Getting to and from Washington DC
Visit The White House, Capitol Hill or Arlington Cemetery
Washington DC attracts business visitors , and tourists, all year round. The city has excellent road and rail links and is served by three airports.
Washington DC stands, roughly 200 miles south of New York City, on the banks of the Potomac River. The city straddles the Maryland/Virginia state line, but is independent of both. The closeness to the major cities and coastal resorts along the East Coast has helped the city develop in to a major business and tourist center, in addition to its role as the nation's capital. Most visitors will arrive at one of three airports or at the local bus or rail station.
Airports
Baltimore/Washington International Airport
Maryland's major international airport is just 30 miles from Washington, DC, MARC and Amtrak provide rail links between city and airport. Road transport options include taxi, SuperShuttle shared van service and BWI Express bus (B30) which runs every 40 minutes between the Airport and Greenbelt Metrorail station .
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
The nearest airport to downtown Washington stands south of the city along the Potomac River. No international flights arrive here, but there is a full range of domestic flights. Metrorail's yellow and blue lines provide a regular and rapid link to the city with journey times of about 20 minutes.
Washington Dulles International Airport
Flights from all over the globe arrive at Dulles, set in Northern Virginia, 26 miles west of Washington, DC. There is no direct rail link so the best public transport option is the Washington Flyer. Air-conditioned coaches run every 45 minutes to and from West Falls Church Metro station, a one way ticket costs $9. A taxi to downtown will cost in the region of $50 and SuperShuttle offers a door-to-door service.
Arriving by bus
Greyhound Bus Station 1005 1st Street, Northeast +1 (202) 289-5154
Greyhound run bus services all over the country from Washington, DC bus station, which is open 24 hours a day. The bus station is in easy reach of Amtrak trains and the Metrorail Red Line at Union Station.
Arriving by Rail
Union Station is one of the major hubs of the Amtrak rail network and is served by the following routes:
- Acela Express - Boston - New York - Philadelphia - Washington, DC
- Capitol Limited - Washington, DC - Pittsburgh - Chicago
- Cardinal / Hoosier State - New York - Washington, DC - Cincinnati - Indianapolis - Chicago
- Regional - Boston - Springfield/Providence - New York - Washington, DC - Newport News
- Silver Service / Palmetto - New York - Washington, DC - - Jacksonville - Orlando - Tampa/Miami
- Vermonter - St. Albans - Burlington - Springfield - New York - Washington, DC
There is also a non-stop auto train service from Lorton, Virginia, 20 miles south of Washington to Sanford (near Orlando) in Florida. Trains in both directions leave at 4pm daily and arrive at 9:30 the following morning. A full range of accommodation is provided, but is only available to passengers accompanying vehicles.
Arriving by Road
The Capital Beltway, formed by Interstates I-95 and I-495, surround Washington DC.
Interstate routes to and from the capital include:
- I-50 to Annapolis, MD, the Chesapeake Bay and across the Bay Bridge to the Delmarva Peninsula.
- I-66 which heads west through Virginia, where it links to the I-81
- I-95 the main route down the East Coast running from Florida to the Canadian border and passing through Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston.
- I-270 which runs North West from downtown Washington to Frederick Maryland where it connects to the I-70.
Washington DC Tourist Information
