IAD Washington Dulles International Airport

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is connected to Washington and the surrounding region by a layered network of ground transportation. The right choice depends on how many people are traveling, how much luggage you have, what time of day it is, and whether your destination is downtown or the suburbs.

Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) at IAD

Uber and Lyft pick up at curbside Door 2 (lower level arrivals) of the Main Terminal. Surcharge $4.00.

Surge pricing is common during weather delays and immediately after large arrival banks. If your phone shows surge pricing of 1.8x or higher, the rental-car shuttle for a same-day return is often a faster total-cost path than waiting for surge to drop.

Rental cars

The IAD Rental Car Facility is connected to the Main Terminal by a free shuttle bus. Loyalty members of National (Emerald Club), Hertz (Gold Plus Rewards), Avis (Preferred), and Enterprise (Plus) usually skip the counter entirely. National's choose-any-car-on-the-aisle model is the fastest path through the facility for travelers who do not need a specific vehicle class.

Public transit to and from IAD

WMATA Metro Silver Line stops directly at IAD station inside the Main Terminal. Downtown DC is 50 minutes for $6.00 (with peak/off-peak variation). For more on US airport transit options, see the ground transport overview.

Hotel and parking shuttles

Washington Flyer Coach (now Loudoun County Transit), Greyhound, and several hotel shuttles board at the Lower Level Ground Transportation curb. Free shuttles run on each operator's own loop, typically every 10 to 20 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes overnight. If you do not see your hotel's shuttle, call the front desk before assuming you have missed it — schedules vary on weekends and holidays.

Cell phone waiting area

If somebody is picking you up in a private vehicle, ask them to wait at the cell phone waiting lot until you have your luggage and are at the curb. Pulling to the arrivals curb early at IAD forces the driver into the recirculation loop, which can add 15 to 25 minutes on a busy day.

Accessibility

All ground transportation options at IAD are required to provide equivalent service for travelers with disabilities. Accessible taxis are dispatched on request from the taxi stand. Public transit is wheelchair accessible. Hotel shuttles are required to provide wheelchair accommodation — call the hotel ahead to confirm a lift-equipped vehicle is on your departure-window schedule.

Parking is the alternative

If you are driving yourself, see the IAD parking guide for on-site garages, off-site lots, and a comparison of every published rate.