Air Travel

Flying time to Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) Airport is just over one hour from New York; approximately two hours from Chicago; and five hours from Los Angeles. Flying time to Richmond International Airport is approximately 1½ hours from New York, 2 hours from Chicago, and 7 to 9 hours from Los Angeles (because there are no nonstop flights). A flight to D.C. is a little more than an hour from New York, about two hours from Chicago, and five hours from San Francisco. Those flying from London can expect a trip of about six hours. A trip from Sydney takes about 20 hours.

Flying into BWI Airport could save money; airlines, including Southwest, often have good deals to this airport. Good sales can sometimes be found to Dulles and occasionally to Reagan National. Fares into Richmond International are sometimes more expensive.

Airline Security Issues

Transportation Security Administration (866/289–9673. www.tsa.gov.)

Airports

Virginia has Richmond International Airport (RIC), 10 mi east of Richmond; the busy Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), 3 mi south of downtown Washington; and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), 26 mi northwest of Washington. There is considerable service nationwide into and out of Norfolk (ORF) and even Newport News (aka Patrick Henry, PHF). Maryland's Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI) is about 25 mi northeast of Washington and 10 mi south of Baltimore. Amtrak and commuter trains stop at BWI.

Most travelers fly to the nearest major airport and rent a car to get to areas covered by smaller regional airports. Many smaller airports have flights or connections to Washington, Baltimore, Richmond, Norfolk, and Philadelphia. Hagerstown Regional Airport has flights to Pittsburgh and other Pennsylvania airports (but not to Washington or Baltimore). Salisbury-Ocean City-Wicomico Regional Airport serves the lower Eastern Shore with service to Philadelphia. Airports at Staunton, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Roanoke have scheduled service.

Airport Information

Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport. 757/877–0221. www.nnwairport.com.

Norfolk International Airport. 2200 Norview Ave., Norfolk, VA. 757/857–3351. norfolkairport.com.

Richmond International Airport. 804/226–3000. www.flyrichmond.com.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (703/417–8000. www.metwashairports.com/reagan.)

Thurgood Marshall Baltimore-Washington International Airport. 410/859–7111 or 800/435–9294. www.bwiairport.com.

Washington Dulles International Airport. 703/572–2700. www.metwashairports.com/dulles.

Secondary Airports

Charlottesville Albemarle County. 434/973–8342.

Hagerstown Regional. 240/313–2777.

Lynchburg Regional. 434/455–6090.

Roanoke Regional Airport. 540/362–1999.

Salisbury-Ocean City-Wicomico Regional. 540/548–4827.

Ground Transportation

Reagan National, Dulles, and BWI airports are served by SuperShuttle, which takes passengers to or from a hotel or residence. Buy tickets and request service at the SuperShuttle counter, or book online for returns to the airports.

The most reasonable way to BWI is by Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) train, MTA light rail, Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) bus, or a combination thereof. All northbound Amtrak and MTA Penn Line trains from Washington's Union Station or southbound from Baltimore Penn Station make a BWI stop, where there's a free shuttle bus to the terminal. MTA costs about a third of the Amtrak fare, but only operates on workdays. MTA light trains run from BWI to downtown Baltimore and the suburbs daily. WMATA has an express bus (B30) to BWI every 40 minutes from its Greenbelt, MD, Metrorail station.

Taxi fare to Baltimore's Inner Harbor is about $25.

Dulles is served by Washington Flyer bus and WMATA's Metrobus. Washington Flyer operates between Dulles and the West Falls Church Metrorail station every half hour from 5:45 am (7:45 on weekends) until 10:15 pm for $10 one-way and $18 round-trip. WMATA Metrobuses and trains operate from the Metrorail station. The little-known express Metrobus, route 5A, runs hourly between Dulles and L'Enfant Plaza Metrorail station in downtown Washington. It costs $6, and exact change is required.

Taxi fares from Dulles to downtown Washington range from $57 to $61; drivers accept major credit cards.

Reagan National has its own Metrorail station just outside the main terminal. There is virtually no bus service to the airport. Taxi drivers must accept credit card payment, and they charge a $1.75 airport-access fee. Fare to the U.S. Capitol is about $10, though a small gas surcharge may also apply.

Transfers Between Airports

Taxi service is by far the most expensive option between airports; sample fares are $100 between BWI and National, $120 between BWI and Dulles, and $55 between Dulles and National.

Travel between BWI and National for $11: Take WMATA's $6 express bus from BWI to the Greenbelt Metrorail station, then switch to the Metrorail and transfer at Gallery Place. Between BWI and Dulles, take WMATA's express bus, then the Metrorail to L'Enfant Plaza, then switch to the 5A express bus; total fare is $17. Note that Metrorail rates rise slightly during rush hour.

For a little more comfort on weekdays, take the MTA train to or from BWI via Union Station. The fare is $6 one-way.

Contacts

BWI Airport Taxi. 410/859–1100. www.bwiairporttaxi.com.

Maryland Transportation Administration. 410/539–5000. www.mtamaryland.com.

SuperShuttle. 800/258–3826. www.supershuttle.com.

Washington Flyer (888/927–4359. www.washfly.com.)

WMATA. 202/637–7000. www.wmata.com.