VISITOR INFORMATION j dulles international airport G N TI GET AND GETTING TO DC BY PLANE Three major airports typically handle more than 1,000 international and domestic departures daily: • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) , closest to DC, served by Metro. Features a new 14-gate concourse. • Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) , 26 miles west of DC in Dulles, Virginia. Served by Metro. • Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) , south of Baltimore, 32 miles from DC. To Around The station also services Metro, the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), which off ers service between Northern Virginia and DC and the Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC), which provides commuter rail service for neighboring Maryland. dc GETTING AROUND DC Metrobus operates hundreds of routes throughout DC and the surrounding area, with over 1,400 eco-friendly buses. Fares vary based on the service, ride length, day and time you ride. For bus charters, see the Bus Charter Rental listings beginning on page 112 . Taxis in DC accept credit cards or cash. Fares start at $4.50 and are metered. A 15-20% tip is customary. Uber and Lyft also provide service throughout the metro DC area, and include options ranging from ride-shares to luxury SUVs. Car sharing services, such as Zipcar, are also available in the city. Ranked the third most walkable city in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler , DC’s numerous public parks and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods make navigation on foot a breeze. Order a free map today on washington.org . With three nearby airports, trains pulling into Union Station and an interstate system known as the Capital Beltway, reaching Washington, DC is easy. Once you’re in the District, getting around is easy, too, thanks to public transportation, access to taxis, Uber and Lyft and pedestrian-and bike-friendly neighborhoods. Find more information on washington.org . BUSES BY CAR The Capital Beltway (I-495) and I-95 encircle the city, while I-66 and I-395 lead into DC. It is recommended to park at a hotel or public garage and then use public transportation or chartered transportation provided for groups. Renting a car is unnecessary unless you plan to leave the metro area. Companies including Greyhound, Peter Pan, BoltBus, Megabus and BestBus all off er service from Union Station. Or, let Destination DC recommend a transportation company. PL ANNING GUIDE CARS BY BUS ON FOOT EVENT BY TRAIN Union Station is the country’s second busiest Amtrak station. 8
Washington DC Event Planner Guide 2025 Event Planning Guide: Page 8
