How much time for a Saturday am drive to DCA airport?

[hollerfolk5]

How much time would you allow to get to DCA on a Saturday morning? I know we could still run into traffic & or a accident. Mapquest says its about 1hr & 45 mins to DCA airport from our house.

 

[rwdavis2]

It should be pretty clear early in the morning. If I were you I would allow for at least 2 and half hours. Do some research on construction. There is a lot of construction on the western side of I-495 that may cause a delay.

Since you did not specify your route it's tough to tell. We live up I-95 near Baltimore and when we go in November (a Sunday) we will take I-95 to I-295 and then either NY Ave into DC to I-395 or stay on I-295 get back on the Beltway (I-495) and get to DCA from there.

 

[hollerfolk5]

We will go down Rt 7 in VA to the Dulles Greenway/267 which becomes 66.

 

[rwdavis2]

From there it may be easiest to stay on I-495. Depends on the time of day and any expected construction.

 

[mikehn]

How early on Saturday morning? Probably not a lot of traffic heading into the city on a Saturday morning. But I would still allow extra time as it never hurts to arrive at the airport early.

 

[nordkin]

We will go down Rt 7 in VA to the Dulles Greenway/267 which becomes 66.

Take 66 to 110 that turns into Rt 1 and after about a mile on Rt 1 there is an exit for the airport. Once you clear the exit ramp stay to the right for long term parking. It is about 45 minutes once you get off the Greenway on to the Dulles toll road.

 

[n2mm]

How much time would you allow to get to DCA on a Saturday morning? I know we could still run into traffic & or a accident. Mapquest says its about 1hr & 45 mins to DCA airport from our house.

WV here too (Charles Town). We just did the DCA thing a couple of weeks ago. We got a ride to Shady Grove and took metro in, then rented a car for the return home. We were going to drive, but leaving on a Thursday was scary.

One thing I noticed, other than the economy lot costing more money, was that it was small and it fills up. I did a little research that said when it fills they offer you to park in the other lots for the cost of the economy. I don't know if this is true first hand, but that's what I read. You can check the DCA website under parking for real time parking availability.

We did not like leaving out of National/DCA. But if we want to fly Jetblue we have no choice. TSA was quick and easy, but the gates were small and crowded and no place to sit.

In October we are flying United out of Dulles, but home into DCA on Jetblue. We often will rent a car for the drive home, but have to get someone to follow my DH back to Dulles to drop off the rental the next day. We get alot of free days with National Rental Car, so it doesn't cost us anything to do this except our time.