Best way from DCA to BWI with kids
 

I need to get from DCA to BWI at 10:30 PM on Friday April 22nd with my two children. What is the fastest way to do this? We are going to SJU on AAdvantage awards and the only flight from NYC is JFK to DCA arriving at 10:00PM and on the 23rd DCA to SJU departing at 7:10 AM. I would likle to spend the night at a hotel at BWI for the early departure. I appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

There is no inexpensive way to do this from DCA. Sure you can take the metro to Union Station and then take Amtrak up to BWI. The Maryland Commuter trains don't run at night.....so they're still useless.

There may be a bus but I wouldn't take a but that late at night with two kids. If you're from LI, why not fly WN from ISP? You can fly for $39 per person to BWI the night before.

The fastest way is by taxi. There'll be no traffic at that time of the night so it should take about 45-50 minutes depending on the route taken (fastest is 14th St bridge -> SE/SW Freeway -> 295 -> BW Parkway). Should be about $70 not incl. tips.

On the subject of DC airport transfers, it's previously been been suggested that some car rental companies treat BWI-IAD-DCA interchangably, with no drop fees, which might make a one-day car rental a cheap option. Never explored this myself, so don't know if it works.

On the MARC - note that they've increased the service frequency w/in the past few years, so there are some 22 departures daily and this is a better option than it used to be. In your case, however, since the last northbound is at 10:40, it won't work. MARC also continues to run M-F only, too.

Mr. July, Thanks, great idea. Dollar is $35. for an intermediate car all in. Looks like my best option.

Get a total price. I didn't think anything rolled out of DCA for $35. Look on Orbitz for add-ons

from Orbitz
 

Showing: Dollar Rent A Car Standard cars (1 options out of 72 total)

$32 Includes taxes & fees

Dollar Rent A Car Standard Car
Dodge Intrepid (or similar)
Automatic Transmission
Air Conditioning
Rate: $24/weekend
Unlimited miles
Pick-up In terminal
Washington Ronald Reagan National (DCA)

Dca-bwi
 

On the subject of getting from D.C. to BWI, how long would it take to get BWI on a monday afternoon/evning? I would have a flight leaving at 6:30pm? Or would I just be better off taking the train?

Take the train. The BW parkway is backed up by 3:30pm, and is very accident prone. I reverse commute daily, and look at all the parked cars going north.

Probably train. If you were driving, I'd recommend leaving no later than 4:00.

My BF just got a 1 day rental from Avis for $14 ... pickup at IAD and return at BWI. Renting a car is definitely the way to go.

If you do rent a car, I would suggest either the Residence Inn or Hampton Inn at Arundel Mills Mall. The car rental facility is about 5 minutes away on Arundel Mills Blvd.

Here's another rental car vote for the OP.

Would you people please confir that your $15 car cost you $15. My 14.99 car from Hertz at DFW with no options cost $79, or $85(forgot which) for 3 days???? Still under $30 a day. However, I did not get my United miles for the rental.

signed

confused.

I'm not sure on the $14 as this is scheduled for next Friday evening and we will be returning the car to BWI. I do know that he had a similiar rental a few months ago in the same situation and it was $19. If it had been substantially more than that he would have said something.

His plane gets in at 10:00pm. There won't be a traffic problem that late at night. It's smooth sailing by then.