DC airport? Which one to fly in to?
Mar 26th, 2003, 08:30 AM
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DC airport? Which one to fly in to?
It looks like I'm going to Rockville, MD for business in April. Need to know which airport to fly into in DC to drive there. Also, any Rockville MD hotel recommendations would be great. I did a brief search but mainly found Baltimore advice. Any help would be greatly appreciated......thanks!
Mar 26th, 2003, 09:04 AM
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The closest airport to Rockville would be Washington National(DCA), about 20 miles. Washington Dulles (IAD) the next closest, 28 miles from Rockville. I would fly into the airport with the cheaper fare.
Mar 26th, 2003, 10:06 AM
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I think you first need to consider how you are going to get from the airport to Rockville and at what time of day you are going to be making the trip.
If you are there on business, cost of the ticket might be secondary to a timely arrival.
As a general rule air fares into and out of BWI and Dulles airports are the cheapest.
In terms of ground transportation, the easiest and quickest way to Rockville is from from Regan Airport, aka National Airport: Take the Metro. Rockville is on the northwest line of the Metro and you can get there directly from the airport.
Driving in that traffic is a major problem, and to get from Regan out to Rockville probably means taking the Beltway, which lengthens the trip.
If you are planning on renting a car at either BWI or Dulles, then you will have a commute through traffic to get there unless you arrive after 7 PM, or before 7 AM.
I know from the experience of having lived there that the Washington Beltway is often clogged between 7 and 9:30 AM and from 3:30 to 7 PM. Trying to drive into DC from Richmond is at timea almost impossible because of the traffic backups on the Potomac River bridges as early as 2 PM.
As for hotels in and near Rockville, there are the Doubletree, Courtyard by Marriott, Best Western, a Ramada and a Comfort Inn.
If you want a rental car while you are there, the combination of flying to Washington National, riding the Metro to Rockville, and renting from a local agency such as Enterprise might be your best bet.
Using the Metro with much luggage is not fun, but on the other hand, it is an expeditious way to get there.
Last year when I tried driving to Silver Spring, I got tied up in traffic and needed over 2 hours to get from just south of Springfield Va to my hotel on Georgia Avenue near the Maryland - Dc line. That traffic problem cuts both ways: getting back to the airport is a time consuming as well. From Rockville back to any of the airports could involve more than an hour stuck in traffic plus 2 hours for screening and security.
I would not count on leaving a meeting at 4 PM and making a flight out at 7 PM!!
If you are there on business, cost of the ticket might be secondary to a timely arrival.
As a general rule air fares into and out of BWI and Dulles airports are the cheapest.
In terms of ground transportation, the easiest and quickest way to Rockville is from from Regan Airport, aka National Airport: Take the Metro. Rockville is on the northwest line of the Metro and you can get there directly from the airport.
Driving in that traffic is a major problem, and to get from Regan out to Rockville probably means taking the Beltway, which lengthens the trip.
If you are planning on renting a car at either BWI or Dulles, then you will have a commute through traffic to get there unless you arrive after 7 PM, or before 7 AM.
I know from the experience of having lived there that the Washington Beltway is often clogged between 7 and 9:30 AM and from 3:30 to 7 PM. Trying to drive into DC from Richmond is at timea almost impossible because of the traffic backups on the Potomac River bridges as early as 2 PM.
As for hotels in and near Rockville, there are the Doubletree, Courtyard by Marriott, Best Western, a Ramada and a Comfort Inn.
If you want a rental car while you are there, the combination of flying to Washington National, riding the Metro to Rockville, and renting from a local agency such as Enterprise might be your best bet.
Using the Metro with much luggage is not fun, but on the other hand, it is an expeditious way to get there.
Last year when I tried driving to Silver Spring, I got tied up in traffic and needed over 2 hours to get from just south of Springfield Va to my hotel on Georgia Avenue near the Maryland - Dc line. That traffic problem cuts both ways: getting back to the airport is a time consuming as well. From Rockville back to any of the airports could involve more than an hour stuck in traffic plus 2 hours for screening and security.
