I've read about some of my options on getting to The Willard hotel in DC from BWI. Does anyone have a recommendation? There are 2 of us and we won't be renting a car. We'll be arriving @ 5:00P on a Friday returning @ 5:00P on Sunday. Thanks!

It depends on whether you want convenience (taxi or car service) or cheapness but inconvenience (Metrobus to Metrorail or taxi/Amtrak or MARC (weekdays only) train to Metrorail or taxi)

Third choice, kind of convenient and priced between vjp's choices: door-to-door in a shared van. Go to the Blue Van desk in the baggage claim area and wait until one for your destination area fills up, then it drops passengers off at their homes/hotels. It could take a while if you are the last of 7 to be dropped off.
http://www.supershuttle.com/BWI_shuttle.aspx

Either take the van service or hire a car. Van will be cheaper but slower if it must stop at other places.

Another option; take taxi to BWI amtrak station, train to Union Station and take taxi from there. I don't know how much it would cost or the train schedules, but, it's an option.

Since you only have the weekend, I'd take the van or hire a car-sounds more time-efficient than taxi, train, taxi.

http://theairportshuttle.com/ was one of the services I pulled up. I don't have any experience with it. Anyone else?

Bus to Metro requires 2 changes. I would take the train from BWI (free shuttle from the terminal to the BWI train station, which is not the same as the light rail into Baltimore which pulls in right at the terminal) to DC Union Station, cab from there or walk if you don't have much luggage. You can take the MARC (cheaper) into DC on Friday but MARC does not operate on Sunday so you would have to take Amtrak. I would absolutely avoid a shuttle at that time - traffic is horrendous.

Check the MARC schedule - BWI station - to see if it fits yours. If it does, it would be easy. There may be a shuttle over to the station from the airport, but I am not sure about that. If not, you can take a taxi. It would be a very short ride - under 5 minutes. The MARC train will take you into Union Station in Downtown DC. From there, it is another short taxi ride to your hotel.

TDudette - because of the typically horrid traffic in the area - especially around a Friday rush hour - public transport is a much better option.

Gina,

WADR, If you are staying at the Willard, just hire a driver or at the very least a taxi. It will only be $65 - about the same as 3 drinks at the Willard's bar.

I love the Washington Metro system because it's so quick and clean and so take it whenever possible.

A couple of months ago I did this trip in reverse to take a flight out of DC. Really easy.

With your arrival at 5pm, I'd suggest taking the Green metro line to get into the center of DC, otherwise, the traffic is horrendous on the surface streets whether you take taxi, shuttle or share-van.

At BWI, you can take the B30 bus to the Greenbelt metro stop. Then get on the Green metro line, getting off at Gallery Place/Chinatown stop. Then stay with the metro system and switch over to the Red line (direction Shady Grove), get off at the Metro Center stop. When you get to street surface you will be next to the Marriott and you can catch a taxi from there to the Willard or walk the approximately 5 blocks to the Willard.

You could opt to not switch to the Red line and just exit the metro system at the Chinatown exit, but my recollection is that it's not that easy to get a taxi at the Gallery Place/Chinatown stop, whereas it's much easier to catch a taxi at the Metro Center Marriott.

http://wmata.com/

Click on "Maps and Stations" to get to the metro map. You can also enlarge the metro map by clicking on the + square.


The MARC trains are peak commute traffic trains, and so run only from, e.g., 6am-8:30am and 4:30pm and 7pm, M-F. They are really difficult to schedule because I'm always afraid to miss the last train for that day.

Seamus, you are quite right about traffic, however, OP will be going against traffic. Ostensibly, the driver of hired car or van would have some flexibility and knowledge of the area to avoid problems.

easy, your method looks good too although metro bus would be stuck with a route (unless it's an express). Bus also would be going against traffic on the outer loop of the beltway.

Well, Gina, looks like you've gotten good advice. I still say hire a car though! Drink champagne in the limo!

So much good information. I can only imagine traffic on a Friday night @ 5:30P so public transport may be the best although the B30 bus only runs every 40 mins to greenbelt metro (not bad unless we've just missed one). And sounds like if we opt for train into DC - it's either the MARC or Amtrak to Union Sq, then a taxi. Thanks all!

easytraveler, These days MARC train runs all day long with last train after 10pm. Its true they thin out to once-an-hour after rush, but still have trains running all day long. I often take the Balt to DC run in the middle of the day and can take one back to Balt after dinner, sometimes a show.

I'd rec MARC to Union Station to taxi for shear ease on Friday. The free shuttle to the MARC station is easy, or there's always the short taxi ride. Almost any option will work on Sunday (except MARC).

It all worked out! On Friday, we just missed the shuttle bus from BWI to train station for MARC so jumped in a taxi (it was only $10) then caught the MARC train that was just departing for DC ($12 for two), then a quick taxi from Union Station to The Willard ($12)...all in about 65 minutes. Sunday we opted for taxi from hotel to BWI, a 50 min ride costing @ $55 before tip. Thanks to everyone for giving me options!

Don't even THINK of walking from Union Station to the Willard even if you have NO luggage