Mid-Atlantic - Transportation Between IAD and DCA?

What's the cheapest way to get between DCA and IAD?

There's a Metro (subway) station adjacent to DCA. There's a bridge that goes from the main terminal to the Metro station.

From the Metro station, you can take the Metro Blue Line train to Rosslyn. Then, at Rosslyn, catch the Metrobus 5A bus heading to Dulles.

The train runs quite frequently. However, the bus only runs hourly.

To get from IAD to DCA, do the reverse: take the bus and then the train.

It's probably about $4 or $5 one-way, including the train and the bus.

Thanks:)

FYI

Here's a link to the 5A bus that goes to IAD, either pdf or PDA format:

http://www.wmata.com/timetables/view.cfm?line=49

^

If you miss the 5A bus, just get on the Orange Line westbound from Rosslyn, take it to West Falls Church, and then board the Washington Flyer bus ($8 one-way) to Dulles. The Washington Flyer runs every 30 minutes, as opposed to the 5A's once per hour, and is much more comfortable with more space to store luggage.

What's the cheapest way to get between DCA and IAD?

Stand up during the approach to DCA and yell, "Allah Akbar!!"

Stand up during the approach to DCA and yell, "Allah Akbar!!"

You can actually get the same effect (theoretically) by standing up and asking for a cup of tea with cream and sugar. :D As long as you do it within 30 minutes of landing at DCA. It's probably best to do this soon after entering the 30 minute perimeter to save time circling around back to IAD. :)

When standing up to ask for your cup of tea, it is best to NOT make any sudden movements or walk in the direction of the cockpit. This could result in more than a cup of tea. Remember, good manners count in these situations.

An alternative is to buy at ticket directly into IAD. ;)

US Airways has a flight from DCA to IAD via RDU for a little over $200 round trip. You can earn some miles along the way.

United has one with a stop in Montreal.

Not that long ago, there was a direct filght, IAD-BWI. I would think some little airline would set up a pair of triangle flights IAD-BWI-DCA, and reverse.

IAD-BWI flights would be wonderful. The traffic on the Beltway, or through DC, for Virginians to get to BWI (and Marylanders to get to IAD) can be brutal at many times of the day. And the extra 500 FF miles would be nice. :)

Wasn't there also a flight between IAD and Manassas??? I think I remember seeing this on UA's flight schedule 4-5 years ago.

Didn't the old Presidential fly to Manassas? IIRC they inherited it from their purchase of the original Colgan.

US Airways has a flight from DCA to IAD via RDU for a little over $200 round trip. You can earn some miles along the way.

United has one with a stop in Montreal.

You can often also book a connection via Chicago between any of the DC-area airports on UA. I actually priced one out when I needed to be at BWI for a flight and needed some additional WAS departures/arrivals for a UA promo: DCA-ORD-BWI for something like $150 back in April.

Seems the loooong way around, though ;)

There's a Metro (subway) station adjacent to DCA. There's a bridge that goes from the main terminal to the Metro station.

From the Metro station, you can take the Metro Blue Line train to Rosslyn. Then, at Rosslyn, catch the Metrobus 5A bus heading to Dulles.

The train runs quite frequently. However, the bus only runs hourly.

To get from IAD to DCA, do the reverse: take the bus and then the train.

It's probably about $4 or $5 one-way, including the train and the bus.

Yellow line to L'Enfant and then 5A is slightly (and I mean slightly) cheaper during peak hours. :D

I'm connecting through IAD to PHL on a Thu evening later this month.

I come in on UA208 from SJC, on a Thu evening at 3.30 pm.

I am thinking of taking a flight out of DCA (instead of IAD) so that i can get a couple of 500-mile minimums before i reach PHL. i'm trying to see if i will have enough time to get from IAD to DCA and then take US2415 DCA-ORF at 4.40 pm (and later, US3788 ORF-PHL).

From this thread and the Metro site, it looks like it will take an hour by public transport, to get from IAD to DCA. Is there a faster way to get to DCA, from IAD? Cab? What's the traffic like at that time of the day? cost?

I will have only carry-on luggage. Considering i need to clear security at DCA and check-in, this seems a tall order.

