Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Washington
The Metro Silver Line runs from Dulles straight to downtown Washington in about 50–60 minutes for a few dollars. A taxi or rideshare takes 40–60 minutes and costs much more.
Dulles handles most long-haul international flights. If you fly domestically or from Canada, Reagan National (DCA) is much closer to the city.
Best for most people: Metro. It is direct, cheap and avoids rush-hour traffic on the highways into the city.
All the options
| How | Time | How often | Price* | Hours | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| metro Metro Silver Line from Washington Dulles International Airport station (walkway from the terminal) to Metro Center, Farragut West and other downtown stations | about 50–60 min to Metro Center | every 10–15 min | about $6–7 one way | about 05:00 to around midnight, later on weekends; check last trains | Pay with a SmarTrip card or contactless bank card or phone at the fare gates. |
| taxi Official taxi rank outside the baggage claim level | about 40–60 min | about $70–90 to downtown | 24 h | Traffic on the Dulles Toll Road and I-66 can add a lot of time at rush hour. | |
| ride-hailing Uber and Lyft from the signed rideshare pick-up area | about 40–60 min | about $50–90, depending on demand | 24 h | Prices rise sharply at busy times. |
*Approximate 2026 prices and times. Services change: check the operator before you fly, especially for late arrivals.
Sort it before you land
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Other airports
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), about 5 km from downtown, on the Metro Blue and Yellow lines
- Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI), about 50 km away, with MARC and Amtrak trains to Union Station
Tips
- The Metro station is a short covered walk from the main terminal; follow the Metrorail signs.
- If you arrive at Reagan National (DCA), the Metro station is connected to the terminals and downtown is only 15–20 minutes away.
- From BWI, a free shuttle bus links the terminal with the rail station for MARC and Amtrak trains to Union Station.
- Contactless bank cards and phone wallets work at Metro fare gates, so you can skip the ticket machines.
Common questions
How do I get from Dulles to downtown Washington?
Take the Metro Silver Line from the station connected to the terminal. Trains reach Metro Center and other downtown stations in about 50–60 minutes for about $6–7. Pay with a SmarTrip card or by tapping a contactless card or phone. Taxis and rideshares take 40–60 minutes but cost much more.
How much is a taxi from Dulles?
A taxi from Dulles to downtown Washington usually costs about $70–90 including the meter and tolls, and takes 40–60 minutes depending on traffic. Uber and Lyft are sometimes cheaper but surge at busy times. Use the official taxi rank outside baggage claim rather than accepting offers inside.
Which Washington airport is closest to the city?
Reagan National (DCA) is the closest, about 5 km from downtown and directly on the Metro Blue and Yellow lines, about 15–20 minutes to the centre. It mostly handles domestic flights. Dulles (IAD) is the main international gateway, while BWI is near Baltimore and linked by train to Union Station.
Does the Metro run at night?
The Metro runs from about 05:00 until around midnight on weekdays, with later service on Friday and Saturday nights. Exact closing times can change, so check the WMATA website before a late arrival. If you land after the last train, use the official taxi rank or a rideshare app.
Compiled by TonyPlan from airport and transport-operator information and travel knowledge; updated 2026-10-05. Anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.