Getting here by air

Washington is served by three major airports: Ronald Reagan National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. All are easily accessible to/from the city by ground and public transportation.

Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)

Located in Arlington,Virginia, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport sits across the Potomac River and is the closest airport to downtown D.C. Built in 1941, the airport's original Terminal A is on the National Register of Historic Places. Terminal B/C opened in 1997 as the first of its modernization efforts. In 2007, the airport saw 18.7 million passengers. With 44 airline gates, Reagan offers non-stop service to 74 destinations.

Known for its impressive architectural elements and unparalleled views of downtown D.C. and key monuments, Reagan National offers a great welcome to visitors. The airport features more than 50 restaurants, lounges and shops. Eateries include Fuddruckers, McDonald's, Legal Sea Foods and Matsutake Sushi, while retail outlets range from Brookstone to Jos. A. Banks.

For easy access to downtown D.C. and our conference hotel, the Grand Hyatt Washington, conference attendees can take advantage of the airport's Metrorail station where for a reasonable fare you can travel to the Metro Center station, which is connected by a tunnel to the lobby of the hotel. Bear in mind that all Metro stations have escalators and elevators, are handicapped accessible and no hindrance to travelers toting a suitcase.

You also can reach downtown D.C. and surrounding areas from Reagan National on the Washington Flyer, SuperShuttle, taxis, or Coach Service.

Airline carriers serving Ronald Reagan National Airport

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Located in Chantilly, Virginia, Washington Dulles International Airport is about 26 miles from downtown Washington. In 2007, the airport saw more than 24.7 million passengers crossing through one of 143 airline gates. A hub for both domestic and international travel, Dulles has 11 domestic carriers and 22 international carriers, offering service to 88 non-stop U.S. destinations and 42 non-stop international destinations.

Dulles International's first-class shopping and dining options occupy more than 50,000 square feet at the airport. Guests can enjoy fare of all kinds, from a light snack at Cinnabon or Five Guys to a full meal at Gordon Biersch, Tequileria or Vino Volo Wine Room. Books, souvenirs, clothing, gifts and more are available at retailers such as Borders Books, Fox News Channel, Brooks Brothers and the Smithsonian Museum Store. The airport is also home to service stops such as 10-Minute Manicure, Masssage Bar, Travelex Foreign Exchange and Capital One Bank.

Travelers can also reach downtown D.C. and surrounding areas on the Washington Flyer SuperShuttle, Taxis, or Coach Service. No Metro service available until 2014.

Airline carriers serving Washington Dulles International Airport

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

Located in Maryland, about 30 miles northeast of downtown Washington,  BWI serves more than 57,000 passengers every day on one of 644 daily scheduled domestic flights or one of 16 scheduled international non-stop flights. Overall, the airport runs about 727 commercial operations per day for its 49 airlines.

Named in honor of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, Baltimore/Washington International offers a host of eateries and retail outlets in its popular AIRMALL. An attraction in itself, the high-quality AIRMALL has won various awards, including Best Overall Concessions from Airport Revenue News. Guests can pick up a meal on the go from Au Bon Pain or sit down for Baltimore favorites of crab cakes and steamed shrimp at Obrycki's. Shops include Hudson News, The Body Shop, Borders, Sunglass Hut, Fire & Ice and Brookstone.

Travelers can also reach downtown D.C. and surrounding areas on the Washington Flyer SuperShuttle, Taxis (not recommended) or Coach Service. No Metro service is available. There is an Amtrak station at BWI where (if there is a train from NYC or Boston at the right time) you can get on for a short ride to Union Station in D.C. From there you would have to take a Metro train. (This is a schlep!)

Airline carriers serving Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport