Transportation Options from BWI to DC
 

Suggestions please for options to get from BWI Airport to D.C. and prices (approx) if you have an idea.
Thank you in advance.
Jean

Regular Amtrak fare from BWI to Washington Union Station is $16 on a NE Regional. If you go on an Acela, you get there 6 minutes faster and pay more than twice as much. Union Station is on top of a Metro station.

Pumpkin,



https://freetoursbyfoot.com/transpor...ashington-d-c/

Thank you!

Thank you...very informative!

I have always used the MARC without issue but I usually travel during the week.

MARC runs weekend trains on the Penn Line, the line that includes service between BWI and DC Union Station.

I'm not sure why, in this scenario, anyone would bother with Amtrak. The least expensive Amtrak ticket is double the price of a standard $7 MARC fare. And the Amtrak ride could be significantly more depending on the time of day and how many tickets have been sold.

The main difference between MARC and Amtrak Northeast Regional service is the frequency of service and the availability of overhead space for your luggage on Amtrak. MARC is primarily a commuter line where most passengers have little more than a briefcase or a backpack. Amtrak has 20+ trains between BWI and WAS every day.
Your "ticket" on Amtrak is now showing the Q code on your smart phone to the conductor who scans it with his handheld device. It's been a very long time since I had a paper ticket punched by a conductor.
My very first Amtrak trip was from Washington to New York Penn station in October 2001 about 5 weeks after 9/11. That night I was in a hostel in Toronto.

This is true but the link above mentioned that the MARC service was more limited on the weekends.

There is a reason MARC trains stop at BWI. Unless a person is traveling with a sherpa & a caravan of luggage, using MARC w/luggage won't be an issue.

MARC runs 20 odd trains weekdays on the Penn Line. Nine or ten on Saturday and a half dozen on Sunday.

Why anyone would choose to pay double or more to ride Amtrak if their schedule allows them to pay $7 is beyond me.

>>>Regular Amtrak fare from BWI to Washington Union Station is $16 on a NE Regional. <<<

There is no "regular" fare on Amtrak. You are quoting the Value fare which is now $17. Amtrak's fare restructuring this year reduced the # of Value tickets sold regardless of how full the train is up to and including the last minute before departure.

Amtrak also eliminated or reduced the value of a number of discount programs --- student, senior, AAA.

Amtrak also restricted rebooking options to the point of being punitive. That is particularly egregious given their dog-a$$ on time performance.

Tom, I know you love Amtrak. I've been an Amtrak commuter for 10 years. They're chasing riders away.

Note if you are by chance a "senior" - MARC has senior fares from BWI to DC that are much cheaper even than the regular $7.00 fare - you have to specifically ask for it for multiple people - they applied the discount to my husband's fare and failed to ask if I was also a senior (and we just assumed they'd apply it to both of us). Maybe I just look sooooo young.....

My sister & I are going to have luggage, albeit a small suitcase. Do you really think we can use the MARC train with that? Amtrak fares are already selling out and I am concerned. Thank you for any assistance in this matter.

Almost everyone coming from BWI will have some sort of luggage.

MARC trains DO have overhead luggage racks. They may be smaller than those on Amtrak, though, I can't give you specifics but you don't say how big your luggage is anyway. And you don't have to put it up there, just like I ride metro with luggage from the airport sometimes. Granted, it can get crowded at certain times, but if the schedule suits you, I"d do MARC.

I would easily spend $10 more for Amtrak myself if it meant I had to wait 2 hrs from a MARC train and didn't otherwise. Or even one hour, I value my time that much, but others might not.

>>>>My sister & I are going to have luggage, albeit a small suitcase. Do you really think we can use the MARC train with that? Amtrak fares are already selling out and I am concerned.<<<<

Yes. Not knowing your specific dates I can't say for sure but I'd guess the Amtrak tickets aren't selling out, more likely the cheaper fares are selling out for your date & time.

The schedule of both Amtrak and MARC are posted so the info is out there for you to plan. Say so if you need assistance with the schedules and I'm sure people here will help you.

I've taken the MARC with a roller bag and tote with no problems.

MARC is your best bet!

Thank you everyone! I definitely felt that MARC was the best bet: however, we have booked a hotel in Silver Spring, MD and have rented a car, as we will need one anyway after our quick trip into DC. This decision definitely made my Sister feel better as she is not the best at packing light. :-)