Washington Dulles International Airport, commonly referred to simply as Dulles, is the major international airport serving Washington, D.C. Located in Chantilly, Virginia, approximately 25 miles west of central Washington, D.C., Dulles sees more than 24 million passengers passing through its concourses annually. Some 43 airlines fly to over 138 destinations worldwide from its architecturally striking main terminal, designed by famed architect Eero Saarinen.
Getting to and from Dulles Airport
For a long time, Dulles was not connected to D.C.’s Metro. Fortunately, that’s no longer an issue. Public transportation is one of the best ways to get around D.C., but you can also take taxis or rideshares. But remember that Dulles is about 25 miles outside central D.C. (Downtown), so travelling by car (whether taxi or rideshare) can be expensive.
Public transportation
The Silver Line of the Washington Metro now extends to Dulles Airport and offers a convenient way to travel between the airport and D.C. city centre. The ride from the airport to the city centre takes about 50 minutes, and the price depends on the distance travelled and the time of day. The Metro doesn’t run 24 hours, though. If you’re travelling late at night, you’ll need a bus instead.
Taxis, rideshares, and driving
Taxis and rideshares are available at the kerb outside the main terminal. The drive into D.C. takes about 40 minutes without traffic. But if you’re travelling during rush hour, you can expect that time to increase dramatically. You can also hire a car at Dulles, but the car hire facilities aren’t walkable from the terminal. You’ll need to hop on a shuttle to get there.
How to navigate Dulles Airport
Dulles has a main terminal (home to check-in, security, and the Z gates) plus two midfield concourses: A/B and C/D. Concourse A includes 31 United Express commuter gates and 12 mainline gates, while Concourse B has 32 mainline gates and hosts many international carriers. Concourse C/D is dominated by United Airlines flights.
The layout is essentially three long, parallel hallways, but getting between them during connections takes some planning. You can walk between the main terminal and Concourses A/B, but you must take transportation to reach Concourses C/D (transportation is also available from the main terminal to A/B if you prefer).
The two types of transport at Dulles are the AeroTrain and the mobile lounges, or ‘people movers’. The AeroTrain is a 24-hour automated train that connects the main terminal with Concourses A, B, and C. The mobile lounges are giant shuttle buses that look like moving cargo containers, and they connect the main terminal with Concourses D and A.
I love taking the mobile lounges because they give you great views of the taxiways. Plus, they can be the fastest way to get between the far A gates and the far D gates. (I’ve made that connection by walking and taking the AeroTrain, and it took twice as long as the mobile lounge.) But the lounges don’t run all day and night and can get held up by runway traffic.
I always check an airport map before arriving at Dulles to plan my route, whether that’s gate to gate, gate to baggage claim, or departure hall to gate. Your transportation choice depends on your concourses: AeroTrain works best for Concourse B to C, but mobile lounges are faster for the main terminal to Concourse D (the AeroTrain would drop you at C, requiring a 15-minute walk). If you’re confused, you’re not alone, so don’t hesitate to ask an airport employee for help.
Security queues and border control
Dulles, like most major international airports, can have fairly long security queues. Always be sure to arrive well ahead of your flight. Border control can also be slow unless you’re enrolled in a trusted traveller programme (such as Global Entry for eligible UK citizens).
If you’re connecting from an international flight to a domestic one, give yourself as much time as possible. On one of my recent trips, it took me nearly two hours to get through border control and re-enter security. And I’m even a member of all the applicable expedited programmes.
Alternative airports
Dulles isn’t the only airport in the D.C. area – it’s actually one of three. Each has its pros and cons, so it’s worth looking at all three to see which has the best airfare deal or the most convenient connections for your trip. Generally, Dulles is your go-to for international travel, but for domestic flights, you’ve got plenty of options.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Reagan (also called National, Reagan National, or just DCA) sits just across the Potomac River from D.C. city centre, making it closer to the centre than Dulles. It primarily handles domestic flights, with a few short-haul international flights to Canada and the Caribbean. If you’re travelling to D.C., this is the more convenient airport.
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
BWI is located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, around 31 miles away from D.C. city centre. It’s not the easiest to get to from D.C., as you’ll have to take an Amtrak train to a shuttle bus or make the 40-plus-minute drive. But it’s home to Southwest Airlines, which often has relatively affordable flights. BWI serves mostly domestic destinations, with some international flights to Europe, the Caribbean, and Central America.
Things to do during a stopover
Dulles is a popular stopover airport, so there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself with some time to kill here. What you can do depends on how much time you have. Luckily, there’s plenty to see both in the airport and in the surrounding area.
Less than four hours
If your stopover is under four hours, you should probably stay put at Dulles. Take the time to explore the various concourses, as there are art installations scattered throughout. Go for a joy-ride on one of the mobile lounges. Or, if you’re flying United and have the right membership or credit card, you could access one of the United Clubs. As a major international hub, Dulles also has plenty of shops and restaurants to keep you busy.
Four to six hours
With a medium-length stopover, you might have enough time for a quick visit to the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. It’s an incredible museum that’s well worth the trip. Plus, it’s just a short bus ride away from Dulles via the Fairfax Connector. Note that the museum doesn’t offer luggage storage, so you’ll need to manage your hand luggage, and all bags are subject to security checks.
More than six hours
If you have more than six hours, you can venture further afield. You can, of course, make a trip into D.C. proper and perhaps visit a few monuments or museums on the National Mall. I’d stick with the Metro for this, as road traffic can be too unpredictable to risk on a stopover.
You could also hire a car and explore Northern Virginia. Manassas National Battlefield is about 16 miles away, and Great Falls Park, with its beautiful cascading waterfalls, is roughly 12–15 miles from the airport. There are also quite a few breweries and wineries within a 30-minute drive of Dulles. Personally, I’d just spend more time at the Udvar-Hazy Center, as the museum is massive.
Or if you’d rather just relax, consider booking a hotel for some rest and a shower. The closest hotel to the airport is the Washington Dulles Airport Marriott, which is just across the multi-storey car park from the main terminal. You can walk it, but there’s also a free shuttle. Alternatively, you could stay at any of the dozens of nearby hotels, many of which also offer free shuttles.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
