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.
Closest Airport to Washington, DC and Baltimore, MDThe 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 the closest airport to Washington's 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 Baltimore or DC as well as connections to Amtrak's Northeast corridor.
Car or Bus to Washington, DC and Baltimore
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.
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.
Washington, DC Driving Distance and Times
Below you'll find the approximate distances and driving times to Washington DC from other major cities.
- Driving distance to Washington from New York City: 250 miles, 4.5 hours
- Driving distance to Washington from Baltimore: 50 miles, 1 hour
- Driving distance to Washington from Philadelphia: 140 miles, 2.5 hours
- Driving distance to Washington from Pittsburgh: 245 miles, 4.5 hours
Train to Washington, DC and Baltimore
Amtrak trains service Baltimore and Washington, DC from New York, Philadelphia, Boston and other cities in the Northeast corridor. Trains are frequent, reasonably priced if booked in advance (avoid the Acela Express if on a budget) and the fastest, and most comfortable way to get to Washington and Baltimore from Manhattan and points south.
Amtrak provides service from Washington to Richmond, Virginia and points south, all the way to Atlanta, New Orleans and Miami.. The Capitol Limited train connects Washington to Pittsburgh, Chicago and points in between.
Trains to Washington stop at Union Station. Trains to Baltimore at Penn Station. Spend a few minutes to look around these historical train stations.
A few cruise lines stop at the Port of Baltimore, 50 miles to the north of DC.
Airports Serving 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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