Top Airports in Washington, D.C.
The Washington, D.C. area features three primary airports: Dulles International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
Each airport provides a distinctly different experience regarding airlines, destinations, and their distance from downtown. Here’s a guide to help you select the best airport for your visit to Washington, D.C.
Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Dulles International Airport is the main international gateway serving Washington, D.C. In 2022, over 21 million travelers passed through its gates.
Getting to downtown DC: Location and transport options
Dulles is situated about 25 miles from downtown DC, straddling Virginia's Loudoun and Fairfax counties.
Airlines, routes, and terminals
Dulles hosts 39 airlines (including United, its main hub) that offer nonstop flights to 74 domestic and 60 international destinations. With such an extensive network, Dulles is a popular layover destination. The airport features one central terminal and five concourses. Check out this guide for the complete list of airlines at Dulles.
All five concourses are linked airside, allowing you to explore them freely once you've passed through security. However, not all concourses are directly walkable. Concourses A, B, and Z are connected by walkways, while access to Concourses C and D requires either the AeroTrain or the Mobile Lounge shuttle bus.
Dining and shopping options
Dulles offers a wide range of dining and shopping experiences. Notable restaurants include Bistro Atelier (Concourse D), Rusty Taco (Concourse D), Devil's Backbone Taproom (Concourse C), Vino Volo (Concourse B), and Chef Geoff's (Concourse C).
Shopping choices are quite typical, featuring everything from newsstands to duty-free shops and upscale boutiques, including Chanel (Concourse B), Christian Dior (Concourse B), Montblanc (Concourse B), and Tumi (Concourse B).
Airport Lounges
A Gates
Near gate A19, you'll find an Air France lounge, while a Virgin Atlantic lounge is located close to gate A32.
B Gates
Lounges for British Airways, Lufthansa, and Turkish Airlines can be found near the B gates (adjacent to the AeroTrain station, gates B49/51 and gate B43, respectively).
C and D Gates
United Airlines operates four lounges at Dulles, located near gates C4, C7, C17, and D8. Additionally, a Polaris Lounge for business-class travelers is available next to gate C18.
Main Terminal
The Capitol One Lounge is situated within the Main Terminal.
Activities to Enjoy at Dulles
- Admire the architecture. The passenger terminal at Dulles, designed by Finnish architect Eero Saarinen, stands as a symbol of midcentury design.
- Explore public art pieces through the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority's Arts Program, including Daedelus 87, a human-powered aircraft displayed outside the AeroTrain station in Concourse B.
- Take a trip to the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Although it's outside the airport, it's only a single bus stop away (catch the free Fairfax Connector No. 983 from Ground Transportation bay #5E).
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is the busiest airport in the DC region, accommodating 23.9 million passengers in 2022. Despite this remarkable traffic, Reagan mainly serves domestic flights, with only a few short-haul international routes available.
Getting to downtown DC: Location and transportation options
Reagan Airport is situated approximately 4 miles from downtown DC in Arlington, Virginia, making it the most accessible airport for the city.
Airlines, routes, and terminals
Reagan features two terminals with a total of 58 gates. The airport provides nonstop flights to 102 domestic locations and 6 international ones. It is served by eight airlines and is a hub for American Airlines.
Terminal 1
Air Canada, Frontier, Southwest
Terminal 2
American, JetBlue, Delta, United, Alaska
Dining and shopping options
Despite its relatively small size, Reagan boasts numerous restaurants and shops. Recommended dining spots include El Centro DF (C Gates), Kapnos Taverna (D Gates), Legal Sea Foods (National Hall), Matsutake Sushi (National Hall), and Reservoir (A Gates).
Shopping highlights feature Brooks Brothers (National Hall), Johnston & Murphy (National Hall), Pen & Rose Boutique (National Hall), and the Smithsonian Museum Store (National Hall).
Lounges
Reagan Airport features five airside lounges: three American Admirals Clubs, a Delta Sky Club, and a United Club, all situated in Terminal 2. Additionally, there is a USO lounge located pre-security in Terminal 1.
Activities at Reagan
- Explore public art installations throughout Reagan, which include 30 permanent pieces and two rotating exhibitions.
- If you're with children, check out the play area in National Hall, developed in partnership with the National Children's Museum.
- Watch for Honor Flight arrivals. The Honor Flight Network provides veterans with complimentary trips to Washington DC to visit their memorials, where they are welcomed and celebrated by volunteers and onlookers as they arrive at Reagan.
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport serves as the main hub for Southwest Airlines and ranks as the 22nd-busiest airport in the nation, handling 22.8 million passengers in 2022.
Getting to downtown DC: Location and transportation options
BWI is situated 31 miles from downtown DC in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Airlines, routes, and terminals
BWI features five concourses and a total of 78 gates. It is served by 18 airlines, offering nonstop flights to over 90 domestic and international destinations, including Iceland, London, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
Concourse A and B
Southwest Airlines
Concourse C
American Airlines, Contour Airlines, Southwest Airlines
Concourse D
Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, Avelo Airlines, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit, Sun Country Airlines, United Airlines
Concourse E
British Airways, Condor, Copa Airlines, Icelandair, Play, Southwest Airlines
Dining and shopping options
BWI offers a wide variety of restaurants and shops to enhance your visit. Notable dining spots include Brother's BBQ Pitstop (Main Terminal Food Court), Flying Dog Tap House (A/B Food Court), Sir Veza's (Concourse D), and Zona Cocina (near gate B4). For shopping, consider Kiehl's (BC Connector), Tumi (BC Connector), and Marshall Rousso (Concourse C).
Lounges
You'll find a landside USO Lounge in the Main Terminal, a Chesapeake Club Lounge in Concourse E, and The Club at BWI in Concourse D. Additionally, Concourse C features Minute Suites, offering a private space to unwind.
Things to do at BWI
- Stay active at Roam Fitness, an airside gym, or jog on one of the two designated one-km cardio trails winding through the concourses. For those with a long layover, consider stepping outside to enjoy some fresh air on the BWI Marshall Airport Hiker-Biker trail, which encircles the airport and spans over 10 miles.
- Explore public art installations throughout the airport. While most are located on the landside (pre-security), the D Concourse Art Gallery is airside and features local artists who celebrate aviation and exploration.
- Check out the Observation Gallery near Security Checkpoint C on the pre-security side, which offers a view of the tarmac. Here, you'll find a towering 28-foot NASA-themed rocket and a half-scale model of the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft. There's also a bistro where you can enjoy cocktails and snacks.
The best airport for flying into DC
Each of the three main airports serving Washington DC has its own advantages and disadvantages. Generally, Dulles is the top choice for international flights, Reagan offers the easiest access to downtown DC, and BWI is ideal for those traveling with Southwest. In the end, all three airports are quite accessible, so choose the one that provides the best flight options based on your destination, schedule, and budget.
For additional airport insights, explore the complete Dinogo's Airport guide.
Creating this guide
As a travel writer with nearly a decade of experience, I usually cover about 200,000 miles annually. This guide reflects my personal journeys to and through Washington, DC, along with insights and recommendations from other seasoned travelers.
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