Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Washington Dulles International Airport, or Dulles, is one of three major airports in the Washington, D.C. area (the others being Reagan National Airport and Baltimore Washington International Airport. The busiest airport in the region, it’s a major domestic and international hub, with more than 130 destinations on around 40 airlines.
The basics
Dulles Airport is located around 26 miles (42 kilometers) outside of Washington DC, in Virginia. D.C. traffic is notoriously gridlocked. To avoid the hassle of navigating the roadways yourself, it’s best to book a shared or private airport transfer to Dulles. Shared transfers by van offer pickup and drop-off at most area hotels, while a private transfer by SUV or sedan offers a more luxurious and flexible experience.
Things to know before you go
- There is one Main Terminal. Flights operate from midfield concourses A, B, C, and D and from Z-gates connected to the Main Terminal.
- The International Arrivals Building is a separate annex to the Main Terminal.
- Concourse A is used primarily for international flights.
- Concourse B is used for some international flights and all non-United domestic flights and flights to Canada.
- Concourses C and D are used exclusively for United flights.
- Z-gates are used by Air Canada, Frontier, and United Express.
- Travelers can reach the rental car facility by catching a rental car shuttle. Note that some rental car companies share shuttles.
How to get there
Airport transfers are the easiest way to travel to and from Dulles. Drivers can take the free Dulles Airport Access Road, which runs parallel to the Dulles Toll Road. The Silver Line Express Bus connects Dulles to the Wiehle-Reston East Metrorail Station on the Metro’s Silver Line. Other public transportation options include the Fairfax Connector routes 981 and 983, Metrobus 5A, the Virginia Breeze Bus, and the Megabus. The Washington Flyer Taxi services Dulles exclusively, 24 hours a day. Rideshares also serve the airport.
Trip ideas
- Things to do in Williamsburg
- Things to do in Philadelphia
- Things to do in Pittsburgh
- Things to do in New York City
- Things to do in Brooklyn
- Things to do in Long Island
- Things to do in Buffalo
- Things to do in Niagara Falls
- Things to do in Niagara Falls & Around
- Things to do in Toronto
- Things to do in Boston
- Things to do in Charleston
- Things to do in Virginia
- Things to do in Pennsylvania
- Things to do in New York