The VisitDCNow Journal · Getting there
DCA vs IAD vs BWI: How to Get to Downtown DC from Every Airport (2026)
Three airports serve Washington, DC — and picking the wrong transfer can cost you an hour and $60. Here is every real option from each airport in 2026: Metro fares, train times, taxi and rideshare prices, and an honest verdict on which airport you should actually fly into.
Which airport should you fly into?
Quick version: DCA (Ronald Reagan Washington National) is 4 miles from downtown and on the Metro — always pick it if the price is close. IAD (Washington Dulles International) is 26 miles out in Virginia and handles most international and long-haul flights; the Silver Line Metro now reaches it. BWI (Baltimore/Washington International) is 32 miles northeast in Maryland and is the budget play — Southwest’s hub, often the cheapest fare, with a $8 MARC train into the city. The right airport is usually the one with the cheapest total trip: fare + transfer cost + transfer time.
From DCA (Reagan National): the easy one
DCA is the airport every DC traveler wishes they were flying into. It sits right across the Potomac in Arlington, and the Metro station is effectively attached to the terminals.
- Metro (Yellow/Blue lines) — about $2–$3.50, 15–20 minutes: the DCA station sits between Terminals B and C, connected by covered walkways; a shuttle bus links Terminal A. Take the Yellow line toward Huntington or the Blue toward Franconia-Springfield — both reach downtown (L’Enfant Plaza and Metro Center; Yellow also reaches Gallery Place) in about 15–20 minutes. This is the best option for nearly everyone.
- Taxi — about $20–$25 to downtown: the taxi stand is right outside baggage claim; the ride is 10–15 minutes outside rush hour. Worth it if you have heavy bags or land after the Metro winds down.
- Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) — about $20–$35: pick up at the designated zones; prices spike during rush hour and bad weather.
Verdict: take the Metro. It is faster than driving during rush hour, costs less than a coffee, and drops you in the middle of downtown.
From IAD (Dulles): the long one, now with a train
Dulles is 26 miles west in Virginia. The game-changer: the Silver Line extension reaches the airport’s own station, connected to the main terminal by a covered walkway — the old $7.50 5A express bus is gone, replaced by the train.
- Metro (Silver Line) — up to $6.75 (weekday peak; a flat $2.25–$2.50 late nights and weekends), about 55–60 minutes: the Dulles station is at the terminal. Ride east toward Largo; you will reach Metro Center in about an hour. It is slow but simple, cheap, and immune to traffic. Best for: solo travelers, light packers, and anyone landing outside rush hour.
- Washington Flyer taxi — about $65–$75 to downtown: the airport’s exclusive taxi service, with a staffed stand outside baggage claim. 30–60 minutes depending on traffic; the flat-ish regulated fare means no meter anxiety.
- Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) — about $50–$70: usually cheaper than the taxi, but surge pricing during peak arrival banks can erase the difference.
- Shared shuttles and hotel shuttles: several private shuttle companies serve Dulles; check yours in advance — curbside “shared ride” touts are not the same thing.
Verdict: the Silver Line if you are traveling light and time-rich; a taxi or rideshare if there are two or more of you (split the fare and it beats two train tickets on value-per-minute).
From BWI: the budget airport with a train trick
BWI is 32 miles northeast — technically Baltimore’s airport — but it is often the cheapest way to fly into the DC area, and the rail connection is better than most travelers realize. The key: the train station is not at the terminal.
- MARC Penn Line — $8, about 35 minutes to Union Station: take the free shuttle bus from the terminal to BWI Rail Station (runs every ~10 minutes, about a 10-minute ride), then the MARC train straight to Union Station in the heart of DC. This is the best-value airport transfer in the region. Caveats: MARC runs limited service on weekends and stops running by late evening — check the schedule before you count on it.
