Getting from Washington DC to Dulles airport, quickest way possible
 

What is the quickest way to get from just north of downtown Washington DC to Dulles airport. My flight goes at around 10am, does this mean I'll have to start out at about 6am to get there on time? Taxis are not an option for me. Thanks.

You transfer at Roslyn to a #5A bus. http://www.wmata.com/getting_around/new_metro/
Sure you can't fly out of National for the same price?

Based on other posts, it appears the OP may be catching an international flight.

Unfortunately, Dulles isn't very convenient to DC, and public transportation that far out (almost 30 miles) takes a long long time. If taxis are not an option and you really do have to be at the airport 3 hours ahead, then, yes, you have to leave at 6am.

You can also catch the 5A street level at the L'Enfant Plaza metro. That might be closer to your hotel when you're getting ready to leave the city. The bus left from Stop J the last time I took it but it would be worth double checking.

If taxis are not an option, you are limited to either the bus/Metro option which Tomfuller has provided or a shared van shuttle, e.g. Super Shuttle. Neither are particularly "quick" options, however, and you will have to leave your hotel by 6am (or perhaps even earlier if you are taking public transportation or if the shared van has a lot of stops to make) to be at IAD for an international flight that leaves at 10am.

http://www.supershuttle.com/Location...ashington.aspx

There is another metro/bus option which might be slightly better than the 5A bus. It won't buy the OP much time (30 miles is 30 miles) but it's a metro ride out of the city and then the bus. $5. Washington Flyer's Silver Line Express to Dulles from the Wiehle-Reston

Info here: http://www.washfly.com/flyer_bus_schedule.htm

After a coupe of too close calls and one no-show, I will never take a Super Shuttle or its ilk for a time sensitive trip. Airport to hotel, maybe

I think obx's idea might be the best. Hadn't thought of it, but you will be taking the metro for much of the trip which will be faster than going through rush hour traffic on the 5A which I have gotten stuck on in horrendous traffic. From Wiehle-Reston it's only perhaps 20-25 minutes to IAD. I fly internationally out of IAD frequently and have never arrived 3 hours before the flight and always had plenty of time to make my flight.

Thanks for these replies and pretty much as I thought and my research. Yes, I would rather be flying out of National as I have done before but it wasn't an option this time round. I think the only way of making sure I am at the airport on time is to stay overnight close by there on the last night. It is a domestic flight.Thanks again.

I suspect staying overnight near Dulles may end up being a lot more expensive than taking a taxi on the day but perhaps you can find something cheap which has a shuttle service.

If this is a domestic flight, I'd chill out. You only need to be there at most 90 minutes ahead of time, and that's only for the most prudent of traveler who is checking a bag and can't check in online ahead of time. If you aren't checking a bag, you have even more leeway ... though security lines at Dulles can be bad at times.

Agree with Doug. Longest I have ever waited in a security line at IAD is maybe 20 minutes.

There is a big shuttle company in this area, supershuttle, which services all the airports. I've used them from BWI to DC and at other times. Their rates are better than a taxi usually. If you are willing to do a shared van, the rate is only $29 from DC to IAD. I'd much rather have that hotel pickup than dealing with the bus.

I think with supershuttle, you just have to have an estimated time that gives you leeway. Just don't tell them the truth about your flight time, make it 30 minutes earlier or something. But a taxi might be around $50, I suppose.

Take the Silver line to Wiehle. It is 40 minutes from Farragut West Downtown. From there either the Shuttle (they run every 15-20 minutes) or a cab. It is only about 5 more miles straight down the highway to the terminal, so a cab will take maybe 7 minutes and not cost all that much. There will probably be a few waiting for fares at Wiehle.