Dulles Airport (IAD) to Washington, D.C.

Your options from Dulles at a glance

From Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) into Washington, D.C., there are two main choices to compare: the Metrorail Silver Line and the airport taxis. Fairfax Connector bus 983, a public bus, also leaves from the airport, but it goes to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, the second site of the National Air and Space Museum, not to the city.

When you book, check that Dulles (IAD) is the arrival airport on your ticket; all times and fares in this post are for Dulles. Below you'll find where to board each option, times and fares, what to check if you land late, notes by neighbourhood and an arrival-day checklist.

• Full Washington, D.C. travel guide →
• Incheon → Washington, D.C. flights →

Metrorail Silver Line: walk indoors to the station

The Metrorail station at Washington Dulles International Airport is linked to the main terminal by an indoor pedestrian tunnel with moving sidewalks. The walk is about 600 feet and takes around 7-8 minutes, so you reach the station without going outside.

Silver Line trains run to downtown Washington, D.C. Tap a contactless credit or debit card or SmarTrip at the faregates, and tap the same card again when you exit. It takes about 50-55 minutes to Rosslyn; check times to other stations with the WMATA Trip Planner.

The fare to Metro Center is USD 6.75 on weekdays and drops to USD 2.25-2.50 after 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends. A new SmarTrip card adds a USD 2 card fee, so if you have a contactless card or a phone wallet, you can simply tap that instead.

Airport taxis: 24 hours, no reservation

Airport taxis run 24 hours a day and need no reservation. Go down to the lower level of the terminal and out through Door 1 or Door 7 to the taxi stand.

Fares are metered, and cash and credit cards are accepted. Tolls on nearby roads may affect the fare, and the journey time depends on traffic. Check the airport's official fare estimates before you go.

Landing late: operating hours and off-peak fares

Metrorail generally runs Mon-Thu 5 a.m.-midnight, Fri 5 a.m.-2 a.m., Sat 6 a.m.-2 a.m. and Sun 6 a.m.-midnight. First and last trains at the airport station differ from these times, so if you arrive late or very early, check the airport station times in WMATA's official information.

If the trains have stopped, the airport taxis run 24 hours a day. On the other hand, if you arrive after 9:30 p.m. on a weekday or at the weekend, the Metrorail fare drops to USD 2.25-2.50.

What to check for your neighbourhood

If you take the Silver Line, look up the route and time from the airport station to the station nearest your stay with the WMATA Trip Planner before you go. Here is what each neighbourhood suits.

• National Mall: first-timers, museums and memorials. The U.S. Capitol is at one end, the Lincoln Memorial at the other and the Washington Monument in between
• Capitol Hill: history walks, markets and dining. Home to the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress, with streets of 19th-century rowhouses
• Georgetown: historic streets, shopping and the riverfront. Cobblestone sidewalks, the peaceful C&O Canal and riverside walks on the Potomac
• Southwest & The Wharf: riverfront, seafood and evenings. The National Air and Space Museum and the U.S. Capitol are within walking distance
• If you switch to a bus from the station: Metrobus is a flat USD 2.25 (express routes F19, F28, F81 and F83 cost USD 4.80). Cash must be the exact fare in coins and USD 1 bills; drivers can't make change
• Bus-rail transfers get a USD 2.25 discount, and bus-to-bus transfers within 2 hours are free

Bus 983 and an arrival-day checklist

Fairfax Connector bus 983 leaves from Garage 1, Stop 2, and goes to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. It runs only during museum hours; the center is open daily 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., free, with no passes required. Check the official information for bus times and fares before you go.

• Payment: have a contactless credit or debit card, a phone wallet or a SmarTrip ready
• Everyone aged 5 or older needs their own payment method; up to 2 children aged 4 and younger ride free with each fare-paying adult
• Tap the same card at the faregates when you enter and exit
• Riding for several days? Compare unlimited passes: USD 13.50 (1 day), USD 33.75 (3 days), USD 60.75 (7 days)
• Check first and last trains at the airport station in WMATA's official information
• Check the U.S. government's official information on entry requirements (visa, travel authorization, etc.) before you travel

Other airports: Reagan National (DCA) and Baltimore/Washington (BWI)

If your ticket says DCA or BWI rather than IAD, this is how to get into the city. It comes from each airport's official information, checked on 13 October 2026; check fares and hours again before you go.

• DCA Metrorail: station linked to Terminal 2 by pedestrian bridges, USD 2.25-6.75 by day, USD 2.25-2.50 after 9:30 p.m. and at weekends
• DCA taxi: Terminal 1, out the baggage-claim exit and right; Terminal 2, lower level Doors 5 or 6; metered
• BWI free shuttle + MARC train: shuttle from lower level Doors 2, 8, 15, 17 to the rail station, then about 35 minutes to Washington Union Station
• BWI taxi: lower level outside Doors 5 and 13, 24 hours, about 45 minutes to Washington, D.C.

At a glance

Here are the options from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), one line each. Fares and hours can change, so check the official information before you go.

• Metrorail Silver Line: indoor tunnel to the station, about 600 feet (7-8 minutes on foot); about 50-55 min to Rosslyn; USD 6.75 to Metro Center on weekdays (USD 2.25-2.50 after 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and on weekends); airport first and last trains: check WMATA's official information
• Airport taxi: 24 hours, no reservation; taxi stand outside Door 1 or Door 7 on the terminal's lower level; metered (cash or credit card); time depends on traffic; fare estimates: check the airport's official information
• Fairfax Connector bus 983: Garage 1, Stop 2; goes to the Udvar-Hazy Center, not the city; runs only during museum hours; times and fares: check official information

• How Many Days in Washington DC? A 3-Night, 4-Day Route →
• Airport to City: Train, Bus, Taxi or Transfer? A Practical Comparison →

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