- Amtrak — about $15–$30+, about 30 minutes: same BWI Rail Station, same free shuttle, faster trains and more daily departures than MARC — including late-night options MARC doesn’t have. Book in advance for the lower fares.
- B30 bus note: the B30 express bus to Greenbelt Metro was discontinued in 2020 and never restored — so the MARC/Amtrak rail shuttle option above is now the cheapest rail-connected way into the city.
- Rideshare/taxi — about $60–$90: 35–60 minutes depending on I-95 and Baltimore-Washington Parkway traffic, which can be brutal at rush hour.
Verdict: MARC (or Amtrak after hours) via the free shuttle is the move — $8 and 35 minutes to Union Station beats every other option on value. Only rideshare if you land when the trains aren’t running.
Side-by-side comparison
| Airport | Distance to downtown | Cheapest transfer | Fastest transfer | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DCA | 4 miles | Metro ~$2–3.50 (15–20 min) | Taxi ~$20–25 (10–15 min) | Domestic trips, short stays |
| IAD | 26 miles | Silver Line ~$6 (~60 min) | Taxi/rideshare $50–75 (30–60 min) | International & long-haul |
| BWI | 32 miles | MARC $8 (~45 min incl. shuttle) | Amtrak $15–30+ (~40 min incl. shuttle) | Budget fares (Southwest) |
Late-night arrivals: read this before you book
The Metro stops running around midnight (about 2am on Friday and Saturday nights), and the MARC train to BWI winds down by late evening. If your flight lands after 11pm:
- From DCA: a taxi or rideshare ($20–$35) — short, cheap, no problem.
- From IAD: pre-book or grab a Washington Flyer taxi on weeknights — the Silver Line stops around midnight; on Friday and Saturday nights it runs until about 2am. Rideshare surge at midnight arrivals is real.
- From BWI: Amtrak runs later than MARC — check the last departure when you book. Otherwise it is a $60–$90 rideshare.
General rule: the later you land, the more DCA is worth. A $40 fare difference disappears fast when the alternative is an $80 midnight rideshare from Dulles.
So which airport wins?
- Fly DCA if the fare is within ~$50 of the alternatives — the transfer is so cheap and fast it pays for itself.
- Fly IAD for international flights and when it is significantly cheaper — the Silver Line makes it painless if you are not in a hurry.
- Fly BWI when Southwest or a budget fare saves you real money — then take the $8 MARC train like a local.
Whichever you choose, pair it with a hotel near a Metro station — see where to stay in DC — and budget the transfer into your trip math with our DC trip cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which Washington, DC airport is closest to downtown?
DCA (Reagan National) — about 4 miles from downtown, with a Metro station at the terminals. IAD (Dulles) is about 26 miles west; BWI is about 32 miles northeast.
What is the cheapest way to get from Dulles Airport to downtown DC?
The Silver Line Metro: up to about $6 from the Dulles station (connected to the terminal) to Metro Center, roughly 60 minutes. It replaced the old 5A express bus.
Does the Metro go to BWI Airport?
Not directly. Take the free shuttle bus from the BWI terminal to BWI Rail Station, then the MARC Penn Line ($8, ~35 min) or Amtrak (~$15–30+, ~30 min) to Union Station. The B30 bus to Greenbelt Metro was discontinued in 2020 and never restored; the rail station shuttle is now the rail-connected option.
How long does it take to get from DCA to downtown DC?
15–20 minutes on the Metro Yellow or Blue line (about $2–$3.50), or 10–15 minutes by taxi ($20–$25) outside rush hour.
How much is an Uber from Dulles Airport to downtown DC?
Typically $50–$70, depending on time of day and surge pricing. The Washington Flyer taxi runs about $65–$75 for comparison — if rideshare is surging, the taxi line is often the better deal.
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Prefer video? Watch DCA vs IAD vs BWI: How to Get to Washington, DC from Every Airport (2026) on our YouTube channel.
Hero photo: Reagan National Airport terminal via dbking (Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)).
