IAD to WDC transfer
 

I have a return flight from Europe that arrives on a Saturday at Dulles. My connection after that leg is at Washington Reagan 3 hours later. I have tried to work out a different itinerary with AA but they say there is nothing else available. I've looked into this from several sources recently and the options seem to be the following:

1) the 5A bus to Rosslyn then the Metro (Blue Line) to DCA
2) Washington Flyer bus from the IAD to Falls Church (Orange Line) then change at Rosslyn to the Blue Line down to DCA.
3) Taxi or some other limo/van service

I just wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything else since some of this information is somewhat dated but it may still be valid. I don't know. Any recommendations for the quickest way from IAD to DCA on a Saturday would be much appreciated. I don't mind paying more if it helps me not to miss the flight at DCA.

Thanks

Taxi would be ~$65
 

I'm directly between the two, and based on my cab fares to each I'd expect your cab fare to be $65, maybe a bit more.

theairportshuttle.com offers airport-to-airport transfers for $59 between the 3 area airports; that's a decent rate for BWI, but seems excessive for IAD-DCA.

supremeairportshuttle.com offers IAD-DCA for apparently $29.

Note that I have not used either and have heard no opinions about either.

If you were a week later, you'd have the option of helping to inaugurate the new Silver Line... :p

Quickest is a taxi, no doubt.

Car service (Uber) / Taxi. Why torture yourself.

I would see 3 hours as quite a tight connection on an I-D at WAS.

I'll actually be making the trip on Saturday, 8/2. Would the Silver Line be available and be the best option?

You would have to get to Reston/Wiehle station first which is a 15-20 minute / $20 - $25 cab ride.

I looked up the fare for a Washington Flyer taxi and it is $64. Being a Saturday hopefully the traffic wont be a problem.

Metro is super-unreliable on weekends. Often 20-25 minute waits for trains. And as others said, you don't have a lot of time, specially if you don't have GE and/or check bags.

Do not even think of using anything which causes delays. Either book a car service or user Uber. I don't think that you are appreciating just how variable traffic can be, even on weekends when much construction takes place.

You're clearing immigration/customs at Dulles? I would do car service/cab, and not bother with any of the other options.

Thanks for all the responses. I'll definitely book a car or take a cab.

Slightly reusing a thread, as I've read all the related ones and this seems the closest to my question.

I clearly have time to do make my own transfer (assuming no significant delays on the inbound), but was curious if you think I had time to grab some lunch, and if so where
Timing: Friday afternoon, just before Easter (Good Friday)
Arrive IAD @ 13:45 (A380 from London but I should be one of the first off)
Depart DCA @ 18:18 (to ORD)

Likely route: Take the 5A bus then the blue line metro (as long as times work, otherwise I'd be getting an Uber).

Presuming that I arrive and get through immigration promptly, where should I look to eat/relax - I was thinking to get some food around Rosslyn, or am I better off just eating around DCA/on the plane? Was also thinking to pop out and see the Pentagon briefly, again time dependent, but presume there isn't any food near it?

(I have done this transfer before, but I had a day between the flights. In that case I felt I got to DCA far too early and was bored in the airport.)

Thanks for any views

5A bus is the least reliable public transportation option at IAD. Plus you are looking at being in the start of rush hour. Any issue on 66, Dulles Toll Road( likely) you are screwed. I would go with either the Washington Flyer bus or 983 bus to Reston Wiehle Metro. Both are much more reliable and cheaper. Being on the metro on the first stop is very relaxing compared to the crowded 5A bus. As for the Uber, they are not suppose to pick up at IAD so if someone catches them there at IAD, they are done pretty much. Only picks up from the Departures level. Not sure why not take a cab in this situation.

As for food options: What type of food are you looking for? I would imagine there would be more options in the Pentagon City/ Crystal City areas than at Rosslyn. You mean taking photos of the Pentagon and/or the memorial? Otherwise, I don't think they have any tours available. You might want to visit National Cemetery instead if you have not.

Any questions you might have, don't hesitate and contact me on here!!

I won't say much about the timing of your connection, other than the checked baggage delays at Dulles are even worse than I remember, and there may be a spot of traffic when the bus hits 66.

If you want to stick close to the metro at Rosslyn, either the Heavy Seas Alehouse or Kanpai (Japanese) are about a block uphill (on Oak). If you have the time to venture a bit further, you can sample some of the best Mexican food in the area (seriously):

Guajillo (on Wilson) is a sit-down place with good mole, strong margaritas, though a bit pricey (but takes credit card).

My favorite place is a bit of a walk (14th and Quinn/Queen), the taco truck El Chilango. Cash only, but top quality, and at less than $3 per taco, grab as many as you can handle!

Thanks for the view both, definitely change the plan to the Washington Flyer then (I'd misread the 5A as being the better option for some reason).

Uber would appear to be a bit different in the UK from the US (haven't tried it "over the pond" yet). From Heathrow its become my preferred option for being approx 30% of the taxi price, sometimes you get a nicer luxury car and I can just pay directly with a credit card rather than cash. However that is a bit of a backup option.

Pentagon was just to see the memorial actually (last time I was there was probably 2006, though I've been to Washington last year), will see how time is going as the national cemetery is something I'd forgotten about and if its a nice day is appropriate too.

