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7 hours in IAD... What to do?
I have a 7 hour stop in Washington Dulles airport and am after some ideas on what to do. I am an international passenger travelling with United, and my trip is LHR > IAD (7hrs) > DEN > BZN. My trip is long, and will probably be no fun, so time out would be good if i can go somewhere away from the airport! I will be arriving on a Sunday at 3pm, and leaving at 10pm.
I don't know if i have to pick up my luggage (i hope not), but is there anything i can do to occupy those 7 hrs? Can i leave the airport? If so, what's close? Thanks |
Originally Posted by Harok
(Post 17015155)
I have a 7 hour stop in Washington Dulles airport and am after some ideas on what to do. I am an international passenger travelling with United, and my trip is LHR > IAD (7hrs) > DEN > BZN. My trip is long, and will probably be no fun, so time out would be good if i can go somewhere away from the airport! I will be arriving on a Sunday at 3pm, and leaving at 10pm.
I don't know if i have to pick up my luggage (i hope not), but is there anything i can do to occupy those 7 hrs? Can i leave the airport? If so, what's close? Thanks |
Originally Posted by moondog
(Post 17015209)
The Smithsonian Annex is an obvious choice, but won't suck up an entire 7 hours.
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Originally Posted by Harok
(Post 17015219)
I will be there next Sunday, and looking at the website, their extended summer hours (where they open until 18:30, instead of 17:30), end next Saturday! I think i'd be very lucky to get there in time before it closes. It would have been perfect though!
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Originally Posted by Harok
(Post 17015155)
I have a 7 hour stop in Washington Dulles airport and am after some ideas on what to do. I am an international passenger travelling with United, and my trip is LHR > IAD (7hrs) > DEN > BZN. My trip is long, and will probably be no fun, so time out would be good if i can go somewhere away from the airport! I will be arriving on a Sunday at 3pm, and leaving at 10pm.
I don't know if i have to pick up my luggage (i hope not), but is there anything i can do to occupy those 7 hrs? Can i leave the airport? If so, what's close? Sounds to me as though you are at IAD in the evening. If you do have 7 hours, best is to rent a car and get a nice dinner. Alternatively, you may be able to find a day rate at one of the many IAD hotels (call the front desk directly, not the toll-free reservations #) and get a room. Lastly, if you have lounge access to something other than RCC, that's better than waiting at the gate. Thanks You don't list your schedule, but there is fairly frequent IAD-DEN service and there may well be an earlier flight. Check at LHR and again at IAD (before you hand your bags back). |
Originally Posted by moondog
(Post 17015227)
Then, maybe rent a car and head into town. Weekend rentals tend to be cheap.
thats not enough time to clear customs, reclaim luggage, recheck, get shuttle, pick up rental, figure out where going, drive to DC.. see things.. drive back (all the while likely running into evening lane closures for metro rail or other construction) leaving ample time for delays getting back, dropping rental car and reclearing security even if you know what you are doing like the back of your hand, I would not do the DC thing If it were me,for a car option, I would maybe do the smithsonian IAD for a quicky, Reston Town Center for a leisurely dinner (8-10 miles from IAD smithsonian) or Fairfax for dinner and head back to IAD. |
For even more suggestions and discussion, please follow the thread as it moves to the Travel->Washington, D.C. Forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.
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There is a 3.47 and a 5.10 Denver flight if you want to wait list and try to getout earlier. If you are sticking around, then I'd suggest a cab over to Reston town center to walk around the stores and grab a bite to eat before heading back to the airport. Note that later at night and I'd think ESP on a long weekend, TSA cuts their staff and can create a back up at security. Not horrible, but dont expect a five minute pass thru because it's late.
Btw, even if you do want out of the airport follow the sign for connecting flights when you get off the international flight, take care of your luggage and then head to the train for a ride over to main terminal and a couple hours of freedom. If you head the other way (with terminating passengers), a good portion of your connection will be spent waiting for them to truck your luggage over to the main terminal. Seriously not fun. Enjoy, |
Little known next to Dulles
This air & space museum is right next to Dulles. Very few people actually know about it. There is a space shuttle (Enterprise) and a concorde that are housed here, and it's a very good museum if you like airplanes:
http://www.nasm.si.edu/udvarhazy/ It is a great way to kill time before a flight, and you're not too far from the airport that you have to worry about traffic getting back too late for your flight. |
Originally Posted by SFflyer123
(Post 17018637)
This air & space museum is right next to Dulles. Very few people actually know about it. There is a space shuttle (Enterprise) and a concorde that are housed here, and it's a very good museum if you like airplanes:
http://www.nasm.si.edu/udvarhazy/ It is a great way to kill time before a flight, and you're not too far from the airport that you have to worry about traffic getting back too late for your flight. |
To repeat, and elaborate, from previous posts....
After deplaning, you walk down a sterile corridor. Be sure to follow the purple TRANSFERS signs, down two escalators for Immigration & Customs in the mid-field terminal. Do NOT follow the yellow ARRIVALS signs which would lead you onto a Mobile Lounge for the Main Terminal IAB - your checked bags will NOT be there. |
Too bad about the hours at Air and Space - that would have been perfect. I'll second (or third) other posts that recommend you cab over to Reston Town Centre. There's tons of great bars, restaurants, shops, ice cream parlors, etc. that should easily occupy you from 4 - 8 pm or so.
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So my flight was 20mins early (?!), and i got through immigration/customs in less than 40mins. So i did get a chance to spend a couple of hours at the museum!
I'm now sat in the most boring airport for transit passengers that i've ever been in. Fun times! It does give me a chance to read my guide book though :) |
Originally Posted by Harok
(Post 17054660)
So my flight was 20mins early (?!), and i got through immigration/customs in less than 40mins. So i did get a chance to spend a couple of hours at the museum!
I'm now sat in the most boring airport for transit passengers that i've ever been in. Fun times! It does give me a chance to read my guide book though :) |
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