Washington Dulles International Airport [IAD] — Ultimate Terminal Guide

Key Takeaways

• Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) features a main terminal with 5 concourses (A, B, C, D, and Z) connected by the AeroTrain, serving various domestic and international flights.
• The airport provides amenities like dining, shopping, and lounges like Capital One Lounge and United Club.
• Ground transportation options include rental cars, ride-shares, Washington Flyer taxicabs, and the Silver Line Metro, ensuring easy access to Washington, D.C.

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) served more than 25 million passengers in 2023, with about a third of its passenger traffic from international flights.

IAD is a hub for United Airlines, with the carrier solely occupying services to/from Concourses C and D.

Quick Info

Airport: Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Terminals: 1 terminal with 5 concourses — A, B, C, D, and Z
Airport Address: 1 Saarinen Cir., Dulles, VA 20166
Distance From Downtown Washington: 26 miles (42 km)
Website: flydulles.com
Phone Number: 703-572-2700
Passengers Served: 15 million annually (2021)
Destinations: 82 domestic and 57 international destinations
Flight Information: Departures and arrivals info can be found online

IAD Terminal Map

Airlines Operating From IAD

IAD Airport Terminal

Washington Dulles International Airport has a straightforward layout that allows passengers easy movement between connecting flights and areas around the airport. IAD has 1 main terminal building outside of the secure area and 4 airside concourses parallel to the terminal.

Passengers may move between concourses via a pedestrian walkway or ride the AeroTrain. Car parking and ground transportation is located outside the terminal.

The terminal is split across 2 levels, with departures on the upper level and arrivals on the lower level. Both levels have road access outside for curbside drop-off and pick-up.

Ground transportation is on a third lower level outside of the terminal, so the road systems are tiered across 3 levels — departures, arrivals, and ground transportation.

There are 4 ticketing areas located on the terminal’s upper level, and these correspond with 4 drop-off areas outside, depending on your airline.

After ticketing, there are 2 security checkpoints on either end of the terminal, and these lead through to the pedestrian walkway to the A/B gates, AeroTrain stations, Z gates, or the D gates shuttle bus.

Arrivals is on the lower level, with baggage claim spanning the entire width of the terminal and escalators to the departures level and security checkpoints.

Concourses

Once inside the secure area, passengers have access to 5 concourses — A, B, C, D, and Z. Transportation options are outlined in the inter-terminal transport section below.

Concourse A

Concourse A has 31 United Express commuter gates and 12 mainline gates. Gates A1A to A6A are located in a separate wing of the concourse, accessible by walking across a pedestrian bridge. All other gates are accessible on the upper level and by walking down the main concourse.

There’s a good range of fast food and sit-down restaurants, including Dunkin’ and The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck, along with the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, Air France-KLM Lounge, Etihad First and Business Class lounges, and a chapel.

Concourse B

Concourse B has 28 gates numbered B37 to B38, B40 to B45, B47 to B51, B62 to B67, B70 to B76, B78 to B79, and B81. The Turkish Airlines Lounge, British Airways Galleries Lounge, and Lufthansa Lounge are all based in Concourse B, and there are food and dining options, including &pizza and Five Guys, and shops such as Ralph Lauren and Tumi.

Concourse C

Concourse C has 23 gates numbered C1 to C9, C11 to C12, C14, C17 to C20, C22 to C24, and C26 to C28. Concourse C has 3 United Club lounges, a United Polaris Lounge, and shopping and dining options, including Starbucks and Brookstone.

Concourse D

Concourse D has 27 gates numbered D1 to D8, D10 to D12, D14 to D16, D18 to D21, D23 to D27, D29 to D30, and D32. Aside from a United Club lounge, you’ll also find 2 Dunkin’ locations, a Pizza Hut, and a Starbucks.

Concourse Z

Concourse Z consists of 4 gates numbered Z6, Z7, Z9, and Z10. It’s located close to the main terminal and exit to baggage claim, with a Subway and a Dunkin’, but that’s about it!

Inter-concourse Transport

AeroTrain

The AeroTrain is an automated rail service that runs underground between the terminal and the concourses within the secure area. It’s a quick option for passengers traveling to and from their gates as it takes just 2 minutes between stations.

