Washington Dulles International Airport

Understand

Dulles is 26 miles west of DC in Sterling, Virginia. It is the primary international and long-haul gateway to the region. Opened in 1962 to relieve Washington National Airport (now Reagan National), it soon became an enduring mark in the nation's architecture. The main terminal, designed by Eero Saarinen, is an architectural masterpiece, with a curved roof that arcs gracefully into air, suspended over a huge open ticketing and check-in area. At one point, this was the only building at the airport, and instead of the usual affair of the time where passengers walked to their plane on the tarmac, special shuttles known as "mobile lounges" and "plane mates" were used to ferry passengers between the terminal and their planes. Unfortunately the layout hasn't responded well to the changed needs of modern air travel. In order to accommodate larger jets and more aerobridges, two satellite buildings were built over time. The layout includes lengthy corridors and long escalators and you will have to take a train between the main building and the concourses - expect that you will need some extra time to get to the gate. Many carriers serve the airport, which serves as an East Coast hub for United Airlines and a major gateway for Star Alliance airlines. Now, the main terminal primarily houses ticket counters, baggage claim, and security screening, with only a handful of passenger gates, while the vast majority of flights arrive and depart from the two midfield terminals accessed by train, walkway, or mobile lounge.

Detailed map of terminal and concourses Interactive map

Security There are two entrances to the screening area, the West and East Security Checkpoints. TSA PreCheck and the private service CLEAR have set up their checkpoints for departing passengers in between the two general checkpoints.

Getting around

Departure gates are split between the H and Z gates in the main terminal, one midfield terminal containing Concourses A and B, and a second midfield terminal containing Concourses C and D. It is possible to walk the length of each midfield terminal building end-to-end (i.e., there are no barriers between A and B or between C and D), and there is an underground pedestrian walkway connects the main terminal to the A/B midfield terminal. The main way of traveling through the airport is the AeroTrain, a people mover that goes through Concourses C, A, the main terminal (near H and Z after security) and B and back; the AeroTrain does not connect to Concourse D. Trains arrive and depart every two minutes. Note that the station for Concourse C is situated a few hundred feet from its AeroTrain station, and travelers may wish to factor in additional time for this walk. "Mobile lounge" shuttles connect the main terminal, Concourse A, and Concourse D.

Sleep

Outside security, the Washington Dulles Airport Marriott is on the grounds of the airport. It is not connected to the terminal, but it operates a free shuttle bus. Additional hotels are located in the nearby areas of Herndon, Reston, Ashburn, and Sterling.