BWI to IAD
 

How easy is it to get from BWI to IAD? We want to fly into BWI but out of IAD. Thanks.

Look into renting a car. In my experience, most of the major car rental firms do not charge any drop-fees or per mile charges when renting from IAD or BWI and returning to the other airport.

It's an easy drive from the BWI area to IAD you should have no trouble finding it.

You need to expect that it will take at least 1.5 hours to get from BWI and IAD. Tacking on the cost of transportation, you need to decide if it is worth the hassle/money.

It is possible to take a bus from BWI to Greenbelt Metro, metro to West Falls Church (changing from green line to orange at L'Enfant), then Dulles bus. Allow about 2 hours in transit (30 minutes for each segment--bus, 2 trains, bus) plus 90 minutes for check-in and getting to your gate at Dulles, plus additional time to allow for delays if all flights are not purchased on a single ticket.
This doesn't appeal to me, but for a very thrifty traveler with lots of time on his hands, it might work.

You can easly get from one to the other on public transit for $5. Take the B30 bus, which stops right outside the terminal and takes you to the Greenbelt Metro stop for $3 (have your small bills ready); it runs every 40 minutes, 7 days per week. Take the Greenbelt line to GalleryPlace/Chinatown stop, switch to the Huntington-bound yellow line train, and get off at the airport.

Renting a car at BWI is a hassle because the rental office are off-site, so you have a whole extra step, the shuttle to the rental office. When weighing the Metro vs car rental, don't forget to factor-in the time and hassle of renting and turning in the car.

Oh, duh, why did I think "National" when I read IAD?? Sorry. Well, the comments about the hassle of renting still apply.

Well, for cheap transportation you were still on-track, "anonymous". They can get a transfer voucher at the Greenbelt Metro station, take the Greenline to L'Enfant Plaza, then using that, board the B5 bus to Dulles for $2.10

But I'd rent a car at BWI. I don't consider the off-site rental to be a disadvantage, but an enhancement, as you're now away from terminal traffic.

There is a shuttle service that transfers from BWI to IAD.

http://www.theairportshuttle.com/

That mass transit route will take FOREVER and would be a giant hassle.

I live near BWI but work near Dulles. If you decide to rent a car or take an airport shuttle, I would allow plenty of time. These days, rush hour is every hour! It is unpredictable...

Personally, I would rent a car or take the shuttle... taking the metro doesn't appeal when taking into consideration the luggage you would be bringing with you. Plus, what time of the day would you be traveling? If it is during peak hours (ie: around the times of work day beginnings OR work day endings) you might feel flustered/overwhelmed trying to manage yourself in a new environment AND luggage...

I looked at the Airport Shuttle. Appears to be $71 per person from BWI to IAD. You can rent a car for half that.

I don't agree that renting a car is a hassle. Taking the bus to the metro to the Flyer bus is the hassle, particularly with luggage.

The only issue with driving, as some have pointed out, is that you need to leave plenty of time if you are transferring during rush hour.

How is taking a shuttle to a rental office, then driving to anotehr rental office, then taking another shuttle to the terminal, less trouble than bus/Metro/bus, espcially when the bus and Metro don't involve any paperowrk? Taking the B30 bus is no more inconvenient with luggage than taking the shuttle to the car rental terminal. The hike at BWI (dragging one's luggage) to the B30 and from the B30 to the Metro train is less than from the rental shuttle, into the rental offices, and then to the rental car.

Can you tell I hate renting cars? ;-)

Thanks for all your help, not living in the area it is hard to know what options one might have.

Hi

I live in Annapolis (near BWI) with a daughter living near Dulles (IAD). Your biggest difficulty will be the time of day that you want to go to IAD. If it's rush hour then it can take a couple hours.

I agree with those who suggest a car rental.

I'm not certain that I understand your question though - Are you flying into BWI and then out of IAD on the same day?

If you could clarify your travel plans it would be easier to help you. I can read two potential scenarios into your question.

1. You are flying into BWI and want to go immediately to IAD.

2. You are flying into BWI, will do some traveling/sightseeing/business appts, etc and wish to get to IAD for your return flight.

Each of these options present different optimal alternatives.

Thanks again for all your help. We needed to get from Columbus to London. I was thinking of roundtrip from LHR-Baltimore. We are vacationing in the DC area before driving onto Ohio. Then taking a cheap Southwest flight to IAD for the trip out of BWI. Anyway, I have worked it all out. Thanks