AeroTrain lines operate:

• After the west security checkpoint, transporting passengers to Concourse B
• After the east security checkpoint, transporting passengers to Concourse A and Concourse C

People Mover

The people movers that operate at IAD are half jet bridge/half bus. They elevate up to the aircraft door, and passengers disembark directly into the people mover to be transported to the terminal or concourse.

Once a feat of modern technology, the people movers are now outdated by the efficient AeroTrain, but many still operate between:

• The main terminal and Concourse D
• Concourse D and Concourse A
• International arriving flights to the main terminal and customs area

Walking

Passengers may walk from the main terminal to Concourse A via an underground tunnel with moving walkways. You can then walk from Concourse A to B within the long terminal itself.

Concourses A and B are interlinked, and so are Concourses C and D, so passengers may walk between concourses to use the facilities.

Security and Customs at IAD

IAD has 3 security checkpoints in the terminal — east, west, and a TSA PreCheck checkpoint.

The checkpoints operate during these hours:

• East Checkpoint: 3:45 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• West Checkpoint: 4:45 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• TSA PreCheck: 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

IAD has a TSA PreCheck Enrollment Center located in the terminal next to the east security checkpoint (outside of the secure area). The office is open Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Hot Tip: Check out our article on the average TSA security wait times to see how long you could be waiting in line at IAD. 

Global Entry Program

IAD has Global Entry kiosks for passengers that the program has approved. There’s an Enrollment Center at the west end of the main terminal on the arrivals level, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mobile Passport

IAD accepts Mobile Passport for U.S. citizens and Canadian visitors. Passengers can complete their information in the app rather than completing an arrival form, and once they receive an electronic receipt, they can present this to a CBP agent.

CLEAR

There are dedicated CLEAR security program kiosks at the main terminal ticketing level and east security checkpoint for passengers that have enrolled in the program. There are 2 enrollment kiosks located on the ticketing level.

IAD Airport Lounges

IAD has 10+ lounges (including a Capital One Lounge opening in 2023), all located in the departure concourses. Most are accessible only to eligible visitors, such as premium cabin passengers or frequent flyers.

* 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: Avoid lounge entry fees with these credit cards for airport lounge access.

Priority Pass Access

Priority Pass members may access the following lounges dependent on their membership type:

• Air France-KLM Lounge
• Chef Geoff’s (valid for $28 off the bill)
• Lufthansa Business Class Lounge
• Turkish Airlines Lounge
• Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse

Find out more about Priority Pass memberships and the best credit cards with Priority Pass access.

Dining and Drinks at IAD

IAD has over 40 restaurants, cafes, and fast-food counters, from Starbucks to Five Guys. Outside of the secure area, the terminal’s lower level has the most choices, and each concourse has a range of options inside the secure area.

IAD Wi-Fi and Charging Points

IAD provides free Wi-Fi for passengers in the terminal and concourses. To connect, select “FlyDulles” from the available connections and input your email address and zip code when prompted. For any assistance, passengers may email techWORKS@mwaa.com.

Charging Stations: Charging points are available at:

• Near the people mover station after security
• Concourse A: near gates A1A to F, A2A to F, A3A to F, A4A to G, A19, A22, and in between gates A26 and A32
• Concourse B: near gates B37, B40, B44, and B62
• Concourse C: near every gate excluding C12, C14, C23, and C24
• Concourse D: near gate D1, D3, D4, D7, D11, D12, D14, D18, and D19
• Concourse Z: near gate Z10

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. 

IAD Airport Lost and Found

IAD’s lost and found office is located behind baggage claim 2 on the arrivals level. Passengers who have lost an item in any of the airport’s public areas or on the AeroTrain or a shuttle bus may visit the office, call 703-572-8479, or report a lost item online. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Passengers who leave an item on an aircraft must contact the applicable airline.

