Slightly OT, Mods feel free to move.

Flying into IAD for a meeting in Crystal City. I don't really want to rent a car, and have to deal with the traffic and parking issues.

So has anyone tried the Washington Flyer Coach Service from IAD to the West Falls Church Metrorail station?
http://www.metwashairports.com/dulle...tion/metrorail

How long does it take to get to the Metrorail station from IAD? Vice versa? Is there much traffic? Google maps is showing a 27 min travel time from IAD to West Falls Church. Is that realistic at 6pm?

Doesn't belong here - belongs in the Washington D.C. forum.

iluv2fly
Moderator, UA

Done this a few times. If possible change your flight to DCA which is the next station from Crystal City.

Washington Flyer has a published schedule (http://www.washfly.com/metro.htm). You can coordinate the metro schedule with the bus schedule and you will have better idea exactly when you get there.

You will have to switch lines on the Metro from Orange line to Blue line.

You might also consider the 5A metrobus, the schedule for which is available here. Though it does run slightly less frequently than the WFlyer (every 40 minutes during the day instead of every 30 for the WFlyer), it goes right to Rosslyn where you could catch the blue line directly to Crystal City. If you do the WFlyer, you will have to get on the orange at West Falls Church and then switch to blue at Rosslyn. Though it is a public bus, the 5A has luggage racks and only makes 1 or 2 stops on the forty-minute (or less) ride to Rosslyn. So that's another good option in this case.

Washington Flyer Coach leaves IAD at :15 and :45 after every hour. It leaves West Falls Church Metro station at the same times. The ride between the two takes about 20 minutes.

As pointed out in previous posts the choices are:
Washington Flyer Coach (costs $9 one-way) - then two subway rides costing a bit more than the 5A combination.
5A Metrobus (costs $3 one-way) - leaves every 40 minutes M-F and every 60 minutes Sat,Sun,Holidays - then a single, shorter subway ride.

Notes: The Washington Flyer Coach leaves IAD from Arrivals Level Door 4 (UP the ramp from baggage claim area at door 4) - buy your ticket just inside door 4.
5A Metrobus leaves IAD from Curb 2E (DOWN the ramp from baggage claim area at door 4) - exact fare required on the bus.

Additional Note on 5A bus: Yesterday, today and tomorrow (July 9-11) are all Code Orange Air Quality days (check status at http://www.mwcog.org/environment/air/forecast/). On Code Orange or Code Red days the 5A Metrobus, like virtually all public bus service in Northern Virginia, is FREE.

I live in Crystal City and have taken both the Washington Flyer bus ->West Falls Church -> metro route as well as the 5A bus.

If you've got minimal luggage, they're each decent options with their own pros and cons.

It's nice that the Wash Flyer bus leaves more frequently and that the ticket purchase and boarding procedures are pretty streamlined. Depending on what time of day you arrive, you might not be able to find a seat on the Orange line train from West Falls Church to Rosslyn (the trains are overcrowded with commuters). And it can be hassle to change trains when it's crowded at Rosslyn.

The 5A bus doesn't always follow its printed schedule, so if time is a factor for you, it might not be the best option. Also, traffic on 66 to Rosslyn is pretty congested in the mornings and buses get caught in that, too. On the pro side, it's nice to not have to change trains and you can't beat the price, even on non-code red days.

This year the 5A bus, like virtually all Northern Virginia bus service, is FREE on both Code Orange and Code Red Air Quality days.

Though you did not ask, are you familiar with CC? All the buildings near the Metro station look the same and it can be a bit confusing to find your way around at first.

Not sure if anyone addressed your traffic concern directly, so thought I'd mention that the Dulles Flyer goes directly from the Dulles Access Road (where there is never a traffic problem) to the West Falls Church metro station (there is a lane and exit ramp from the Access Road to the station for buses only). The 5A will be dealing with normal traffic conditions until it gets to the Access Road.

I'm very happy to see this timely thread. Although I generally avoid IAD like the plague, I'll be flying IAD-LGB in a couple of months and I had completely forgotten about the 5A. I'm curious as to the passenger loads on the bus. I would be trying to catch an early Friday afternoon bus from Rosslyn - is there any chance of being left at the stop because of too many passengers?