Airport Guide to Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)

Airport Overview

Terminal Transfer | Getting into Town | Car Parking | Information Desks | Airport Facilities

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is located 50km (30 miles) outside Washington DC and just 16km (10 miles) south of Baltimore. It is a good alternative to the busier Dulles International Airport and Washington National Airports located in the region. Another reason to fly into Baltimore Washington International is that it serves a number of popular domestic routes in the US, as well as many international ones.

The single terminal BWI Airport has five concourses branching off from it, making for easy navigation of the airport and a less stressful airport experience. Passengers with time on their hands can peruse the great selection of shops and restaurants lining each of the concourses.

The airport is popular on America’s east coast as it is a major hub for Southwest Airlines, AirTran Airways and Cape Air. Cities with direct flights to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport include Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Tampa, and Chicago. There are many discount flights to Baltimore/Washington International Airport that provide a friendly and efficient introduction to the Baltimore/Washington area.

Back to top

Terminal Transfer

BWI is a one-terminal airport.

Back to top

Getting into Town

Train: A free shuttle bus connects the airport to the Amtrak station, which is situated 1 mile (1.5km) from the airport. The MTA Light Rail station has a stop beside concourse E (the international concourse). Trains operate regularly between 6am and 11pm from Monday to Friday and less frequently on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets start at $1.60 to get to Penn Station and Lexington Street.

Taxis: Taxis are available outside arrivals. The 30-minute drive into downtown Baltimore costs about $35; a taxi into Washington DC will cost around $90 and take roughly 45 minutes.

Bus: Buses to both Washington DC and Baltimore leave from the airport terminal’s lower level. The Baltimore bus leaves every 40 minutes and cost about $2. The Washington DC bus leaves every 40 minutes and costs about $7.

Back to top

Car Parking

Short- and long-term parking is available at the airport. The hourly garage rate is $3, up to a maximum of $12 per day. Long-term parking is charged at $8 per day and an express parking lot is available at $10 per day. A free “cell phone waiting lot” is available for passenger pick-ups. All the parking areas, except the hourly garage, are located away from the main terminal building and are serviced by shuttles running to and from the terminal.

Back to top

Information Desks

Information desks at BWI Airport are located near to concourses B and D in the terminal.

Back to top

Airport Facilities

Money and communications: ATMs, currency exchange facilities and auto exchange machines.

Luggage: Lost luggage is handled by the airline. Unfortunately, due to heightened security measures the TSA has said that US airports cannot offer luggage storage facilities.

Conference and business: Conference facilities, including a meeting room with a 72-person capacity and a banquet option, are available within the terminal building. Airline lounges also have faxing, printing, Internet and other business facilities on site. If that’s not all you need then there are also a number of hotels only a short distance from the terminal building.

Other facilities: BWI’s concourses feature a meditation room as well as observation gallery and a permanent exhibition on the life of Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American to hold the position of Supreme Court Justice. The airport also has first-aid facilities and a children’s playroom, which can be found in the Observation Gallery.

Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is available at BWI airport via Boingo Wireless.

Back to top