Dulles to BWI
 

Hi,
We'll have to get from Dulles Airport (Washington, DC) to BWI airport (Baltimore) at the end of February. What's the easiest, best, most cost efficient way to do this other than renting a car. Speed isn't that much of an issue since our flight from BWI isn't till the next day.
Many thanks
gtg

Then perhaps the more pertinent question is where will you be leaving from when you are heading to BWI?

General answer = probably staying downtown DC or near proximity so that you can get a MARC train (or maybe Amtrak) to BWI.

You could stay in one of the several BWI airport hotels, too, but none of them are where I would choose to spend a day waiting around.

Another alternative is a hotel around the Baltimore Inner Harbor area which might be more convenient from which to reach BWI on the actual travel day.

Oh. Good question.

We'll be arriving at Dulles at 7:40 pm (with just carry-on). My original thought was to just get to a BWI airport hotel that night and stay over. I'm not sure what time our flight out of BWI is because we're not booking those tickets.

That means I don't know how early (if early is the issue at all) we have to be at BWI. So maybe I'm asking this question too early. We're traveling from BWI with friends and I'll know more about timing tonight.

To do what you suggest, we'd still have to get ourselves to downtown DC in a hotel somewhere near a MARC (what does that stand for) station. Too bad that train doesn't go to Dulles.

Is there any decent way to get from Dulles to BWI without staying in DC?

Dukey, a BWI airport hotel would be more convenient. I don't know yet if I'd have to spend a day waiting around. I won't know about our flight out of BWI till later tonight.

It's really just the 'how-to' from Dulles to BWI (or nearby hotel) that I'd like to know.

I was kind of hoping there'd be some sort of shuttle between the two airports. No?

You are saying "we." Depending on how many, it may well be best to rent a car since individual fares quickly add up. By the time you clear IAD it will be well past 8pm even with carryon, and that is assuming you arrive on time. The MARC train leaves from Penn Station in DC but is has a limited schedule. If you stay in DC and go in the AM know that the MARC and AMTRAK share the BWI station and from there you have to take a shuttle bus to get to the airport itself. The bus ride is about 10 minutes but you will most likely have to double that to include waiting time. To get into DC from IAD there is the usual shuttle and I believe also a bus that would take you to L'Enfant Plaza in DC where there are nearby hotels. From L'Enfant Plaza to Penn Station in the morning to Penn Station you would take a taxi or metro.

IMO, I would bite the bullet and rent a car. Figure about a 2-2.5 hour drive to BWI, perhaps best with good traffic which is rare. You can do it all highway without having to go through the city.

Where are you flying in from that you can't fly to BWI?
Dulles is my least favorite airport in the DC area. I have flown into Dulles when I was transferring to another plane and once when I was renting a car.
Reagan National has a Metro stop which is handy to get to Union Station to catch a train to BWI. There are several nice hotels near BWI if you didn't want to go into the city of Baltimore.

https://goairportshuttle.com/

That's the shuttle service that gets advertised and it quoted $67 USD for 2 on a random date I plugged in for February. I've never used it so can't comment further than that.

Uber = about $100.

MARC is Maryland Area Regional Commuter. It or Amtrak will cost you about $10-$15 a person one way from Union Station in downtown DC to BWI.

It's about 60 miles between the two airports.

<i>Where are you flying in from that you can't fly to BWI? Dulles is my least favorite airport in the DC area.</i>

I'm guessing almost certainly Canada. I don't share your dislike of IAD. I don't love it but it is a practical reality for interactional fliers.

Thanks obxgirl for your unintentional correction. In my post a couple above yours I said the MARC trains were from Penn Station. Of course it is Union Station - DC does not have a Penn Station - but Baltimore does.

For various reasons we're flying Porter airlines and Dulles is our only choice. There are two of us. We're traveling the next day to Aruba (out of BWI) with friends who live in Alexandria. I know they'll want us to stay overnight with them but I'm trying to think of a way to unburden them of that wish. I'd love to just meet them at BWI the next day.

basingstoke, that sounds horribly complicated.

What about a car service?

Thanks, obxgirl. I'm going to look into that shuttle and see what others are available.

gtg, it is. That is why I would either rent a car or take the shuttle. The car would most likely be quicker.

That GO service looks great. Does anyone have any experience with it?

goddess, I think you can safely plan your flight out of BWI the next day before having to settle the getting to BWI thing. As you can see, there a number of options probably none of them converging on a single point of best, easiest and most cost efficient. :)

I use it all the time and prefer it to other shuttle services.

oops. terrible (REALLY terrible) reviews on yelp!

No worries. I'll look at other shuttle services.

I have NEVER had a problem. They have always been on time and courteous.

I am in the camp of hate driving from Dulles to anywhere, especially after a flight. I have done it. Never again if I have any other choice.

I would use an airport shuttle. There are several and at least one goes between the two airports. Even if it costs $100.00 more, see if you can fly into BWI. Would save hours of time and cost of shuttle.

It may sound crazy, but if costs were close, I would fly into Philadelphia with a short layover and fly on to Baltimore, rather than land in Dulles and drive to BWI. I might even land in Philadelphia and take the train on to Baltimore.

"Even if it costs $100.00 more, see if you can fly into BWI. Would save hours of time and cost of shuttle."

We really are limited to Dulles. My SO is teaching that morning and his university is centre city. The airport Porter flies from is about a ten minute cab ride away (or even a subway ride) and check in time is shorter there. For us to fly from Pearson would take longer than the flight itself.

I'm not worried about spending money on a shuttle. This is essentially a free trip for us. We have points to cover the return flight to the US and we're guests of our friends in Aruba. All we're paying for (other than treats and meals) is the Aruba flight.

So basingstoke, you've actually used that OK shuttle service?