Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport [DCA] — Ultimate Terminal Guide

Key Takeaways

• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) has 2 terminals (A and B) with 5 concourses, primarily serving domestic flights.
• You can get between the terminals outside the secure area by riding the terminal shuttle bus. You can also get between the terminals on foot via a walkway outside the secure area.
• There are 7 lounges at DCA. The 3 Admirals Clubs and the United Club can be accessed by purchasing a day pass.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is in the minority of U.S. airports that have not seen any growth in passenger numbers over recent years.

DCA is known as the short-haul airport of Washington, D.C. due to its 1,250-mile perimeter for destinations. Only flights to domestic destinations and a select few airports in Canada are served from DCA, so the airport does not have any customs or immigration facilities.

Quick Info

Airport: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Terminals: 2 terminals — gates A1 to A9 and gates B10 to E59
Airport Address: 2401 Smith Blvd., Arlington, VA 22202
Distance From Downtown Washington: 4 miles (6.5 km)
Website: flyreagan.com
Phone Number: 703-417-8000
Passengers Served: 23.9 million annually (pre-COVID-19)
Destinations: 100+ destinations across the U.S. and Canada
Flight Information: Departures and arrivals info can be found here

DCA Terminal Map

Airlines Operating From DCA

Gates 1 to 9

• Air Canada
• Frontier Airlines
• Southwest Airlines

Gates 10 to 59

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• JetBlue Airways
• United Airlines

DCA Airport Terminal

DCA is laid out in the shape of a J, consisting of 2 terminals and 5 concourses.

At the bottom curve of the J are gates A1 to A9, with a semi-circle-shaped terminal building and 1 concourse.

Gates B10 to E59 are situated up the long side of the J, with the 4 concourses evenly distributed along the full length (inside the secure area). Both terminals are served by public access roads for curbside pick-up and drop-off and have parking garages situated outside.

Terminal 1 (formerly Terminal A)

Gates A1 to A9 are in the smaller of the 2 concourse sections with flights operated by Air Canada, Frontier, and Southwest Airlines. The terminal consists of 1 level, and the far end of the curve is where the ticketing desks and baggage areas are situated. Following the curve around, passengers will find a USO Lounge, a conference center, and access to the underground walkway to the parking lot.

The concourse is only accessible for passengers as there is a security checkpoint at the entrance. There are 9 gates numbered A1 to A9 located in the rotunda and a small selection of shops and restaurants just after security.

Hot Tip:

Dreading the security lines? Explore our guide on how to breeze through TSA security stress-free.

Terminal 2 (Formerly Terminal B/C)

National Hall is split over 3 levels — level 1 is baggage claim and has access to some ground transportation services outside, level 2 is the departures level where you access security and walk onto the individual concourses, and level 3 is ticketing.

A large parking garage is outside of the terminal with access via a pedestrian bridge on level 2, which also provides access to the Metro station.

Security checkpoints are located at either end of National Hall, directly off of the pedestrian bridges that connect the terminal to the parking garages and Metro station. Passengers do not need to re-clear security if they choose to move around and utilize facilities at another concourse; all piers are located after security. Once you proceed through security, you have access to the 4 piers stemming off of National Hall.

On level 2 outside of the entrances to the individual concourses, there is a huge selection of shops and restaurants that passengers can make use of before clearing security for their flight.

Gates B10 to B22

Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines operate from gates B10-B22 at the south end of National Hall. Once passengers have cleared central security in National Hall, and you walk into the concourse, gates B10, B11, B12, and B14 are to the right, along a passage with moving walkways, a United Club, a cafe, and a bar.

Straight ahead as you head into the concourse are gates B15 to B22, a Delta Sky Club, and a small selection of shops and eateries.

Gates C23 to C34

The concourse for gates C23 to C34 is situated off the center of the terminal, with flights operated by American Airlines and JetBlue.

An Admirals Club is located just after entering the pier, and the concourse has a good range of shops and restaurants.

American Airlines no longer runs a shuttle service between this concourse and gates D35 to D45 for passengers looking to connect. For connecting flights, you now need to walk from one pier to the next pier, but this shouldn’t take more than 5 to 10 minutes.

