Need help from Washington DC locals

[bubbasmom99]

We are taking a trip in a couple weeks to DC and Williamsburg. We are flying into BWI (got a good rate through Southwest) and driving to VA, spending 3 nights, and then coming back for 3 nights in DC. We are renting a car for the VA portion of the trip only. I know we can get around using the Metro in DC but I am undecided as to how to get back to BWI on the last day of our trip. Our flight is at 5:50 pm on a Friday. Any recommendations? Shuttle, limo, train? Any recs for a specific shuttle company? We are traveling with 2 kids (5 & 2), carseats, 2 suitcases and a couple carryons. Don't want to spend a fortune, but don't want to skimp and wind up missing the flight or losing a kid, lol.

This isn't Disney World, so I'm out of my element. Can anyone help?

Thanks!!

 

[tkd lisa]

You can probably do a one-way rental from one of the DC airports (try Reagan since there's a metro stop there) to BWI. I do one-way drop offs all the time from Southern MD to all the DC area airports. Generally it's about $50 for the one-way drop off including a 24 hour rental. If you have a family, that's probably the cheapest option. BWI is pretty easy to drive to.

BWI also has an AMTRAK stop. You could take the train from Union Station in DC. You could truly do the planes, trains and automobiles trip that way.

I believe that Washington Flyer is a service that provides airport transportation. If you do a web search, they will probably show up. I used to see their gray buses at Reagan all the time, and some of them had a BWI or a Dulles sign on them.

 

[Jeafl]

Can't help you out with the transportation, but we are doing a similar trip this summer. I'd love to hear about your trip when you get back.

 

[caitycaity]

you can also use supershuttle

http://www.supershuttle.com/

 

[NC Belle]

Just want to say allow a lot of extra time for traffic if you rent or use a taxi/bus service. Traffic is a bear in the region and fridays during the summer--people leave work early to go to the beaches. You should leave by at least 2pm for a 5:50 flight--maybe even earlier. BWI is my favorite airport--lots of good resteraunts to grab a quick bite. There is a play area, in case you get there super early and a believe there is still a little Smithsonian shop/museum area with radios tune to the tower.

 

[Pugsley]

If you really want to save money, you can take Metro (subway) to Greenbelt, MD and then take a shuttle bus to BWI. Go to www.wmata.com and use the Ride Guide. You can put in where you’re leaving from, where you’re going and what time you need to be there. It will then tell you the route to take, what time you need to leave and how much it will cost. It can be a little bit slower than some other ways, but it’s dirt cheap.

 

[snoopy]

I'm pretty sure Amtrak goes to BWI -- you could take the metro to Union Station and then take Amtrack to BWI. Not sure what this would cost -- its probably cheaper (and surely more convenient) to take the Super Shuttle.

 

[solotraveler]

Originally posted by Pugsley
If you really want to save money, you can take Metro (subway) to Greenbelt, MD and then take a shuttle bus to BWI. Go to www.wmata.com and use the Ride Guide. You can put in where you’re leaving from, where you’re going and what time you need to be there. It will then tell you the route to take, what time you need to leave and how much it will cost. It can be a little bit slower than some other ways, but it’s dirt cheap.

I just wanted to second this method if you really wanted to save (quite) a few bucks! Last time I rode it, it was $2PP and took about 45 minutes to get from Greenbelt to BWI. I actually grew up in Greenbelt and use this all the time when I fly home to visit now. Clean, efficient, and I don't think it would be too much of a hassle with the kids.

Hope this helps!
Solotraveler

 

[Belle1962]

Hey solotraveler--I grew up in Greenbelt (old Greenbelt) too. WOW- it IS a small world after all.

 

[bubbasmom99]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I actually went and reserved a car through National for $55. That's about the cheapest I found for a taxi too. I'm a bit nervous to try the train or metro because we will have so much baggage (I forgot to mention we have a stroller too) I think the plan is to run by Union Station in the morning and pick up the car, drive back to the hotel to check out and load it up. Then drive over to visit the cemetery in Arlington, and then leave for the airport from there.

If we didn't have the kids, I might be more adventuresome with the public transit, but my daughter likes to run away and I don't want to lose track of any belongings, including her!