How I Decide Which D.C. Airport To Fly Out Of [IAD, DCA, or BWI]

If you’re flying out of Washington, D.C., you have 3 airports to choose from: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).

As a D.C. local, I must decide which airport to fly out of when I have to book a flight. Each airport has its pros and cons, and I fly out of all 3 airports regularly because of these different benefits. I’ll explain which airport is best for which flights to help you better prepare for your next trip!

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is D.C.’s main international airport. It’s about a 45-minute drive from downtown D.C., but if you’re looking to head abroad, it’s the best airport of the 3 to choose for these types of flights. Many major international carriers operate flights to Dulles, including Air France, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Royal Air Maroc, and more.

If you’re headed to a major city abroad, chances are Dulles offers a nonstop route. Destinations include Amsterdam, Beijing, Dubai, London, Paris, São Paulo, and more. Even if you have to connect, you can likely reach your final destination in 1 stop, making Dulles an ideal choice for international flyers.

Dulles is also home to United Airlines, which operates a major hub there. It’s one of United’s largest operations and offers numerous flights daily across the U.S. and to many international destinations. United operates multiple flights daily to other hubs, such as Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO), allowing you to connect to far-flung places like Australia with only 1 stop.

IAD is great for:

• Flights operated by larger aircraft, such as the Boeing 767, Boeing 777, or Airbus A350
• International flights, especially those to Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America
• Flying United, which operates a hub out of Dulles
• Passengers living or staying in Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier, and other surrounding counties

IAD isn’t great for:

• Those who can’t walk, as the airport is enormous, even with its interterminal train system and buses
• Those who live closer to D.C., as the airport is one of the furthest from the city

Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA)

If you’re looking for the closest airport to Washington, D.C., Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) is it. It’s just 4 Metro stops from the city’s center, and you can reach the airport from downtown within about 15 minutes. Reagan National is host to one of the busiest runways in the country, so there’s a whole host of flights that land and take off every day.

DCA isn’t the best for longer flights or international flights, however. Flights are limited if you’re looking to fly to the other side of the country. The airport has a perimeter rule that prevents flights to farther destinations, something that was put into place many years ago to encourage flyers to fly out of somewhat nearby Dulles Airport. That rule is still in effect today, so you only find a handful of flights to destinations like Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Seattle. If you’re looking for multiple flights a day, you need to use one of the other nearby airports that can handle the additional frequencies.

Additionally, DCA can only accommodate domestic flights (there is no customs capability) and can’t handle wide-body jets, so if you’re looking to fly somewhere international, you likely need to use Dulles Airport or head up to Baltimore. Reagan National does have a few flights to Bermuda and Canada. However, this is because returning passengers preclear customs at those airports before flying back since Reagan National does not have a Customs and Border Protection presence.

DCA is excellent for commuter flights (such as to New York City or Boston), and smaller regional jets offer multiple daily services to smaller cities, such as Grand Rapids, New Orleans, and Tulsa.

The airport is one of the most expensive in the region in terms of fares, so if you’re looking for cheaper flights, DCA probably isn’t the best for you.

DCA is great for:

• Access from Washington, D.C., since it is the closest airport
• Flyers of American Airlines, since American operates a hub there
• Business-heavy commuter flights to New York City and Boston

DCA isn’t great for:

• Longer flights (transcontinental flights), since a perimeter rule is in effect
• International flights, since the airport doesn’t have a customs facility and is not able to accommodate wide-body planes
• Cheaper flights, since the airport is one of the most expensive options in the region (due to limited capacity and proximity to D.C.)

Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI)

Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) is the cheapest of the 3 D.C. airports, though it is closer to Baltimore than to the center of D.C. There are a few ways to get from BWI to D.C., but it’s definitely the most inconvenient one for the D.C. area.

BWI is a hub for Southwest Airlines, which is the big reason the airport is the cheapest one to fly out of for the region. The airport also serves Spirit Airlines and other low-cost carriers, which drives prices down considerably. Still, there are full-service airlines like Alaska Airlines and United and a few international flights, including a daily flight to London on British Airways.

If you’re not flying Southwest, there’s a good chance you have to connect to get to your final destination, though you have to compare the cost of your ticket with the convenience to see if this is worth it.

BWI is great for:

• Access to Baltimore, since the airport is closer to the city than D.C.
• Access to Amtrak, since the airport has its own train station
• Cheaper fares, as the airport is a hub for Southwest

BWI isn’t great for:

• Heading into D.C., since the airport is the furthest from the city and requires you to take a bus connection to a train to get downtown
• People who prefer full-service carriers, since the airport is dominated by low-cost airlines
• Flying internationally, because of its limited international flights (most international flights operate out of Dulles or Philadelphia (PHL) to the north)

How I Decide Which Airport I Fly Out Of

I prefer nonstops, so I first look at which airlines offer nonstop flights to my destination. Because of the perimeter rule at Reagan National, you find most longer nonstop flights out of IAD and BWI.

If price is a concern, BWI generally offers the cheapest flights. However, you need to factor in how long it will take you to get to BWI from wherever you are. You can take public transit there, but the time and cost may negate any savings you might get.

DCA is the hands-down winner when leaving from D.C. It’s the closest airport to the city, Metro-accessible, and you can be from downtown to on a plane in under an hour.

Final Thoughts

Living in Washington, D.C., I’m incredibly fortunate to have 3 huge airports serving the city. Most U.S. cities do not have this luxury. Even though there are 3 airports, it’s important to distinguish between them, as there are different reasons to fly out of each. BWI is great for cheaper flights, IAD is best for international routes, and DCA’s proximity can’t be beaten. Whichever airport you choose, you’ll have a great flying experience!