Washington, D.C. Reagan-National Airport (DCA) Flights & Flight Status

As the closest airport to the U.S. capital, Reagan Washington National Airport is easy to use, conveniently close to tourist and government sites, and a favourite among aviation geeks for the views upon takeoff and landing. But, there are some key points to consider when travelling from DCA. Here’s what you need to know!

The airport location and layout

The airport is located across the border in Crystal City, Virginia and is 8 km from Washington D.C.. With considerably shorter runways and being so close to the U.S. capital (and key buildings like The White House, the Pentagon and Capitol Building), there are restrictions to the airport’s flying.

For starters, there is a perimeter rule that only permits direct flights to within a 2000 km radius of the airport. There are a few exceptions with limited flights to places like Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco among others.

Politicians often lobby for more. But, this is why most flights beyond the midwest will require a connection. Beyond airports that have pre-clearance immigration facilities (like Canada or Bahamas), there are also no international flights from DCA.

This airport dates back to 1941, and some of its historic terminal buildings are protected today by the government as architectural landmarks. The rest of the terminal has been appended to these buildings with soaring glass walls and plentiful natural light. Pay attention to which airline is leaving from each terminal as one is not connected to the others once past security.

National Hall, the large glass structure with the arched roofline, is now all connected airside, which means travellers can pass between several piers to shop, dine or visit lounges. I find this to be much more passenger-friendly than the former setup, which restricted passengers only to the terminal where their flight was departing.

The reason aviation fans like me love this airport is two fold. For starters, the “river visual” approach affords sweeping views of the U.S. capital as the plane banks to land just a hundred or so metres from the ground (this helps to avoid flying right over Washington D.C.’s restricted air space). Taking off in the opposite direction also includes tourist-friendly vistas like the Lincoln Memorial, National Mall and Washington Monument among others. I am always glued to my window.

On the ground, people can visit an area known as Gravelly Point on the western edge of the Potomac River, where they can snap photos and catch up-close views of the planes as they land or take off. There is parking, and trust me, you won’t be alone. Families love it for picnics on a nice day.

Busiest airlines at DCA

DCA is a primary hub for American Airlines, serving many cities along the East Coast and midwest of the United States, as well as major Canadian airports. The airport serves a lot of flyers who are either travelling to D.C. or making a connection. I like connecting here when flying American because it is much less crowded and a generally more pleasant experience. The second largest carrier is Southwest Airlines followed by Delta and JetBlue, with Air Canada also operating here. No matter what airline I am flying, the terminals have amazing views of the runway and monuments in the distance.

How to get to DCA

I truly wish more airports were this easy to reach. My carry-on bag and I can hop onto the city’s metro line in the heart of town and be inside the terminal in less than 30 minutes (even faster if at a closer station). Heavy packers may prefer a taxi or rideshare car. With so many politicians and lobbyists flying to or from the city, there are a lot of black sedans and SUVs shuttling them around. Rates are sometimes quite reasonable with advance reservations, but my metro ride never has to deal with traffic.

Alternate area airports

Given the perimeter rule and the shorter runways at DCA, two other nearby airports provide alternatives for those flying from the Washington D.C.

Washington Dulles Airport

About 50 km from central Washington D.C., this is the primary international airport for the city. It serves as a major hub for United Airlines and many Star Alliance partners such as Air Canada with flights to the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa. Public transportation is hardly as easy as DCA, but for many this airport can be more convenient for most destinations.

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport

Over 50 km north of central Washington D.C., this airport is a hub for Southwest Airlines and offers flights to many points around the U.S. Air Canada also operates here for flights to and from Canada, while international flights to Europe and the Caribbean are also offered by many airlines.

Appreciating the history here

President Bill Clinton named the airport in honour of President Ronald Reagan in 1998. In fact, this airport teems with U.S. politicians, especially around the weekend when many of them return to their home states.

If you’re a history or aviation buff like me, allow a little extra time to visit the exhibition hall in the corridor area between Terminals A and B. There, you can explore models of the original airport, historic photographs, memorabilia from various areas of the terminals like its former dining hall and video presentations. Part of the land that the airport now occupies was once a plantation, and there are some artefacts recovered also on display. It’s great for families looking to pass the time.

Best places to pass the time

From dining options to airline lounges, there are many ways to amuse yourself between flights, aside from visiting the exhibition hall or hopping the metro into the city for some sightseeing, on an especially long layover.

Best airline lounges at DCA

As a hub airport for American, there are several Admirals Clubs, but members should make a beeline for the newest club in Terminal 2’s Concourse E. I think this is the nicest Admirals Club in the entire lounge system for American due to its ultra-modern decor with leather armchairs and sofas surrounding a modern fireplace and views of D.C. It looks more like a fancy living room than a lounge, and it represents the first of the airline’s new-style lounges.

Other lounges like the Delta Sky Club and United Club are popular, but the Centurion Lounge is the most substantial when it comes to food and beverage. It is reserved for American Express’ top cardholders

Dining choices at DCA

Even though I have access to plenty of lounges here, it is hard to pass up the many dining options in the airport. Some personal favourites include the dumplings and steamed buns at Wow Bao that are easy to take away to snack on while waiting at your gate.

Celebrity chefs have brought their recipes to the airport, too. Wolfgang Puck has some Mediterranean dishes on the menu at a bar-cum-eatery in the newest E concourse and Chef Carla Hall brings her famous Southern dishes to the A concourse (I suggest the pimento cheese dip and biscuits with cured ham). Richard Sandoval shows off his Latin fare near the C gates, although I suggest forgoing tequila before boarding your flight. Another personal favourite is the Greek Kapnos Taverna in the D gate area. I love a healthy horiatiki (traditional Greek salad) or maybe a traditional gyro with Greek wine.

Tips and tricks for using DCA

The airport allows travellers to pre-reserve parking to guarantee a spot in their preferred lot. While I don’t drive to the airport, I imagine it would be concerning to show up within 90 minutes of a flight to find that there is no place to park a vehicle.

Some of my hyper-fit friends even walk or bike to the airport using the Mount Vernon Trail from Crystal City. While it’s not ideal before hopping a long flight, there are bike racks making it easy if you’re just looking to plane spot at Gravelly Point Park. This is the same trail that links downtown D.C. with Alexandria.

If you would rather not bike or hike, the metro line stops just outside the airport terminal making it quite convenient to get to all parts of town without paying for an expensive car ride. For frequent flyers, DCA is one of the easiest airports to reach from town, but its route network is not as extensive as what you will find down the highway at Washington Dulles.