Getting to Dulles Airport FROM DC
 

Hi all - still planning our to East coast USA
a few questions that I will post separately
1. Getting to Dulles Airport FROM DC - all the posts I have seen cover opposite trip. I am sure that I have read some negative reviews on one or two of the various options - so just want to check
* We will have baggage obviously - so I don't fancy juggling this with commuters.
(So I don't fancy the train option)
* What should I expect to pay if we go via taxi??
* If we use the "Super Shuttle" - do they "stow" luggage - or is it in the cabin with you
(I just don't want to nurse a couple of suitcases all the way to the airport)
Our trip would be on a Wednesday - 3rd August - flight leaves 12.30pm
* so what time would I have to leave DC??
Some advice on this part of the trip would be great thanks :)

You could use a WashngtonFlyer taxi or perhaps the bus service. There IS NO train service all the way to the airport yet.

Super Shuttle will probably stow your luggage in the back of one of their vans.

Taxi price from DC I am sure these days is well into the $40 range if not higher

Taxi will be more like $60-75

How many in your party? For just one, I'd say SuperShuttle because of the cost saving, but if you are four, the $60 taxi fare may be worth it.
Leave downtown at 10 am to reach Dulles a bit before 11 on a weekday by taxi-- outbound traffic at that hour is not too bad. For SuperShuttle, add at least 30 minutes for possible stop-and-go in the city as it makes other pick-ups.

IS your flight an International flight where you need to get to Dulles earlier than if it were within the US?

Thankls for the latest estimate on taxi fares; since we drive back and forth for flights wasn't sure of the current rates. Oh, if we only HAD SEAMLESS train service all the way there...

Is the fare to Dulles that much cheaper? If you fly to Baltimore Washington (BWI) you have a free shuttle bus to the BWI Amtrak station and the frequent Amtrak service to Union Station in Washington is cheap compared to a taxi.
Reagan National also has a Metro stop to get into the city.
Once we flew into Dulles and rented a car-never again.

The OP specifically said she wanted to avoid buses/trains/subways.

Dulles is a distance from downtown DC, but BWI is even further. DCA is closer but has fewer connections so people are stuck flying into IAD (especially if International). IN comparison to other cities with airports on the outskirts of the city, it is reasonable.

Thanks for the replies to date.
There is just 2 of us - it is a Delta or United flight (not sure ATM) to LAX that is connecting with a Hawaiian Airlines flight to Honolulu. (I have no idea if that will be domestic or international - sorry we are from Australia - so it will all be international for us LOL)
The super shuttle sounds like the way to go - that is if they have a trailer for luggage - and thanks "kayd" for the timing - probably leave at 9am - just to be sure and allow us some time to find our way around
Cheers

The SuperShuttle will have room for your luggage in the back, no doubt -- they are used to people having suitcases. Personally, I am lazy and would therefore take a taxi. But I did want to point out a third potential option, which is an express bus to Dulles (just 3 stops) that leaves from L'Enfant Plaza for just $6 a person. This is a normal city bus, and you would need to be able to carry your luggage up the regular couple of stairs at the front to board. But if you are able to get yourself easily to L'Enfant Plaza, it is a much better option than the metro in my opinion, in that it does not require you to haul your luggage in and out of the subway system, and does not involve any kind of connection. Here is a link to the bus schedule: http://www.wmata.com/bus/timetables/dc/05a.pdf

And here is a link to reviews of the bus service, which provide more detail about where to board, etc.: http://www.yelp.com/biz/metrobus-5a-arlington

If you take the 8:50 or 9:30 am buses, you will be departing after the peak of rush hour, so I would not expect it to be super-crowded.

Good luck, and enjoy your stay in D.C.!