Terminal C's distance from downtown Washington D.C. when deciding on which terminal to use. Shopping, dining, and drinking establishments can be found in both terminals. Hotel options include Embassy Suites, Hilton Garden Inn and Holiday Inn Express as well as a number of other hotels within a few miles of the airport.

Does the Metro connect with the D.C. Airport?

The metro system in Washington, D.C. provides convenient access to Reagan National Airport. The Red Line, Blue Line, and Orange Line are all distinct. There are various stations where it is feasible to switch between the three lines.

By metro, follow signs to "Airport Station," then exit and turn left onto a walkway that takes you directly to the airport. The baggage claim area is simply a short walk away from here.

How Long Does It Take to Get from DCA to D.C.

Baltimore–Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is the nearest international airport to D.C. for those who prefer to fly into the city (BWI). Direct flights from BWI to London, Paris, Frankfurt, Toronto, and New York City are available.

It takes about 30 minutes to go from DCA to DIA. Taking the Metro to Greenbelt and then the Red Line rail to Union Station will get you to BWI in no time. Visitors can take the Blue Line to BWI from New York's Union Station.

Visitors who prefer to travel by car can do so by following the signs to either Virginia or Washington, DC. About 20 minutes separates DCA from DVA.

Train from BWI to Washington, D.C.

Union Station
Image by amtrak.com

 

In addition to BWI Airport, Amtrak provides service to and from Ronald Reagan National Airport. Direct train service to Union Station in downtown Washington, D.C. is available from both airports. Other public transit options, such as Metro, MARTA, and VRE, are accessible from there.

In Washington, D.C., Greyhound provides bus service from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Union Station, where it connects passengers to other areas in the city. At both airports, you can hail a cab, and the cost varies based on where you hail it from.

Transportation to Dulles

Even the most outlying metro stops in Northern Virginia are not within walking distance of Dulles International Airport, which is situated approximately 26 miles outside of the city limits of the District of Columbia and is inaccessible through public transportation. As a direct consequence of this, it is significantly closer to the gently sloping farmlands of Leesburg, Virginia, than it is to the nation's capital. If you want to drive to your destination within the District, it will take you anything from thirty minutes to an hour to get there, but the exact time will be determined by where exactly in the District you want to go. There is a chance that a cab ride could cost as much as sixty dollars for only one way.

Even while things are looking up, relying on public transit is still not the best choice at this time. In 2009, construction on the Silver Line was started by Metro, with the intention of expanding metro rail service from the suburbs of Northern Virginia all the way out to Dulles International Airport. The extension has been completed, and it is predicted that passenger service will begin as soon as 2022 at the earliest. Until that time comes, you can wait in Reston by taking a shuttle for a fee of five dollars from the point where the line now ends. It is possible to finish this journey in as little as an hour and a half, but doing so will save you a significant amount of money compared to hiring a taxi from Washington, DC.

Transportation to BWI

Train travel is highly recommended both to and from BWI Airport. Amtrak trains go between 20 and 30 minutes and cost over $16 whereas MARC trains take 35 minutes and cost only $7. Travellers can board either train at Union Station (one way). These run from 3:30 in the morning till 12:30 in the night. Take a train, either a MARC or an Amtrak, in order to reach the central business district of Baltimore.

Other modes of transportation are neither as quick nor as cost-effective. Shuttles, taxis, and Ubers will get you to downtown Washington, DC from BWI Airport in roughly an hour. You should budget between $40 and $90 for a ride in a cab or Uber and $37 per person for the shuttle service.

Transportation to Reagan National

The distance between Reagan and Washington, DC is significantly shorter than that between Dulles and BWI. Even though it is in the city of Arlington, Virginia, and not in the District of Columbia proper, it is only a short distance away. Because of this, getting there is as simple as taking a quick cab or Uber journey that won't break the bank or hopping on the metro, which stops right at the airport. Even late-night arrivals are able to take advantage of the convenience offered by the Metro trains because they operate until 11:30 p.m. during the week and 1:00 a.m. on weekends.

 Conclusion

In conclusion, there are 3 airports that service Washington, DC:  Reagan National, BWI and Dulles.  Their codes are IAD, BWI and DCA.  All can provide what you are needed to reach the capital city of our nation.

 

 

Add new comment

Restricted HTML

  • You can align images (data-align="center"), but also videos, blockquotes, and so on.
  • You can caption images (data-caption="Text"), but also videos, blockquotes, and so on.
CAPTCHA This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
2 + 11 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.

Newsletter sign up

Join our mailing list and get a complementary stay in Mexico.  Get weekly emails with the latest travel deals you can't find anywhere else.
* indicates required