Buses to and from Reagan National Airport (DCA)

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is located only three miles from central Washington, D.C, and even though it does not handle international flights, is one of the major airports in the United States of America. Only international flights from airports with US border preclearance facilities are allowed to land at Reagan National. The airport is a modern establishment with plenty of passenger amenities, and various options for ground transportation. Besides Metrorail, passengers can travel on one of the Metrobuses available, or on one of the other Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport buses that are operated by private shuttle companies.

This airport in the state of Virginia is used by just over eighteen million passengers per annum, and consists of three terminal buildings, of which Terminal A has been in existence since 1941. Terminals B and C were built in the later 1990’s, and hold the majority of airline gates. The terminals are generally quite easy to navigate, and all their facilities are well indicated. Signposts are also available to areas from where the airport shuttles are available that travel to the further parking garages and between Terminal A and Terminals B and C. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport buses are therefore important for transport on the grounds of the airport as well, for passengers who need to reach a number of the airport’s facilities.

The free airport shuttles can be located outside of the baggage claim areas of each terminal, at the street-side curb. They are frequently available, able to carry several passengers and their luggage items and are accessible to disabled passengers, as they may be equipped with a wheelchair lift. The buses take passengers to the Hourly Parking area, the Daily Parking area and to the Economy Parking Lot, which is located at some distance from the terminal. At the Parking Garage A passengers will find the car hire companies of the airport. Passengers arriving at or departing from Terminal A will use the shuttles to transfer to the B and C Terminals for access to the Metrorail station, with trains that run to downtown Washington, D.C. on the Blue and Yellow Lines. Trains can also be used for transport to the two nearby Amtrak stations and to the airports of Washington Dulles and Baltimore Washington International.

For transport off the airport grounds, however, there are Metrobuses available as well as private shuttle services operated by SuperShuttle and Supreme Airport Shuttle. Since that the Reagan Washington National Airport is served by Metrorail during most hours of the day and night, the Metrobuses are only used by passengers on weekend mornings when there are no trains available. The Metrobus Routes 13F and G leave from the upper roadway next to Terminal B and travel to Crystal City, Pentagon, Arlington Cemetery and downtown Washington, D.C. The buses hours of operation are from 05:50am to 08:00am. They are available in the opposite direction as well, for passengers who are departing from the airport.

Passengers will need to have the correct amount of change with them for purchasing a ticket on board one of the public buses. A trip will cost $1.80. However, SmarTrip cards are also used for paying bus fares, and when used, are cheaper than paying fares in cash. Children who are four years of age or younger and who are accompanied by a fare-paying adult, will ride free of charge, but any child older than five will pay the usual adult fare rate. All buses in the Metro fleet are accessible. They all kneel or lower to assist passengers with entering or exiting the bus, they have accessibility signs and priority seating for persons with disabilities or for senior citizens. Near the front of each bus there are also two areas where wheelchairs may be secured with an accessible yellow button for alerting the driver of when to stop. Further details regarding the public buses can be found online at http://www.wmata.com.

SuperShuttle and Supreme Airport Shuttle at Reagan Washington National Airport

SuperShuttle is one of the door-to-door services available at this airport, and has been providing reliable and affordable transportation for many years. They operate on a shared-ride, on-demand basis, and may require an advanced reservation for their services. Passengers who have arrived at the airport can proceed to the outside curb area of their terminal and contact the SuperShuttle representative who will provide assistance. The vans that are used by the company are blue and yellow in colour, and although they are not able to wait directly outside of the terminals, they are close by, in a ‘holding’ area. They are dispatched once their passengers are ready to leave the airport. SuperShuttle offers their services at 39 airports in the United States of America, Sweden and France. For further details, contact the company at 800 258 3826, or go to their website at http://www.supershuttle.com.

Passengers arriving at the Reagan Washington National Airport will find counters of Supreme Airport Shuttle in the baggage claim areas of Terminals A, B and C. They offer door-to-door services which are similar to SuperShuttle, and are a good way to travel to a residential address, hotel or place of business in the nearby vicinity. Supreme Airport Shuttle can be contacted at 1-800-590-000, or their website is found at http://www.supremeairportshuttle.com.

Courtesy vehicles offering transport to and from the nearby hotels may also be available for passengers who have accommodation reservations. A few of the hotels nearby include the Crowne Plaza Washington Ntnl, the Crystal City Marriott, Hilton Arlington, the Best Western Inn, the Grand Hyatt Washington, the Hilton Washington Towers and the Phoenix Park Hotel.

The Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport buses are used by many passengers, who mostly find them to be clean, comfortable and convenient.