✈ Airport Connections

Washington DC Airports
by Metro

Three airports serve the Washington region and two of them have a Metrorail station inside the airport. Compare journey times, fares and connections, then open the full guide for yours.

✈ Reagan DCA — 15 min ✈ Dulles IAD — 55 min 🚂 BWI — Train + Metro
DCA · IAD · BWI
Chart of Metro connections to the three Washington airports: Reagan National on the Blue and Yellow Lines in about 15 minutes, Dulles on the Silver Line in about 55 minutes, and BWI Marshall by MARC or Amtrak to Union Station plus the Red Line in 45 to 70 minutes.
How each Washington airport connects to Metro, with typical journey times to Metro Center.

Which Washington Airport Has Metro?

Two of the three do. Reagan National and Dulles both have a Metrorail station inside the airport; BWI Marshall is reached by commuter or intercity rail to Union Station.

✈ Reagan National (DCA)

Metro accessMetro inside the terminal complex
To Metro Center~15 min
Fare to downtown$2.25 – $6.75

Blue and Yellow Line trains leave from a station joined to Terminals B and C by a covered walkway. It is the fastest and simplest airport arrival in the region, and the only one where you can be on a train two minutes after leaving baggage claim.

Full Reagan DCA Metro guide →

✈ Dulles International (IAD)

Metro accessSilver Line, since November 2022
To Metro Center~55 min
Fare to downtown$2.25 – $6.75

Silver Line Phase 2 gave DC's largest international airport a direct Metro ride to downtown with no transfer. The ride is long but costs a fraction of the $65–$90 a taxi charges, and it skips I-66 traffic entirely.

Full Dulles IAD Metro guide →

🚂 BWI Marshall

Metro accessNo Metro — MARC or Amtrak
To Metro Center~60–80 min total
Fare to downtown~$10 – $37

BWI sits 30 miles north in Maryland with no Metrorail service. A free shuttle links the terminal to BWI Rail Station, where MARC (weekdays) or Amtrak (daily) runs to Union Station for a Red Line connection.

Full BWI to DC guide →

Late arrival? Metro does not run around the clock. The last trains toward downtown leave Reagan Airport at about 11:45 PM and Dulles at about 11:15 PM on a normal weeknight, roughly two hours later after Friday and Saturday service. Check full Metro hours before booking a late flight.
FAQ

Airport Metro Questions

Which airports have Metro, how long each ride takes, and how to move between them.

Which DC airport is best for Metro access?

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Reagan National (DCA). Metro runs from inside the terminal complex and reaches Metro Center in about 15 minutes on the Blue and Yellow Lines. Dulles (IAD) also has direct Metro service on the Silver Line, but the ride is about 55 minutes. BWI has no Metro station at all.

Does Dulles Airport have a Metro station?

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Yes, since November 15, 2022. Washington Dulles International Airport station is the Silver Line Phase 2 terminus area station, connected to the main terminal by an indoor walkway. See the full Dulles Metro guide.

Does BWI Airport have a Metro station?

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No. BWI Marshall is roughly 30 miles north of Washington and is served by MARC commuter rail and Amtrak, not Metrorail. You ride to Union Station and change to the Red Line there. See the BWI to DC guide.

Can I take Metro from Reagan Airport to Dulles Airport?

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Yes, with one transfer. Take the Blue or Yellow Line from Reagan to Metro Center, change to a Silver Line train toward Ashburn, and ride to Washington Dulles International Airport. The journey is about 70 minutes and costs roughly $5–$6.75 depending on the time of day.

How many airports serve Washington DC?

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Three: Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia; Washington Dulles International (IAD) in Loudoun and Fairfax counties, Virginia; and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI) in Maryland. Two of the three — DCA and IAD — have Metrorail stations.

Complete Your Trip Plan

Know your route? Now review Metro fares, hours, and find your destination on the system map.

💳 Fares & Passes ⏱ Metro Schedule 🗺 System Map