Thanks for the tips EricTheNerd, I'll save down to use if I get the chance. If there are any other tips on food I'm easy - something "American" perhaps for a reasonably pleasant lunch, perhaps a nice chunky sandwich and chowder for example. (Was in Mexico over Christmas tasting "real" tacos)

Little Voices,

It is called the Silver Line Express, runs every 20 minutes and drops you off at Wiehle Metro. Door 4 up the ramp at IAD. 5 Dollars cash or credit card plus the metro card to get to DCA. I am always amazed how many people don't realize the Silver Line opened and still take the 5A bus over the other two public transportation options( Silver Line Express and Fairfax Connector 981/983 bus). I think Google did not update and still using the 5A bus to get to wherever.

I think Heavy Seas Alehouse may be a good fit: they have a Virginia oyster stew, an oyster po' boy (sandwich), and a couple blue crab items. If you're looking for something a little lighter, but still in the soup and sandwich realm, consider Cosi on Lynn St (not bad for a chain).

Not quite: Google Maps has never incorporated Fairfax Connector buses or the Silver Line Express's predecessor, the Washington Flyer bus from West Falls Church Metro. For a bus or any other transit route to appear in Google Maps, the transit agency needs to publish their schedule data in "GTFS" format, then sign a legal agreement with Google.

Metro took more than two years to complete both steps after first throwing up a variety of specious, control-freak reasons to boycott Google Maps. Fairfax Connector has taken the first step but apparently not the second, and I have no idea what's up with MWAA.

To get back to littlevoices' query: If you are taking the Silver Line Express and then the Silver Line Metro into Arlington, exit at Clarendon for the densest assortment of quality dining options. Within three blocks of Metro, Liberty Tavern (new American, probably your best choice overall), Lyon Hall (more of a French/German gastropub), Pete's New Haven Apizza or Faccia Luna (pizza), and Iota (good sandwiches, strong beer selection) are all great options.

(If you eat at the Cheesecake Factory instead, we're all going to make fun of you :))

Thanks for all of the many suggestions, I've added them into tripit so I can pull them up when I get there. DCA Writer - Thanks for highlighting that the silver line service is now up-and-running, as you say the lack of mention on it for google (or here previously) made me assume it was still a work in progress. That should make things a lot smoother on my trip, and hopefully lets me have lunch (if I can manage it after my flight of course) and sight-see too a bit.

Solid advice for the next person in this situation as well

I would also consider Rays to the Third in Rosslyn or maybe Teds Montana Grill in Crystal City. The restaurant area in Crystal City has been nicely redeveloped.

The last time I rode 5A (pre Metro to Reston) I couldn't even get in the front door so I had to pay and then climb in the back door.

The bus is part of the DC area's local transit system and not designed or intended for passengers with luggage (although nothing prohibits it). No different than a city bus you might take for 8-10 blocks in downtown DC.

If saving money is of paramount importance, it is of course an option. But, it is not a good one if your budget gives you any flexibility.

I have thought hard about this but ever since the Silver line opening I don't really see any reason to take the 5A bus over the 981/983 Fairfax Connector and Silver Line Express bus. Even when the Washington Flyer bus was the only other option, I would take that bus any day over the 5A bus. The only two legit reasons I can think of if the hotel is in Rosslyn/ L Plaza or they need to get on the blue or green line. And even then it is fairly easy to get to it all by the Silver Line.

Often, that is thing though, it is currently 3rd in price for public transportation. 1.75 e/way for the 981/983 FC, 5 dollars for the Silver Line Express plus the 10 dollars for the Smart Trip card. So for the budge people, it is currently 3rd plus least reliable/comfortable, way too many variables for it to work. Not exactly something I would ever use.

Wasn't it me who mentioned the Silver Line running and not being on google the page before? Not a huge deal though.

With Uber no longer offering flat fares, any good car service deals between IAD and DCA?

UberX has become quite cheap: about half the price of taxi. I would guess in the low $40s for IAD to DCA.

The flat rate was $65 and then dropped to $55.

p.s. Note that it has been documented here that bus 981/983 takes like 30 minutes for the short trip to the metro so it's not a good option.
p.p.s. It's not worth stopping at these places around Arlington. Very underwhelming food in general. It's not better than the airport. There you have Legal Seafoods, which is old school American. Not that I recommend it particularly. But you don't really have that much time especially if you opt for public transport.

As an FYI, to close this out, after my trip:
We arrived on time at IAD from LHR, experienced the silly bus transfer that slowed us all down, but we got through immigration very quickly due to the new automatic machines that really speeded up this aspect of coming to the US.

Per the advice here, our transfer was the Silver Line Express bus, Silver line metro, connect to the blue line - very quick and easy without much waiting around. The only mistake I made was I paid a peak fare when I should have been offpeak (I think I got on about 3.30pm and peak started at 4pm but on exiting our cards had a dollar or so left on them), but negligible and preferable to the last time we were on the Washington metro where we'd made a mistake the opposite way and didn't have dollar bills to top-up the fare which caused challenges as the machines didn't accept twenties and had no staff!

In fact it was so painless that we made an earlier flight at DCA as a result of how quick our transfer was, though we cut that close.

Thanks to BA feeding us we decided to skip food and instead nibbled a bit of soup in the lounge before our next flight.

4.5 hours is doable provided there are not massive delays at IAD on inbound aircraft.

I live in Western Fairfax (not as far as IAD, but outside the Beltway). I try to leave for DCA 90 minutes prior to scheduled departure time. Has worked every time. I could leave 15 minutes later, but I prefer to get a bite at the Admiral's club before departing.

Whomever was doing a transfer from International at IAD to a flight out of DCA....3 hours. woof. Hopefully everything worked exactly as planned.