If an item is left at a security checkpoint, then passengers can submit a claim or visit the TSA lost and found office behind Baggage Claim 1 on the arrivals level. The office is only open to drop-in visitors Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Additional Airport Information

Information Services

Information desks are in the following locations, staffed by Traveler’s Aid volunteers:

Terminal

• Departures level, 2 kiosks at the front of the terminal
• Arrivals level, near baggage claims 6, 11, and 14
• Just past the east and west security checkpoints

Concourse

• Concourse A, near gate A15
• Concourse B, near gate B62
• Concourse C, near gate C17
• Concourse D, near gate D16

Children’s Play Areas

IAD has a children’s play area in Concourse B, near gate B70. This large play area was developed in conjunction with NASA, but the airport did not earn a top spot in our study of the most kid-friendly U.S. airports.

Baby Facilities

IAD has 9 nursing rooms located:

• Near the restrooms, opposite baggage claims 2, 6, 11, and 14
• Concourse A, near gate A15
• Concourse B, near gate B62
• Concourse C, near gate C17
• Concourse D, near gate D16

Traveling With a Pet

IAD has 4 pet relief areas located:

• Departures level, outside of the terminal at both ends
• Concourse A, near gate A32
• Concourse D, near gate D1

Duty-free

IAD has 7 duty-free shops located:

• Concourse A, near gates A14 and A32
• Concourse B, near gate B63
• Concourse C, near gates C6 and C14
• Concourse D, near gates D2 and D16

Smoking Areas

Smoking is permitted outside of the terminals and in 4 dedicated smoking areas inside the secure area:

• Concourse B, near gates B37 and B73
• Concourse C, near gate C2
• Concourse D, near gate D30

Money

ATMs are located throughout the airport, and foreign currency services are available at:

• Departures level at the east and west ends, near the top of the escalators
• Concourse A, near gate A32
• Concourse C, near gates C8 and C12
• Concourse D, near gate D16
• International arrivals, opposite the baggage, re-check counters

Luggage Storage

As with other U.S. airports, there’s no luggage storage provided by the airport, but passengers can use an external company such as Vertoe.com.

Important IAD Phone Numbers

Customer Service: 703-572-8296

Customer Paging: 703-572-2700

Parking: 703-572-4500

Lost and Found: 703-572-8479

Travel to and From IAD

Transport Options

Bus

• Fairfax Connector: Local bus routes 952 and 983 run services to/from IAD. Route 952 serves destinations in Reston, while 983 serves the Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum. Buses depart from the second curb outside baggage claim.
• Virginia Breeze: Intercity serving the Shenandoah Valley, Blacksburg, and Union Station in Washington, D.C. Buses depart from curb 2A.
• Megabus: Service is offered from the airport and Union Station to Charlottesville. Buses depart from curb 2A.

Metrorail

Passengers can now access downtown Washington, D.C. directly from the airport via the Silver Line Metro. The Metro station is approximately a 5-minute walk from the terminal, near parking garage 1 (north). Fares range from $2 to $6 depending on when you travel with services operating during these hours:

• Monday through Friday: 5 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• Friday: 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.
• Saturday: 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.
• Sunday: 7 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Shuttles

Non-airport shuttles, such as hotel transfers, operate from the ground transportation level outside of the terminal.

Washington Flyer Taxicabs

Taxis are available 24/7 in the ground transportation area on the lower level (through doors 2 or 6). Fares from the airport to downtown Washington, D.C., are around $70 (excluding tip).

Ride Share

Lyft, Uber, and ALTO operate from IAD and may drop off passengers curbside outside of the terminal and pick them up from the ground transportation level outside of baggage claim.

Directions by Car to IAD

Arriving From Downtown Washington, D.C.

Take I-66 across the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and continue on I-66. Keep right at the fork to continue on VA-267 W and follow Dulles Airport/I-495 N/Baltimore signs. Keep left at the fork to continue on Dulles Access Road until you reach Saarinen Circle for access to the terminal. Please note that this route has tolls.

Arriving From Baltimore

Take I-95 S to exit 27 and merge onto I-495 W towards Silver Spring. Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 45A to merge onto VA-267 W and then exit towards Dulles Airport. Stay on Dulles Access Road until you reach Saarinen Circle to access the terminal.

IAD Airport Parking Information

Official Airport Parking

IAD has convenient airport parking across both terminals with direct, covered access via walkways. Long-term parking is also available for those looking for the most cost-effective option.

