dwzemens

Can anyone tell me how far BWI - Baltimore Washington Airport is from Alexandria, VA?

I am looking at airfares and can save $100.00 each for a group of 4 if we fly out of BWI rather than DCA. What method of transportation is there to BWI from Alexandria?

Thanks very much,

dz

Budman

BWI from Alexandria is a hike -- 40 miles or so.

MoonGirl

Approximately 1 hour in a car, not in rush hour, depending on exactly where you are staying in Alexandria. Public transportation -- would be longer, and not particularly convenient, e.g. several transfers. The DC subway does not go out to BWI. You could try an airport shuttle, but there will be a per-person charge each way. With that number of people, especially if you are going on a weekend (cheap rates), my recommendation would be to rent a car. Or suck up the extra charge for DCA, which is practically in Alexandria.

basingstoke2

The cheapest is to rent a car. Several of the airport based companies will not charge a drop off fee if rented at one of the 3 DC area airports (DCA, BWI, IAD)and dropped of at another. You should be able to find one for under $50. A taxi should cost $75-100. You still would be ahead moneywise.

Anonymous

My daughter and I use BWI for our visits to DC all the time. There is an express bus that goes directly from the BWI terminal to the nearest Metro subway station, Greenbelt. The B30 bus runs every 40 minutes, 7 days a week, costs $3 (bring one-dollar bills) and takes about 30 minutes to get to Greenbelt.

Although that sounds like a lot of time, I have also rented a car at BWI, and wouldn't recomend it in this situation. All the car rental offices are off-airport and require a separate shuttle, so by the time you even get to the rental desk it could be longer than waiting for the B30 bus. If you take public transit, you won't have any driving hassles, which is a stress that I personally don't need at the end of a day of traveling.

You can use a credit card to buy your Metro passes at Greenbelt station and since that station hosts so many newcomers to the system, there is often a Metro staff person there to help expedite the learning curve. Since the green line of the Metro doesn't go to Alexandria, you'd have one change to make, but the DC subway system is very friendly to transfers, since it was built all at once and changing lines usually involves just a single escalator ride.

One consideration might be how close your destination (hotel?) is to the nearest Metro station. If it's a hike, then a car rental might be worth the extra cost and hassle.

justme22

i've done that one time and i had to leave dc mid afternoon, for my plane i wouldn't recommend it if you are from the dc area. it's trite, but time is money too, why would you really want to add 3 or 4 hours of extra travel time to your trip (~2 at each end) . I know that it's good to save money but with all the time that travel now takes, i cherish those hours!. i have a choice of two major airports one is 35 min from my house, the other is 1:15, and bwi is 2 hours. I check all the rates but when i click to buy my ticket i always end up at the closest airport.

I am not familiar enough with the the NE corridor train route to recall if you can get from alexandria (go to union station) and get to BWI. isn't there a train stop? hopefully someone can help there. I know now that Newark airport has train access, folks find it easier to get to the airport from this train route. and NO PARKING to pay!

Anonymous

Taking the Amtrak or commuter train from Union Station to get to BWI requires a shuttle from the train station to the airport, as well as costing more and running less frequently than the Metro route. Yes, time is money when planning a vacation, but saving $400 on airfare might mean that the OP can extend their visit for a day or two.

LT

For a $400 savings, I'd go to BWI. Frankly, I think it's more of a pain to get to Dulles than it is to get to BWI.

If you are travelling during the weekdays, you can take the MARC commuter trains to BWI station. You then will jump on a shuttle bus that'll take you to the terminal. Here's the MTA website for more info:

http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/marc/

If you're going on the weekend or at an odd weekday hour, as anonymous points out, Metro has a bus service from Greenbelt Metro.

Just be aware that if you take MARC, try to make the train at least 1/2 hour prior to departure. That's because there's very little storage space for luggage, and you are not supposed to have your bags at your seat. This way, you can find seats near the doors of the cars which have some space for luggage.

Enjoy your trip!

kayd

The Blue Van (Supershuttle) might be a good choice for your family. You just go to their desk near baggage claim in BWI and wait for a group to form going to the general area of your destination. But you are already a group so they might take off without waiting for 3 more to fill up. Google Blue Van Supershuttle for their website to see if the price looks OK for less hassle than bus-metro.

Anonymous

The B30 Metro buses are airport style buses, with a special section for luggage.

Are there any advantages at all of taking MARC over the B30? I've done the B30 route many times, since the MARC just seems to be more constraints, expense and hassle.

dwzemens

Great suggestions from everyone, thanks!

basingstoke2

Anon - you have it right - the B30 bus is preferable to the MARC train for the reasons you state. The bus runs more often, is more convenient and costs less.

The new car rental facility is good too. The free shuttles run often and take only about 10 minutes. All of the rental companies are there together.

LT

basingstoke:

I disagree with B30 vs. MARC, based solely on the fact that MARC is not subject to the numerous traffic backups that plague the Parkway & I-95.

Yes, it's basically double the cost of the bus, but if I'm in a strange city, I'd prefer a sure thing over something that may make me late, due to something as unpredictable as traffic jams.

wyatt92

Personally, if I was only going to save $100 on my ticket, I'd fly into DCA. It's just so much more convenient time-wise. A cab to Alexandria will literally take 10 minutes.

kayd

But, for a family of four BWI looks better. Even if they use a taxi each way at $75, they still come out ahead by $250.

basingstoke2

LT- it all depends on the traveler's schedule. MARC runs 23 trains southbound from BWI station (need a shuttle to get there, between 4:59 AM and 9:46 PM Weekdays. NONE on weekends. The trip takes about 40+ minute for the local (most of them)or 30 minutes for the express. The B30 bus leaves from just outside the terminal at stop 1 at the end with Southwest Airlines and stop 2 at the other (international flights)end. It has 25 trips southbound from 6:48 (1) or 7 AM (2)and 10:50 PM and northbound from 6:10 AM - PM weekdays and 21 trips on the weekend southbound 9:38 or 9:40 AM - 10:50 and northbound 8:45 AM - 10 PM. Outside of the rush hours, the bus trip from BWI to Greenbelt Metro station is about 1/2 hour. I would say that waiting for the shuttle and the ride to the BWI station makes up for any traffic delays one may encounter.