BWI to DC vs DCA
 

Going to DC for the 4 July weekend, I can save a little over $300 round trip on two tickets flying into BWI over DCA.

We would take either the WMATA or MARC from BWI into DC. How convienent is it, and do you consider it worth the savings in flight costs? Do you know if the schedules are the same for holidays? Seems some are weekdays only, but we would fly in on 4 July, how are those schedules?

For work I fly into DCA and am very comfortable taking the metro.

Can't tell you if it's "worth" it because that's an individual decision based on individual circumstances. To me, $300 to schlep from BWI into DC isn't even close to worth it.

That is my concern!!! It is 60-90 minutes more travel time and all.

Thanks!

But how much is the cost of the train so you can work out how much you are saving from flying into BWI rather than DC.

What about a shuttle bus or car / limo which might reduce the travel time (but at increased cost)?

For me a $300 saving is well worth the additional travel time - it's a lot of spending money on attraction visits, food, shopping etc etc

MARC does not run on weekends or most holidays (yet; this will change). Amtrak does run on 4 July, but will be expensive as it's a holiday. WMATA's buses, including the B30 ($6), operate on a Saturday schedule on the 4th, which on that route means business as usual since M-Sa schedules are similar. The bus runs pretty much on schedule, in my experience. Then you'll transfer to the Green Line, which is $4.50 to downtown DC.

Perhaps my time's less valuable, but I'd fly out of BWI to save $50, or if it meant the difference between a saver/standard award.

Agreed. I lived in DC for 4 years and I can tell you from experience that any holiday in DC is... a total cluster.... when it comes to public transportation... and even private transportation since streets are either shut down or jammed. It may come down to how patient you are when it comes to being in traffic and surrounded by swarms of people.

Thanks. Didn't realize it is just $6 plus metro and runs on the Holiday.

I lived in Pentagon City for a year and really got used to DCA, but that was when Northwest Airlines was around and in the old terminal.

I refuse to use those WMATA buses. The schedule is inadequate and I have had too many experiences with the bus being 1+ hour late, excessive overcrowding, etc.

If you insist on going to BWI, use Supershuttle, but DCA is by far the superior option in virtually every way.

I refuse to use those WMATA buses. The schedule is inadequate and I have had too many experiences with the bus being 1+ hour late, excessive overcrowding, etc. The overcrowding will be especially bad on a holiday weekend.

If you insist on going to BWI, use Supershuttle, but DCA is by far the superior option in virtually every way.

Where are you coming from and where in DC are you staying?

If I was on a short non-stop coming in and was staying reasonably close to union station, I'd do BWI & Amtrak. Shuttle bus takes you from the airport to the station, and it's about 40 minutes (I think!) to Union Station in DC. You should be able to figure your trip times and costs on Amtrak's website.

I would not do the bus via Greenbelt--a change, and a long time on transit make it completely unappealing.

Agreed, avoid the WMATA and stick with Amtrak. The BWI-->Union Station ride is actually quite painless, and if you look for July 4th tickets on Amtrak now, you can get them as low as $11 for a wide array of times. The BWI shuttle to the train station runs every five minutes or so, and if it meant saving $300 there would be little question of choice for me. However, only you can judge how much your time is worth, and if the extra 1-1.5 hours on your travel in each direction is too much, you should just stick with DCA.

Coming in from DTW. CP Hamilton or HI Capital are the two at the top of the list for this trip.

Going into DCA seems better and better given the reviews from BWI. Plus, I have done that trip many, many times. At one point in time I would leave dry cleaning and dress shirts at the laundry on Friday and pick up Monday after work.