Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport is the closest to downtown among the three airports serving the capital.
Gateway to Washington D.C., home to the nation's principal monuments and museums.
How to get to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
By Car
By Train
By Bus
Average travel time to DCA
Parking near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Parking 1 (Terminal 1 Garage) costs 35 USD/day; Parking 2 (Terminal 2 Garage) 29 USD/day; Economy Lot 25 USD/day; affiliated outdoor parking starts from 8.50 USD/day.
How to get to Washington from DCA
By Train
By Bus
By Taxi
Need an airport transfer?
Compare taxis and shuttles on Booking.com
Car rental at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
A shuttle service connects the terminal to the desks of major car rental companies.
A driver's license, passport and credit card are sufficient; an IDP is not required for short stays if your license is in Latin characters.
Hotels near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Crystal City and Pentagon City (National Landing)
Yellow or Blue Line, a single stop from the station inside the airport, 3-5 minutes; on foot 15-20 minutes along the riverside bike and pedestrian path.
Best for: For a dawn flight or a short layover, wanting the shortest trip to the terminal with the widest choice of hotels.
- The area with the highest concentration of hotels at the shortest distance from the terminal
- Direct metro connection, no transfer needed to reach the airport
- An office and shopping-center district, less lively in the evening than downtown
- The National Mall and the monuments remain across the river
Recommended hotels
- Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport With a free shuttle to the terminal, a block from the metro and the shops of Crystal City. View availability
- Crystal Gateway Marriott Connected to the Crystal City metro by a covered walkway, with a free airport shuttle and in-hotel car rental. View availability
- Sheraton Pentagon City In Pentagon City, with views of the Washington monuments and a free shuttle to the airport. View availability
Convention Center and Chinatown
Yellow Line direct from the airport station to Mt Vernon Sq or Gallery Place-Chinatown, about 20 minutes with no transfers.
Best for: For those staying on the direct line from the airport who want to visit museums and the National Mall on foot from the metro.
- A Yellow Line stop just steps away, zero transfers to get back to the airport
- The National Mall and the Smithsonian museums a few metro stops away
- The Capital One Arena brings crowds and noise on evenings with sports events
- An office district, the area empties out early in the evening
Recommended hotels
- Hampton Inn Washington DC - Convention Center Two blocks from the Convention Center and three from the Gallery Place-Chinatown metro, with free hot breakfast. View availability
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington DC Convention Center All-suite rooms three blocks from the Convention Center, with breakfast made to order and an evening reception. View availability
Navy Yard and Capitol Hill
Yellow Line to L'Enfant Plaza, then a transfer to the Green Line for one or two stops to Navy Yard-Ballpark, 20-25 minutes in total.
Best for: For those who want to stay near the Capitol and the Nationals' stadium with just one metro transfer.
- A few steps from the Nationals' stadium and the Capitol Riverfront
- A recently rebuilt neighborhood, restaurants open late
- One more metro transfer than downtown to get back to the airport
- Hotel parking rates are among the highest in the city
Recommended hotels
- Hampton Inn & Suites Washington, D.C. - Navy Yard Right across from the Nationals' stadium, a block from the metro, with a panoramic terrace over the Capitol Riverfront. View availability
- Courtyard by Marriott Washington Capitol Hill/Navy Yard A block from the Navy Yard metro and a few minutes' walk from the Capitol, with an indoor pool. View availability
Foggy Bottom and Georgetown
Blue Line direct from the airport to Foggy Bottom-GWU, about 15 minutes with no transfers; Georgetown is then 15-20 minutes on foot.
Best for: For those who prefer staying close to Georgetown, the Kennedy Center and George Washington University.
- Direct connection via the Blue Line, no transfer needed to reach the airport
- A few steps from the Kennedy Center and the George Washington University campus
- Georgetown proper remains a 15-20 minute walk away, with no metro of its own
- A university district, it can be noisy during the first weeks of the semester
Recommended hotels
- Courtyard by Marriott Washington, D.C./Foggy Bottom A minute from George Washington University, with an indoor pool and a round-the-clock gym. View availability
- Residence Inn Washington, DC/Foggy Bottom A few steps from the Watergate complex, with a free breakfast buffet and a full kitchen in every suite. View availability
Dupont Circle
Yellow or Blue Line to Metro Center or Gallery Place, then a transfer to the Red Line for Dupont Circle, 25-30 minutes in total.
Best for: For those seeking a residential neighborhood with restaurants and nightlife, away from the National Mall's tourist flow.
- The city's highest concentration of restaurants and evening spots
- A quiet, residential atmosphere, away from the Mall's tourist traffic
- Requires one more metro transfer, the trip from the airport exceeds 25 minutes
- No stop in the heart of the neighborhood, it's a two-block walk from the metro
Recommended hotels
- The Dupont Circle Hotel A design hotel less than two minutes' walk from the metro, in the heart of the Dupont Circle neighborhood. View availability
- Courtyard by Marriott Washington, DC Dupont Circle On a residential street in Dupont Circle, a few minutes' walk from Embassy Row and the metro. View availability
Airport services
Shopping & Duty Free
Lounges & relaxation
- lounges
- 6
- earliest opening
- 05:15
Connectivity & Wi-Fi
Families & Children
Terminal guide
The terminals (National Hall, terminals B/C) are connected by a system of pedestrian paths and internal shuttles.
For flights it is advisable to arrive at least 2.5 hours in advance; specific security restrictions apply due to proximity to the nation's political center.
Map of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Frequently asked questions
Q. Is Reagan National the closest airport to downtown Washington?
Yes, among the capital's three airports (along with Dulles and Baltimore-Washington) it's the closest, with a subway station directly at the airport.
Q. How much does the subway from DCA to downtown cost?
As of February 23, 2026 (Fare 48): on weekdays from 5:00 am to 9:30 pm the fare ranges from 2.25 to 6.75 USD depending on distance; after 9:30 pm on weekdays and all weekend, a reduced flat fare of between 2.25 and 2.50 USD applies regardless of distance.
Q. Do you need a card for the Washington subway?
Yes, a SmarTrip Card, which can be bought at the station or loaded onto Apple/Google Wallet.
Q. Does DCA handle international flights?
Mainly domestic flights; international connections mostly go through Dulles Airport (IAD).
Q. What time does the first lounge open?
At 05:15: United Club (Terminal 2).
Flight board
Real-time status of arriving and departing flights
