DCA to IAD

[JoeMhama]

So my new commute gives me a one legger into DCA, unfortunatly im based in IAD now. Anyone have any experience on the best way to get to IAD from DCA

Thanks

 

[CA1900]

A few options... You can go fast and expensive, or slower and cheaper. Obviously a cab is easiest, but most expensive. It was about $50 five years ago; I'm sure it's significantly higher now.

Another option is the Washington Flyer Coach, which will take you to the train station for $10. That takes 20-30 minutes. Then you can take the metro rail right to the airport for $1.85. You'll have to change trains at Rosslyn; the train trip will take about 45 minutes.

Unless something has changed recently, there aren't any direct shuttles between the airports anymore. You might be able to use the Super Shuttle, but the schedule on that can be quite variable, as they wait to fill up with people going the same general direction, and will make a number of stops. Hard to predict.

You might also price out one-way rental cars. I find that's often much less expensive than a cab.

Hope that helps...

 

[Raskal]

So my new commute gives me a one legger into DCA, unfortunatly im based in IAD now. Anyone have any experience on the best way to get to IAD from DCA

Thanks

I think colgan runs between the two.

 

[LearLove]

from dca to iad - take the blue line to rosslyn then bus 5a to IAD. about 5 bucks last time i did it.

http://www.wmata.com/

use the trip planner on the left. type in "dca and iad" then select date/time.

 

[Salukipilot4590]

Hmm aren't they building some light rail system at IAD to go between the two airports or something? CA1900 might have more of an idea than I do but I was just guessing.

 

[CA1900]

Hmm aren't they building some light rail system at IAD to go between the two airports or something?

They've been trying to extend the Metro (existing light rail) system out to IAD for years. (The access road, built in the 60's, left an easement inbetween the lanes specifically for a future rail project.) It's been approved, delayed and renegotiated over, and over, and over...

The good news is that it may actually get started this year: On January 7th of this year, the Secretary of Transportation approved the funding, and construction is supposed to start on March 2nd. If the timetable holds, Phase I of the extension will be done in 2013. A specific timeframe for Phase II, which includes Dulles, hasn't been set yet. The discussions I've seen point to 2016 for that end to be done.


Here's a site with some information on the project:

http://www.dullesmetro.com/

 

[pilot772]

did that commute every week for quite a while. all options mentioned below are good. the best i found was the metro blue line to rosslyn than the orange line to west falls church. the flyer picks up there i believe every 30 minutes. if your in uniform or have a badge they have an airport employee discount $3 or $4 toal price one way. not sure if they have that discount anymore. depending on how well u time the 2 trains and the bus i did it in as little as 50 minutes and as long as about 1:45 not ba really.

 

[LearLove]

oops, yeah forgot about the orange to falls church. that should be the furthest west you can take the metro.

 

[Snaab]

metro blue line to rosslyn than the orange line to west falls church. the flyer picks up there i believe every 30 minutes. if your in uniform or have a badge they have an airport employee discount $3 or $4 toal price one way.depending on how well u time the 2 trains and the bus i did it in as little as 50 minutes and as long as about 1:45 not ba really.

yeah, this isn't too bad (or expensive). the washington flyer bus drops you off right at the terminal, too!
*****

 

[Captainzero1]

From DCA to IAD, take the yellow or blue line metro to L'Enfant station, go outside and around corner and pick up the 5A to IAD. Total cost 5-7 dollars depending on time of day.

 

[great cornholio]

Hmm aren't they building some light rail system at IAD to go between the two airports or something? CA1900 might have more of an idea than I do but I was just guessing.

I grew up in Northern VA and for as long as I can remember they have always been talking about bringing Metro out to IAD, but it never gets done. Someone mentioned 2016 and I hope that pans out.

 

[great cornholio]

oops, yeah forgot about the orange to falls church. that should be the furthest west you can take the metro.

Furthest west Metro stop on the orange line is Vienna. For what ever reason the washington flyer bus picks up and drops off at the West Falls Church station.

The Metro/bus combo seems like it would be the best, but I've never actually done it myself. I have ridden Metro from DCA, but have always had a ride waiting on me in Vienna to take me back to Manassas or to IAD. If you need to get to other places in Northern VA besides IAD such as Manassas and Fairfax, etc then you can look into the VRE trains...but they don't run nearly as often as Metro.

The DC Metro is pretty clean and I generally feel pretty safe when I'm on it. I've ridden subways in many US cities and would say that the DC Metro is definately number 1 or 2 when it comes to cleanliness and safe feeling.

Oh yeah I have also heard (but not sure how true it is) that Washington Flyer has a set rate to take you between IAD and DCA, but I would imagine it is pretty pricey and probably not worth it.

 

[relief tube]

from dca to iad - take the blue line to rosslyn then bus 5a to IAD. about 5 bucks last time i did it.

http://www.wmata.com/

use the trip planner on the left. type in "dca and iad" then select date/time.

ditto to what that guy said. Im guessing less than 90 mins from curb to curb, if you can time the buses right, which is important.

 

[JoeMhama]

Thanks for the good info all. Much appreciated.