I would not count on leaving a meeting at 4 PM and making a flight out at 7 PM!!
Mar 26th, 2003, 10:12 AM
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Yikes. A lot to digest....I was thinking we'll probably get a rental car, but is that really the best option? Since we will be staying in Rockville (not sure where meetings are yet) and assuming that we can get a hotel close to where meetings are, does it make more sense to take the Metro? Will be traveling light so luggage not a problem.
As far as security going out, what is recommended as far as getting to the airport? How much before flight?
Thanks for all the tips!!! I'm a novice traveler and can use all the help I can get!!
As far as security going out, what is recommended as far as getting to the airport? How much before flight?
Thanks for all the tips!!! I'm a novice traveler and can use all the help I can get!!
Mar 26th, 2003, 10:25 AM
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cassidy, if you are light on luggage and don't need a car to get to the meeting, by all means take Metro from DC National (Reagan). Traffic is horrendous around DC, and parking is neither easy nor cheap. The suggestion to rent a car in Rockville and use metro between the airport and Rockville is also a good one if you do need to have a car while attending the meeting. And before you assume that you will need a car, check with your hotel to see if they have a local courtesy shuttle. Many places offer a free lift in a limited area around the hotel, which may be sufficient to get you to your meeting.
Mar 26th, 2003, 11:12 AM
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OOOOOOOOOOOPS.
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States. He is the man for whom the airport in Washington, D. C. is named.
I should know how to spell it. Just for practice, here it is again: R E A G A N.
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States. He is the man for whom the airport in Washington, D. C. is named.
I should know how to spell it. Just for practice, here it is again: R E A G A N.
I guess I'll wait to see where the meeting is and go from there! Thanks for the tips!
Mar 26th, 2003, 11:34 AM
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I agree with the other suggestion about using the Metro. Enterprise Rent-A-Car has a Rockville office. Often someone on the local office staff will pick you up and drop you off. These suburban offices, however, do not give 24 hour service and this one is closed on Sundays.
I think it would be a very good idea to find out where the meeting was held and where you will be sleeping overnight. If the two are close, perhaps no car would be fine. But Rockville is typical suburbia with dependency on cars and vans to get around.
Given rental car rates of $50 a day or more, you can ride quite a bit in cabs!
As for the time needed to get through security, Reagan will be at least as tight as it is at other US airports. I allow 2 hours to get through the line at normal hours. If you are leaving at 5 PM on a Friday, I think I would reschedule for a later time, or be prepared for a long, long wait.
I have not flown in or out of DC for several months. Last time I drove.
UGHH!! I parked at the hotel and took the Metro most places.
At 4 PM one day the Maryland part of the Beltway between the intersections with Connecticut and Georgia Avenues was a parking lot. No molecular motion.
I think it would be a very good idea to find out where the meeting was held and where you will be sleeping overnight. If the two are close, perhaps no car would be fine. But Rockville is typical suburbia with dependency on cars and vans to get around.
Given rental car rates of $50 a day or more, you can ride quite a bit in cabs!
As for the time needed to get through security, Reagan will be at least as tight as it is at other US airports. I allow 2 hours to get through the line at normal hours. If you are leaving at 5 PM on a Friday, I think I would reschedule for a later time, or be prepared for a long, long wait.
I have not flown in or out of DC for several months. Last time I drove.
UGHH!! I parked at the hotel and took the Metro most places.
At 4 PM one day the Maryland part of the Beltway between the intersections with Connecticut and Georgia Avenues was a parking lot. No molecular motion.
Mar 26th, 2003, 12:22 PM
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I also recommend National and taking the Metro. To get to Rockville, you would take the metro from the airport to Metro Center, and switch to the Red Line toward Shady Grove. Rockville is the next to the last stop. It is a long ride, but much better than if you drive. I live near Rockville and can get to and from the airport in 1/2 hour with no traffic, but that is a whole different story during rush hour. I've also used Enterprise on Rockville Pike with little problem, though their weekend hours aren't that convenient (probably won't be a problem for you).