Gates D35 to D59

Gates D35 to D59 are located at the north end of the airport with only American Airlines operating from the 25 gates numbered D35 to D45 and E46 to E59.

Gates E46 to E59 are exclusively for regional flights, so you’ll only find flights with CRJ-700, CRJ-900, and ERJ-175 aircraft departing from here.

An Admirals Club is located on level 3 of the pier where gates D35 to D45 are, and there’s a good selection of shops and restaurants on level 2. There is also an Admirals Club across from E46.

Inter-Terminal Transport

Terminal Shuttle Bus (Outside the Secure Area)

Passengers can move between the terminals outside of the secure area by riding the terminal shuttle bus. Buses pick up and drop off on level 3 outside of National Hall and outside of the terminal building for where gates A1 to A9 are.

Walking

Gates A1 to A9 and B10 to E59 are connected via a walkway near the conference rooms in the old terminal to near the security checkpoint on the south end of National Hall. The walkway is outside of the secure area, so if you are connecting from Gates A1 to A9 and have a flight in the area of Gates B10 to E59, you will need to re-clear security.

Security and Customs at DCA

DCA has 3 security checkpoints — 1 for gates A1 to A9 and 2 for gates B10 to E59 in the National Hall.

The gates A1 to A9 checkpoint opens at 4:30 a.m. and the gates B10 to E59 checkpoints open at 4 a.m. All close at the last scheduled departure.

In the future, instead of these being situated at the entrance of each concourse, they will be re-positioned at the entrance of the National Hall so that ticketed passengers would be able to make use of the facilities without having to worry about leaving sufficient time to clear security.

TSA PreCheck

TSA PreCheck lanes are available at all 3 security checkpoints for eligible participants.

DCA has a TSA PreCheck Enrollment Center located in National Hall near baggage claim 6, open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Global Entry Program

DCA does not participate in Global Entry as the airport only has a limited number of international flights and immigration and customs are conducted at the point of origin.

Mobile Passport

Mobile Passport is also not accepted at DCA due to the limited number of international flights.

CLEAR

There are dedicated CLEAR security program kiosks at all 3 security checkpoints at DCA. These are available from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m with enrollment also possible at all security checkpoints.

A Hertz Fast Lane powered by CLEAR is also available at the Hertz rental car center and is open 24/7, although enrollment is not possible here.

DCA Airport Lounges

There are 8 lounges currently available for passengers at DCA, with the 3 Admirals Clubs and United Club offering paid day pass access.

* Hours are subject to change without notice. Lounge access may be restricted at times due to capacity.
** Day pass for any passenger. Lounges marked as N/A only allow entry for eligible passengers in their premium cabins, frequent flyer programs, or participating credit card programs.

Hot Tip:

Gain access to lounges without paying the day pass fee with these credit cards with airport lounge access.

Priority Pass Access

There are no airline lounges that accept Priority Pass at DCA, but eligible members may use their membership to reduce their bills at:

• American Tap Room, located in the D concourse by gates D35 to D45
• Bracket Room, located in the B concourse near gate B12

If you’re considering membership, read our guide on Priority Pass memberships and the best credit cards for Priority Pass.

Dining and Drinks at DCA

DCA has a good selection of restaurants, cafes, and fast food in the National Hall. From Asian to American, there is a restaurant for every taste bud.

DCA Wi-Fi and Charging Points

Free Wi-Fi is provided for passengers in the terminal and concourse areas. To connect, select “FlyReagan” and input your email address and zip code when prompted. For any assistance, passengers may email techWORKS@mwaa.com.

Charging Stations: Free charging points are available throughout the airport, in restaurants, at the departure gates, and baggage claim areas.

Hot Tip:

Not all airports offer free Wi-Fi. If you don’t want to worry about being disconnected, think about investing in a mobile hotspot to keep you connected. 

DCA Airport Lost and Found

DCA’s lost and found office is located in the old terminal outside the secure area and is open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Passengers may contact the office by completing this form or phoning 703-417-0110.

