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The rush to get out of D.C. to family Thanksgiving celebrations has already begun, but if you're still reading DCist, you're probably still at work and planning on leaving within the next 72 hours. Whether opening up that military airspace will really make a difference at Washington area airports remains to be seen, but WMATA has announced a special Thanksgiving weekend schedule that could stand to help out many of you trying to take public transportation to and from one of the three major airports that serve our city.
Here's what WMATA wants you to know about getting to each airport, with a few of our own tips sprinkled in. Also keep in mind that all of Metro will operate on a Sunday schedule on Thursday, so if, like me, you're catching an early a.m. flight on Thursday to save a bit of money, be sure to factor that into your plans. If you have your own tips to share, you know what to do.
Reagan National Airport:
Unless you're leaving at some time outside of normal Metro operating hours, there's little reason to get to National any other way than by taking Metro. Metro will run extra Blue and Yellow Line trains serving the Reagan National Airport station on Sunday -- but not on Wednesday, so if you're planning on taking Metro to the airport that day, allow yourself some extra time to hop on trains crowded with passengers and luggage.
If you can't take Metro to National, we highly suggest a taxi -- long-term parking at the airport is limited as it is.
Photo by krisetya
Washington Dulles International Airport:
There's two ways you can get to Dulles using public transportation -- One is taking the Orange line to the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metro station and taking a Washington Flyer bus to the airport, which run every 30 minutes. The Flyer will run you $9 one way, or $16 for a round trip ticket -- which if you purchase in advance, could save you some time on your trip home.
In general though, we've had better experiences with the Dulles Airport/5A Metrobus route. It makes stops both at the Rosslyn and L'Enfant Plaza stations, costs $3 and runs reliably every 40 minutes in both directions -- just make sure to get on one that will get you to the airport in plenty of time, as the trip takes a little over an hour from L'Enfant. WMATA will be operating a number of extra 5A buses on Sunday in response to demand, but again, not on Wednesday, so plan accordingly.
Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport:
There's several ways you can get to BWI on public transportation. The cheapest is to take the Green line to the Greenbelt station and catch the $3 B30 Metrobus route straight to the airport. WMATA is making this option even more attractive by increasing service from every 40 minutes to every 20 minutes on both Wednesday AND Sunday.
MARC's Penn Line is also a wonderful option for weekday travel to BWI (though keep in mind its service has yet to expand to weekends). Trains run regularly from Union Station for a $6, 35 minute trip to BWI's rail station. You can take Amtrak back to Union Station from BWI on Sunday for around $20 if you book in advance.
Other Options:
>> Shuttles: We've had several decent experiences with Baltimore Airport Shuttle (fewer with Supershuttle), but of course it always depends on whether you end up being the first or the last person picked up on your route. Still, shuttles, which average about $30 one-way, are generally the best option if you have to get to the airport at 4 a.m., when public transportation isn't yet running.
>> Long-term parking: Long-term parking at Dulles is generally an experience in torture -- there's no private lot option, and the airport-run ones are crowded, understaffed and overpriced. If you can avoid it at all, we'd recommend finding any other way to get to Dulles.
But even though there are several great ways to get to BWI without a car, we know that sometimes, say if you're traveling with a young child or have a need to race to an appointment as soon as you land back at home, driving to BWI is good option. Allow us to recommend enthusiastically EconoParkExpress in this instance. It's both the cheapest and the furthest away long-term parking option at BWI, but every single time I've used them over the years a shuttle has met me at my car before I was even done unloading my luggage, I was offered a bottle of water and a newspaper by an extremely courteous driver immediately after sitting down, and I've never waited for more than 5 minutes on the return trip for a shuttle to pick me up. Since it's the holidays, reserve a spot at EconoParkExpress online before you go (and to make sure you lock in their lowest price -- $6.85 per day).
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Damnit, most of this is just common sense stuff. Can you tell us things like the wait time or at least link to them?
You guys need to at least try to write things that 90% of the people who have lived in DC more than 2 years don't already know.
Well MS I didn't know they switched to 20 min bus departures to BWI, that's a nice factoid. Also everyone stay off my shuttle bus, they really pack em in.
I left today out of IAD. Took Metro to W Falls Church and took the flyer and everything was smooth. No waits at the airport and everything is on time. One suggestion for BWI. If you are leaving Tue you should be able to take the normal econo lots. If you leave Wed then you might be stuck in the overflow lots which are further out but cheaper, but watch out for signs. But if you do take the econo lots make sure you park in the low number lots because you will find crowed shuttles if further down you go.
I was heading to DCA today for my flight to NY, and had to switch at from the Red to the Yellow at Chinatown. There weren't any Yellow trains to VA for about 20 minutes, while Green line trains kept going through. I got back on the Red to Metro Center and switched to the Blue Line. Metro really has to deal with this, it's ridiculous.
I took the 5A last year -- driver waived the fare in the "Thanksgiving Spirit." Don't know if that's going to be the case again, but it certainly would motivate me to take it again...
I appreciate the tips and the threat of horror at Dulles long term parking. I expect as much. But with the time I am flying out on Thanksgiving, I do not believe public transportation is going to be a viable option (I live bus route from Old Town and Pentagon and to try and switch over is going to be near impossible).
So that really leaves driving out there. So what kind of delays should I expect? They have overflow lots, I expect to be in one of those. Should I plan an extra hour to park? Two? Thirty minutes? Thanks to anyone that could help add a little more.
maxgray, not sure what time your situation took place but there was track work on the yellow line yesterday. Half our office was late.
You guys need to at least try to write things that 90% of the people who have lived in DC more than 2 years don't already know.
Why? 90% of the people who live in DC have been here for less than two years, and they're the ones who will be flying back home this week.
Also isn't the MARC not running on Thursday because its a holiday. Thats something else you should plan for (extra charge and less regular trains) if you are planning on flying out of BWI on Thursday.
Wait - does the Reagan parking fill up early? How early? GIVE ME MORE INFORMATION! -ahem-
BWI had a promotion in the Post travel section for a $9 coupon for its Express parking garage. Do you think that's going to be full Thursday a.m. ? 'Cause we're leaving too early to use the Greenline bus to BWI.
TLB--National's (newby calling it by that other name)parking lots are small and fill up quickly, but they have a real-time link on their Web site to give you an idea of what parking is available:
http://www.mwaa.com/reagan/parking_transportation_4/parking_2
Thanks adamsmorgan for the link.
And I've lived here for 4 years. I call it Reagan (or Reagan National, but never National) intentionally. :)
TLB and adamsmorgan - do you think its a newbie v established resident or do you think it has more to do with conservative v liberal?
Clearly more established residents use National out of habit but at this point we are way past habit. My uncle made clear, however, that the airport's name was National when I first moved out here five years ago and I am pretty sure that had more to do with his politics.
And - in case any one missed my cry for help on Dulles, I have never flown out of their on a holiday - how much of a delay should I expect on Thursday to park in their economy lots?
timfry- it was probably about 4 pm on Monday, but maybe that was the reason, probably not a good time to do track work.
maxgray, agreed. They were single tracking that morning for rush hour. Or so I was told by those in our office that came in well after an hour late.