Reagan National Airport Parking

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is located approximately 3 miles south of downtown Washington, D.C, and is a large airport in the United States of America. Although DCA is not an international airport, it does have a few flights to and from Canadian airports with US border preclearance facilities. The airport is a focus city for US Airways, and is managed by the same company that controls the Washington Dulles International Airport. For motorists arriving in their own vehicles there are several Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport parking lots available, and a total of over 9,000 parking spaces.

Passengers or visitors of the airport can travel on the Interstate 395 for access to the George Washington Memorial Parkway, which is the main road that runs past the airport. The Airport Exit then leads to the terminal buildings and parking areas. The airport is found in the state of Virginia, south of central Washington and alongside the Potomac River. It is also nearby to the areas of Pentagon City, Aurora Highlands, Potomac West, North Ridge and Long Branch Creek. It should take only about twenty minutes to reach the airport from the downtown area of the city, but always leave in good time for your departure flight in case there are unexpected delays in traffic.

The Reagan Washington National Airport consists of three terminal buildings, Terminal A, Terminal B and Terminal C. All three buildings have parking areas, and are also accessible from their roadways. Motorists may therefore stop outside the terminal entrances to offload passengers and their luggage items. The roadways, however, should not be used for lengthy periods of parking, and vehicles are not allowed to be left unattended in these areas. The driver of the vehicle is recommended to stay inside the vehicle as well. If the passenger requires assistance a third person should accompany the driver or one of the parking areas should be used.

The same is applicable for arriving passengers. Motorists may collect arriving passengers from the curb-side, provided that they are waiting and ready to be collected. No vehicle may park and wait for a flight or passenger to arrive outside of the terminal entrances. More convenient perhaps is the Cell Phone Waiting Area at Reagan National Airport. This is the ideal place in which motorists can wait in their vehicles for their arriving friends or family members, and is free of charge. The driver may wait here for up to an hour, until their arriving party is ready for collection. The driver should also remain in his/her vehicle at the Cell Phone Waiting Area. The location of this parking area is nearby the end of the ‘Return to Airport’ ramp just beyond Terminals B and C. Signposts are available that read ‘Cell Phone Waiting Area’.

Terminal A of the Reagan National Airport has an Hourly and a Daily Parking Garage that is convenient for many passengers. Although it is quite nearby the terminal, there are free shuttle services available for transport. The Hourly Garage is ideal for very short stays, and will cost $2.00 per half hour for the first two hours, $4.00 per hour for the third through eighth hour and it has a daily maximum of $36.00. The Daily Garage is available for $5.00 per hour and for $20 per twenty-four hours.

Terminals B and C, the newer of the airport’s buildings that were constructed in 1997, have parking garages that are convenient as well. The Hourly and Daily Garages at these terminals will cost the same as the garage at Terminal A.

If a passenger is interested in lower parking rates he/she could make use of the Economy Lot. This parking area serves all terminals, and is located at some distance from the check-in and baggage claim halls. Passengers will therefore require the use of a shuttle bus for transport to and from their terminal of arrival or departure. The shuttles can take several passengers at once, and are able to store all kinds of luggage items. They are also free of charge and may be equipped with a wheelchair lift for disabled passengers. The Economy Parking Lot will cost $3.00 per hour or $14.00 per twenty-four hours.

Passengers with mobility challenges will find Ronald Reagan National Airport to be completely accessible. It was designed with such persons in mind, with elevators, pavement ramps, clear walkways, suitable restrooms and many other services. There are also specially dedicated parking spaces available for persons in vehicles that display a ‘disabled’ government-issued plate or placard. In the Hourly/Daily Garages of all terminals these spaces are found on each level and close to the elevators and walkways into the terminals. Dedicated spaces are found adjacent to the shuttle stops in the Economy Car Park as well. If all the reserved spaces are occupied, a parking attendant can assist you in locating the next best place to park your vehicle. All attendants are uniformed and easy to recognise as an airport employee.

Additional services available with regards to parking include electric vehicle charging stations, located conveniently nearby the Terminal B walkway and the shuttle stop from where buses are available to all terminals. There are four spaces in total dedicated to this purpose. Bicycle parking is available at the airport as well.

To pay for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport parking passengers can use the pre-payment machines, the staffed vehicle lanes at the garage and parking area exits or a credit card at the machine upon entering and exiting the parking area. With a credit card, there is no need to take a ticket. The same credit card should be used for entering and exiting the parking lots. Further details are available at the parking ‘hot line’ at (703) 417-PARK or 417-7275.