If an item is left on an aircraft, then passengers must contact the applicable airline.

If an item is lost at a security checkpoint, then passengers must contact TSA lost and found.

Additional Airport Information

Information Services

Information desks are staffed by Travelers Aid volunteers and are open:

• Monday to Friday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Saturday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Sunday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

These information desks can be found at:

• Across from Southwest check-in, in between baggage claim and the security checkpoint
• South security checkpoint and north security checkpoint, on the concourse level in National Hall and in both National Hall baggage areas
• After-security in National Hall

Blue courtesy telephones are also located throughout the airport connecting directly to the information desks.

Children’s Play Areas

Unfortunately, DCA doesn’t have a children’s play area, which is why it hasn’t made the most kid-friendly airports in the U.S.

Baby Facilities

DCA has 3 nursing rooms located at:

• Gates A1 to A9, just before the security checkpoint
• National Hall near the restrooms between Tumi and Viaggio (2 nursing rooms)
• Gates E46 to E59, near gates E46 and E49

Traveling With a Pet

DCA has 6 pet relief areas located at:

• Gates A1 to A9:
  • After the security checkpoint
  • Either end of the overhang
  • Just after the gates A1 to A9 security checkpoint (inside the secure area)
• National Hall:
  • Near the south entrance of the Metrorail station
  • Near the north entrance of the Metrorail station
  • E concourse, near gate E49

Duty-Free

DCA has 1 duty-free shop located in the A concourse (gates A1 to A9) inside the secure area.

Smoking Areas

Smoking is only permitted outside the terminals, at least 10 feet from the doorways where ashtrays are provided.

Money

ATMs are located throughout the airport and foreign currency services are available in the National Hall near the entrance to the regional pier.

Luggage Storage

Baggage storage is not provided by the airport but is available through an external company BagHop. You’ll find BagHop on the baggage level of National Hall between doors 5 and 6.

Important DCA Phone Numbers

Customer Service: 703-417-8000

Parking: 703-417-7275

Lost and Found: 703-417-0110

Travel to and From DCA

Transport Options

Bus

Greyhound buses don’t serve the airport directly, but passengers can access services from the Greyhound terminal behind Union Station. To reach Union Station, passengers can ride the Metro Yellow line straight from the airport.

Charter buses are only permitted to operate from outside National Hall on the upper level, and off-airport shuttles (such as hotel shuttles) may stop at both terminals. At National Hall, this is in the same location as charter buses, and for the area by gates A1-A9, this is from the middle curb.

Train 

The Metrorail system serves destinations across Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland, including a stop at DCA. The airport station is on an elevated level, connected to National Hall via walkways from the terminal building.

The Yellow and Blue lines stop at DCA, serving downtown Washington, D.C. and many other destinations across the city.

Taxi

Taxis are available 24/7 from the airport, and a DCA customer service representative will assist passengers. Taxis at gates A1 to A9 park up at the closest curb to the terminal, and at National Hall, they can be found outside of baggage claim door number 5. Fares to downtown are around $20, excluding tip.

Rideshare

Lyft, Uber, and Via operate from DCA and may pick up passengers at these designated areas:

• Gates A1 to A9 from the furthest curb
• National Hall at the baggage claim curb (level 1) or ticketing curb (level 3)
• Rental Car Center on National Avenue across from the rental car bus stop

Directions by Car to DCA

Arriving From Downtown Washington, D.C.

Head down 14th Street NW/US-1 S and merge onto I-395 S towards Richmond. Take exit 10B for George Washington Memorial Parkway S towards Reagan National Airport/Mt. Vernon and continue straight on George Washington Memorial Parkway until you reach the airport’s West Entrance Road.

Arriving From Baltimore

Take MD-295 S and keep left to stay on Baltimore-Washington Parkway. Continue on MD-201 and then on to MD-295. Take the right 2 lanes to exit 1B-C towards I-695/Route 395/Downtown and keep right on I-695. Merge onto I-395 S and then take exit 10B for George Washington Memorial Parkway S towards Reagan National Airport/Mt. Vernon and continue straight until you reach the airport’s West Entrance Road.

