| Airport | Distance to downtown DC | Typical drive | Best for |
|---|
| Reagan National (DCA) | About 4 miles | 10–20 min | Domestic trips, downtown and Capitol Hill meetings, Arlington and Alexandria |
| Dulles (IAD) | About 26 miles west | 35–60 min | International flights, Tysons, Reston, McLean and Loudoun County |
| BWI Marshall (BWI) | About 32 miles northeast | 45–70 min | Low fares, Baltimore, Annapolis, Columbia and northern Maryland |
Drive times are for normal traffic. Weekday rush hours (roughly 7–9:30 AM and 4–7 PM) can add 20–40 minutes, especially on I-66, the Beltway and the Baltimore–Washington Parkway.
Reagan National (DCA): the closest
DCA sits on the Potomac just across from the city, so it's the quickest way in for meetings downtown, on Capitol Hill or in Crystal City. Flights are mostly domestic, and the airport is busy at the start and end of the business day, so leave a little extra time at security in the morning.
Coming from DCA by car, most downtown addresses are 15 minutes away. Your chauffeur meets you at baggage claim or at the curb on the arrivals level.
Dulles (IAD): the international gateway
Dulles handles most of Washington's long-haul international flights. It's the natural choice if you're staying or working in Tysons, Reston, Herndon or McLean, which are 15–30 minutes away. To downtown DC, plan on 35 minutes at night and up to an hour or more at rush hour. More detail in our Dulles to downtown DC guide.
International arrivals take time: passport control and baggage usually add 30–60 minutes after landing. A good car service tracks your flight and waits, so you don't have to text from the immigration line.
BWI Marshall (BWI): often the best fares
BWI is between Baltimore and Washington and often has lower fares and many nonstop domestic routes. It's the easy choice for Baltimore, Annapolis and Columbia. For downtown DC, budget about an hour by car, more in evening traffic. More in our BWI to Washington DC guide.
Which one should you choose?
- Meetings downtown or on the Hill: fly into DCA if you can.
- Flying from overseas: Dulles, unless your connection lands at DCA.
- Staying in Tysons, Reston or McLean: Dulles is usually closer than DCA at rush hour.
- Staying in Annapolis or Baltimore: BWI.
- Lowest fare to DC: compare all three, then add the cost and time of the ride in.
Getting into the city
All three airports have taxis, ride-hailing and public transit. Metro reaches DCA (Blue and Yellow lines) and Dulles (Silver Line). BWI has a rail station served by MARC and Amtrak, reached by a free shuttle.
A private chauffeur makes most sense when time matters: you're met inside, your bags are handled, the price is agreed in advance, and the car waits if your flight is late. It's also the simplest choice for executives, families with luggage and visiting guests.
Velora airport transfers
Velora drives to and from all three airports 24/7. Transfers start at $150 all-in (to downtown DC: about $150 from Reagan National, $246 from Dulles, $312 from BWI), flights are tracked, and your chauffeur arrives 15 minutes early. See DCA, Dulles and BWI car service, or all the areas we cover.
