BWI, Reagan National or Dulles: which airport to use from Annapolis

How do BWI, Reagan National and Dulles compare from Annapolis?

All three are within easy reach for a chauffeured transfer, but they are not equal. Here is how they line up from downtown Annapolis in normal traffic:

Rush hour stretches those times, most of all for Reagan National and Dulles, which are reached through Beltway and city traffic. BWI is the only one of the three you can reach without the Beltway: most of the drive is on I-97, which runs north from Annapolis toward the airport.

When is BWI the right choice?

For most trips that start in Annapolis, BWI is the default. It is the shortest drive, the I-97 route stays clear of the worst DC traffic, and the airport has a large domestic schedule and some international flights.

The short drive also makes BWI the easiest airport for early-morning departures and late-night arrivals, when nobody wants an extra hour on the road.

At BWI you can be met inside or at the curb. For curbside, your chauffeur texts you; after you collect your bags, walk to the second curb outside baggage claim and call with the curb number.

When does Reagan National make more sense?

Reagan National sits on the Potomac in Arlington, right across the river from the city, so it is the natural pick when your trip starts or ends in Washington: a meeting downtown before an evening flight, say, or a weekend in the city before you fly home. Its flights are mostly domestic.

From Annapolis, the drive goes through or around the city, so traffic matters more than distance. Leave extra time at rush hour.

Pickup at Reagan National is curbside only. After you collect your luggage, walk to the second curb outside baggage claim, the center curb, and call your chauffeur.

When is Dulles worth the longer drive?

Dulles is the region's main gateway for long-haul international travel, with far more nonstop routes to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East than BWI or Reagan National. It is also a United Airlines hub.

It is also the longest trip from Annapolis, about 75 minutes in normal traffic, so plan the pickup time with care. Our Annapolis to Dulles guide covers the route, the free airport lanes on VA-267 and when to leave.

Dulles offers inside or curbside pickup. For curbside, take the ramp slightly up to the Arrivals level after baggage claim (not the taxi and rideshare signs) and call your chauffeur with the door number.

How should I choose between the three airports?

Start with the flight, then weigh the time door to door.

• Compare the whole trip, not just the fare. Flying from Dulles instead of BWI adds about 45 minutes on the road each way, or 90 minutes for the round trip.
• Look at the time of day. A midday flight from Dulles is an easy drive. A 5:00 p.m. flight from Reagan National means crossing the city at rush hour.
• Count the connections. On a long international trip, a nonstop from Dulles can beat a connection from BWI, even with the longer drive.
• Think about the trip home. After a long flight, 30 minutes to Annapolis from BWI feels very different from 75 minutes from Dulles. Flying out of one airport and home to another is fine; book each transfer on its own.
• Count bags as well as people. Suitcases ride in the trunk, so check that the vehicle fits the luggage too. The fleet page lists seats and bag space for each vehicle.

What happens if my flight is late?

The same rules apply at all three airports. We monitor commercial flights. You get 30 minutes of free waiting after the actual landing on a domestic flight and 45 minutes on an international one, and then waiting time is charged. If we cannot reach you after an hour, the trip is treated as a no-show, so give us the passenger's cell number and keep that phone on.

If the airline bumps you to a later flight, tell us right away. We can pick you up from the next flight, but the 30 free minutes apply to the first flight only: after that, waiting time is charged until the new flight lands, or the pickup may be billed as two separate trips. If your flight is cancelled, there is no charge once we confirm it with the airline.

More on how pickups work at each airport is on our airport transportation page, and every policy is in the FAQ.