RELATED LINKS Return to Washington, D.C. City Guide

The Washington, D.C. area is served by three major airports, each with its own advantages. Before booking your flight, compare schedules and fares for all three to find the best deal for your particular needs, and don't forget to check the websites of discount carriers that do not participate in the mainstream airline reservations systems.

If you're staying in central Washington, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (commonly known to locals as "National") is by far the most convenient place to land. The airport sits on the right bank of the Potomac south of the Pentagon, just a few miles from downtown hotels with a Metrorail station connected to the passenger terminals for easy access to destinations throughout the metropolitan area. The vast majority of flights landing here originate in the Eastern and Central United States, though a handful of nonstop flights are available from cities in the West (Los Angeles, Seattle, Las Vegas, Denver and Phoenix) and Canada (Toronto, Montreal).

Washington Dulles International Airport is about 25 miles east of town, and the ride to central Washington normally takes at least 45 minutes — potentially much longer if you get stuck in Beltway traffic. However the location is ideal for business travelers headed for suburban Virginia office parks, and compared with National, Dulles offers a wider range of nonstop flights, particularly for travelers originating on the West Coast or overseas. Several prominent discount carriers have significant operations at the airport, so depending on your point of origin, there's also a good chance you'll find lower fares into Dulles.

Baltimore-Washington International Airport, only slightly farther from downtown Washington than Dulles, is a hub for discount carriers AirTran and Southwest, with a good range of domestic and international flights from more than 60 US cities and 10 foreign countries. Various ground transportation options are available, but however you go, the ride to D.C. typically takes an hour or more.