70 minutes to connect, and switch airports besides? Not a chance.

traffic is not a simple good/bad, it depends on wx and all kinds of things but in general its crowded on the roads. while you'd be travelling "opposite" rush hour (and yes, rush hour starts just after 3 these days), the thing about this area is that there really isn't any difference between travelling "opposite" rush hour and with rush hour these days.

BTW, the hour to travel using public transportation was a surprise to me. although that will depend on the timing of your arrival and connections (bus to metro), etc but if you could do it in an hour, that's great.

If you could pull that off you could probably win the $1 million prize on the Amazing Race.

I would say next to impossible. Even if you cabbed it, it would take all of your connection time to get to DCA, much less clear security and check-in. No matter how fast you run, it will take you at least 15mins to get to the curb at IAD, another 45mins to speed like a bat out of hell to DCA (and it will take you longer at that time of the day), which will leave you arriving at the gate just as they are closing the doors. And that's assuming perfect travel conditions in the skies and on the roads.

Chances of hitting the Powerball are higher, me thinks ;)

But as an FYI: The cab from IAD-DCA will set you back about $60 when you factor in the tip. You will hit some congestion at the merge of the airport road (VA267) and I66, at the merge of I66 going on to 110, and pretty heavy stuff on Route 1 (may be better to jump on GW Parkway). 45 minutes minimum in ideal conditions.


I'm connecting through IAD to PHL on a Thu evening later this month.

I come in on UA208 from SJC, on a Thu evening at 3.30 pm.

I am thinking of taking a flight out of DCA (instead of IAD) so that i can get a couple of 500-mile minimums before i reach PHL. i'm trying to see if i will have enough time to get from IAD to DCA and then take US2415 DCA-ORF at 4.40 pm (and later, US3788 ORF-PHL).

From this thread and the Metro site, it looks like it will take an hour by public transport, to get from IAD to DCA. Is there a faster way to get to DCA, from IAD? Cab? What's the traffic like at that time of the day? cost?

I will have only carry-on luggage. Considering i need to clear security at DCA and check-in, this seems a tall order.

If it is possible to be more pessimistic than blueDC, I will provide that pessimism. Completing this connection in the 70 minutes required is impossible. There just isn't enough luck in the world for eveything to line up to make this connection, unless your into flight into IAD arrives early, and your flight out of DCA closes the door late.

Everything must be perfect in both airports as well as on the roads. That just isn't going to happen.

Point taken folks. This idea is still-born. I will look at other options :)

And the taxi drivers just went on their 5th strike. Just like Italy & France.

Looks like I'm going to need to do IAD-DCA in February. In addition to the above options, has anyone tried SuperShuttle? It looks like $23 direct.

Looks like I'm going to need to do IAD-DCA in February. In addition to the above options, has anyone tried SuperShuttle? It looks like $23 direct.

SuperShuttle can be a good option. Just hope that they don't decide to do too many drop-offs and pick-ups in between IAD and DCA. :eek:

I'm connecting through IAD to PHL on a Thu evening later this month.

I come in on UA208 from SJC, on a Thu evening at 3.30 pm.



Not a chance... not even by cab. You would need to go from concourse C at IAD to the main terminal (10 minutes) then onto the cab stand. If your lucky you get one of the washington flyer cabs quick. Then it is a 30 mile drive between IAD & DCA (not to mention a $50 cab ride). The timming of your flights is bad as well -- being right in the middle of rush hour. The route to DCA will take you on congested I-66. You'd be extremely lucky to make the connection with a 2 hour window.

Looks like I'm going to need to do IAD-DCA in February. In addition to the above options, has anyone tried SuperShuttle? It looks like $23 direct.
the thing about supershuttle that I didn't like and stopped me from using them the one time I was going to was that they had no estimate of any sort as to when the shuttle would leave. If you have enough time to wait 30+ minutes for a departure, then it's a good, reasonably priced option but if your time is shorter, I don't recommend the option unless the shuttle is pretty much pulling out as you come up to the counter.

Thanks. I'll probably take one of the buses to the Metro.

Just an update. I took the Washington Flyer bus to the metro, then took the metro to DCA. Worked great. Thanks for the tips.

Stand up during the approach to DCA and yell, "Allah Akbar!!"

that made me burst out laughing