DCA Airport Parking Information

Official Airport Parking

DCA has 4 parking areas around the airport, with over 8,800 spaces available.

Short-Term Parking

The A, B, and C parking garages are located outside of their respective terminals and are connected by walkways. The A garage is connected to the terminal via an underground pedestrian tunnel, and the B and C garages are connected to the terminal via bridge walkways.

The terminal shuttle bus stops outside of each parking lot, as well as each terminal.

The 3 parking lots have the same parking fees:

• Up to 1 hour: Free (while the cell phone waiting lot is closed)
• Hourly (after the first hour): $6
• Daily rate: $22

Hot Tip:

Electric charging points are located on the ground level of garages B and C.

Long-Term Parking

DCA has an uncovered economy parking lot located a short distance from the terminals, with shuttle buses transporting passengers.

Daily parking is charged at $17, with no hourly parking available.

Pick-up and Drop-off Parking

Visitors picking up passengers may pull over on the furthest curb at the terminal serving gates A1 to A9 or the second curb at National Hall.

While the terminal roadway construction takes place, the cell phone waiting lot has been temporarily closed.

Hot Tip:

Visitors can park free for up to 1 hour in the terminal parking lots while the cell phone lot remains closed.

Off-site and Hotel Parking

With daily parking at DCA costing $17 to $22, off-site parking lots can save passengers over 50%.

Parking for DCA starts at $9 per day when booked with airportparkingreservations.com, and these external parking lots usually include courtesy shuttles to and from the airport.

Parking for Passengers With Disabilities

Parking for passengers with disabilities is available at all official airport parking lots. In the terminal garages, these spaces are located closest to the pedestrian walkways and elevators, and in the economy parking lot, spaces are closest to the shuttle bus stops.

The on-airport shuttle buses are equipped with chairlifts or ramps for wheelchair access.

Parking Contact Number

General Inquiries: 703-417-7275

Car Rental at DCA Airport

The rental car center is on airport property located on the first floor of terminal garage A.

The following companies are located in the rental car center:

Hot Tip:

Avoid paying for expensive insurance by checking out these credit cards with rental car insurance.

DCA Airport Hotels

There’s no accommodation on airport property, but the closest hotels are only a short distance away. As DCA is situated close to downtown Washington, D.C., visitors can explore all the city has to offer while staying near the airport.

Top 3 Hotel Stays Using Points

The Hyatt Regency Crystal City is great for Hyatt loyalists and those looking to stay close to the airport alike. The hotel has a free airport shuttle that also connects to the local Metro station. Guests can take advantage of the seasonal outdoor pool with a sun deck and whirlpool, a 24-hour fitness center, and 3 on-site restaurants. The hotel is a Category 2 Hyatt hotel and redemptions start at 6,500 World of Hyatt points per night.

The Westin Crystal City is an excellent choice for those who need to stay near the airport. The hotel offers a free shuttle between the hotel, the airport, and the Crystal City Metro station. Those staying at this hotel are also close to a variety of shops and restaurants, including those found at the Crystal City Shops underground mall and the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City shopping complex. Award nights cost 30,000 to 40,000 points per night.

Less than a mile from Reagan National Airport, the Crowne Plaza Crystal City offers a free shuttle to and from the airport, as well as an outdoor pool and fitness center. Guests can enjoy breakfast and lunch at the Veranda Cafe and dinners at the Potomac Bar & Grille. Award nights at the hotel start at 23,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

Hot Tip:

If you’re looking to top off your points to stay at any of these options, see our guides on the best ways to earn more World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, or IHG One Rewards points.

Final Thoughts

Recent developments have seen a new 14-gate commuter concourse (gates E46 to E59) open at the north of the airport that has replaced the cramped gate 35X. The new gate area offers an Admirals Club lounge and fantastic views of the city and its famous landmarks.

With most of the airport’s services now being after security, this will allow passengers to move between terminal piers much more easily, without having to re-clear security. The redesigned airport is completely different than it was before, but it makes Reagan a place where passengers can truly connect and have a world-class experience.