Things to do / Travel Guide
With two international airports, a major train station, and easy access from the interstate highway system, DC is easily reached by air, rail, or road.The DC area, a major governmental, business, and tourist hub, is easily accessed by air through one of three airports, which handle hundreds of flights each day. Reagan International Airport is closest to the city center, located in Arlington, Virginia, and services primarily domestic air traffic from cities all over the United States. Dulles International Airport, located 26 miles west of DC, handles flights to and from airports all over the world. Baltimore-Washington Airport (BWI)is located to the north of DC, closer to Baltimore, Maryland, and services both domestic and international flights.
If you're in a rush to get into the city, then Reagan is your best option, just minutes away from downtown and serviced by most airlines that fly domestically. Dulles, on the other hand handles more of DC's international air traffic. All three airports are accessible via public transportation, but only Reagan and Dulles are on the DC Metro subway lines. For BWI, there is train service available into either Baltimore or DC.
Washington is linked to the interstate highway system via Route I-95 which travels the entire length of the East Coast. The system travels around DC via the Beltway (or I-495), which is a 64-mile-long highway offering access to many of the areas around the city, simultaneously alleviating some of the congestion that would be involved driving through it.
Below you'll find the approximate distances and driving times to Washington DC from other major cities.
- New York City: 250 miles, 4.5 hours
- Baltimore: 50 miles, 1 hour
- Philadelphia: 140 miles, 2.5 hours
- Pittsburgh: 245 miles, 4.5 hours
Amtrak trains service DC from other major U.S. cities and stop at Union Station. Easy access to DC via train is provided throughout the Northeast corridor, particularly from New York's Penn Station.
Inter-city buses arrive at the Greyhound Bus Terminal at 1005 1st Street in the NE quadrant. The major bus lines travel regularly to DC and present a good option for tourists traveling on tighter budgets.
A few cruise lines stop at the Port of Baltimore, 50 miles to the north of DC.
Airports in Washington D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland
Getting-There
Baltimore/Washington Intl Airport (BWI)
Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Washington National Airport (DCA)
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