Washington Dulles International Airport, commonly referred to as just Dulles, is the major international airport for Washington, D.C. Located in Chantilly, Virginia, approximately 25 miles west of downtown 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 downtown D.C., so traveling by car (whether taxi or rideshare) can get 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 downtown D.C. The ride from the airport to the city center takes about 50 minutes, and the price depends on the distance traveled and the time of day. The Metro doesn’t run 24 hours, though. If you're traveling late at night, you’ll need a bus instead.
Taxis, rideshares and driving
Taxis and rideshares are available at the curb outside the main terminal. The drive into D.C. takes about 40 minutes without traffic. But if you're traveling during rush hour, you can expect that time to increase dramatically. You can also rent a car at Dulles, but the car rental 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 (though transportation is also available 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 tarmac 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 routing help.
Security lines and immigration
Dulles, like most major international airports, can have fairly long security lines. Always be sure to arrive well ahead of your flight. It's worth looking into TSA PreCheck and CLEAR for expedited security if you plan on flying through Dulles regularly. Immigration is also a slow process here unless you have Global Entry or the Mobile Passport Control app.
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 immigration and re-enter security. And I'm even a member of all the applicable expedited programs.
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 one has the best airfare deal or the most convenient routing for your trip. Generally, Dulles is your go-to for international travel, but for domestic flights, you’ve got options.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Reagan (also called National, Reagan National, or just DCA) sits just across the Potomac River from downtown D.C., making it closer to the city center than Dulles. It primarily handles domestic flights, with a few short-haul international flights to Canada and the Caribbean. If you’re traveling to D.C., this is the more convenient airport.
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
BWI is located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, some 31 miles outside of downtown D.C. 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 cheap(ish) airfare. BWI serves mostly domestic destinations, with some international flights to Europe, the Caribbean and Central America.
Things to do during a layover
Dulles is a popular layover 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 layover 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 joyride 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 layover, you might have enough time for a quick visit to the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. 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 carry-on, and all bags are subject to security screening. It’s an incredible museum that’s well worth the trip.
More than six hours
If you have more than six hours, you can venture farther out. 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 layover.
You could also rent 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 shuteye and a shower. The closest hotel to the airport is the Washington Dulles Airport Marriott, which is just across the parking garage 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.
