Washington, DC is unusual among U.S. capitals in offering three airports: Reagan National (DCA), just across the Potomac and reachable by Metro in minutes; Dulles (IAD), the larger international gateway about 25 miles out; and Baltimore-Washington (BWI), roughly 30 miles northeast and often the cheapest of the three.
Comparing All Three Airports Pays Off
Because DCA, IAD, and BWI compete for the same city, checking fares across all three on the same dates can turn up a meaningfully better deal than sticking to just one. DCA is the only one directly on the Metro system, while IAD and BWI both require a bus or rail connection to reach downtown.
Cherry Blossom Season Drives Its Own Demand
The National Cherry Blossom Festival, typically late March into early April depending on peak bloom, is one of the single biggest price and crowd drivers of the year, on par with or exceeding summer tourist season. Congress’s own session calendar also adds government and lobbying travel that keeps midweek demand steady much of the year, independent of tourist season.
Humid Summers, Mild Winters
Summer brings heat and real humidity; winter is generally mild with occasional snow and typically the cheapest fares of the year outside of holiday weeks.
Search live fares to DC above and compare all three area airports before booking.