Short-term Parking

The terminal parking lot provides the closest and most convenient option for passengers looking for hourly or daily parking. The parking lot is connected to the terminal via an underground pedestrian walkway.

Terminal lot parking fees:

• Hourly: $6
• Daily rate: $27

Parking garages 1 and 2 are located a little further from the terminal parking lot and also connect to the terminal via pedestrian walkways. Parking Garage 1 is situated north of the terminal building and Parking Garage 2 is west of the terminal. A courtesy shuttle bus is available to transport passengers from the terminal to the parking garages, operating from curb area 2F.

Parking garage fees:

• Hourly: $6
• Daily rate: $19 (garage 2 is only open to advance bookings)

Hot Tip: For passengers looking to charge up their cars, Parking Garages 1 and 2 have electric vehicle charging points located on level 1.

Long-Term Parking

The economy parking lot is located further north of the airport, and passengers may ride the courtesy shuttle bus from curb 2F. Parking fees are $12 per day.

Curbside Valet Parking 

Valet parking is available from zone 3 on the departures level from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fees are $35 for day 1 and $10 per hour (up to a $35 maximum) for subsequent days.

Hot Tip: Booking your parking in advance can save you up to 17% on the parking fee.

Pick-up and Drop-off Parking

The cell phone waiting lot is located on Autopilot Drive and allows visitors to park for free while waiting to pick up a passenger. Visitors may remain for up to 1 hour and must not leave their vehicles unattended.

Off-site and Hotel Parking

If you’re willing to travel a little further, airport parking can be booked at external parking lots and hotels for a cheaper rate.

Parking at IAD starts at $8 per day when booked with airportparkingreservations.com, and these external parking lots include courtesy shuttles to and from the airport.

Parking for Passengers With Disabilities

Disabled parking is available at all airport property parking lots. In the terminal parking lots, spaces are located closest to the underground tunnel to the terminal, and in the economy parking lot, these are located closest to the shuttle bus stops. All airport shuttles are wheelchair accessible.

Parking Contact Number

General Inquiries: 703-572-4500

Car Rental at IAD Airport

All rental cars are located on Autopilot Drive north of the terminal, and courtesy buses shuttle passengers to and from the terminal. Buses pick-up and drop-off at the ground transportation area stops 2C or 2D.

The following companies are located in the rental car center:

Hot Tip: Avoid excessive rental insurance fees with these credit cards with car rental insurance as a benefit.

IAD Airport Hotels

Washington Dulles Airport Marriott is located on airport property about 0.5 miles from the terminal building. More hotels can be found 1+ miles away and range from 2- to 4-stars.

Top 3 Hotel Stays Using Points

The Hilton Washington Dulles Airport has plenty of amenities that travelers will love. The hotel features an on-site restaurant, a free airport shuttle, a 24-hour fitness center, and both an indoor and outdoor pool. Hilton no longer publishes an award chart, but award nights at the hotel will cost from 330,000 points per night on average.

The Westin Washington Dulles Airport is a stellar option at just 1.1 miles away from the airport. Guests have access to a free airport shuttle, indoor and outdoor pool, business center, and on-site restaurant, and the hotel even allows pets. Award nights should cost from 21,000 points, though you may see PointSavers rates that offer savings of up to 20%.

Those who prefer to stay at a Hyatt will be very comfortable at the Hyatt Regency Dulles. The hotel offers a complimentary airport shuttle, fitness center, pool, on-site restaurant, and business center like the other options. However, the hotel is just a Category 1 property in the World of Hyatt program — meaning award nights cost start at 3,500 points per night — making it an exceptional value for your points.

Final Thoughts

Washington Dulles International Airport serves more direct destinations than any other airport in its region, flying to dozens of domestic and international destinations.

IAD has seen a great deal of modernization over the last decade, and the airport’s structured layout allows for future expansion to accommodate double the current passenger capacity. This would include another new concourse after the C/D concourses with connections via the AeroTrain.

And with news that the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority board approved a new 14-gate concourse spanning more than 400,000 square feet, the future is bright at the D.C. region’s busiest airport.