Washington’s Airports Advise Travelers to 'Spring' Into Action to Navigate Growing Passenger Volumes

Parking reservations top list of 2023 airport travel tips 

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is preparing for a busy spring and summer travel season at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Both airports are seeing stronger passenger traffic in 2023 exceeding 2019 pre-pandemic totals for the month of January.  

Spring Break, along with several other holidays and busy weekends in 2023, is expected to increase parking demand at peak times. Parking facilities could fill during peak times – especially at Reagan National. The Airports Authority encourages travelers to plan ahead for a smooth and seamless journey through Washington’s airports. 

Reserve parking in advance 

• Parking will be in high demand at both airports. It is important to reserve parking at Reagan National or Dulles International well in advance to guarantee space. Customers with reservations can park even if the garage or lot is marked as full. 
• If you’re planning to park at the airport and haven’t made a reservation, check the latest parking availability prior to leaving home on the DCA and IAD website homepages. 

Consider alternate methods of transportation 

• The Metrorail station at Reagan National is connected by walkways to Terminals 1 and 2 for passenger convenience.  
• The Silver Line Metrorail station at Dulles is connected to the Main Terminal by a pedestrian walkway with moving sidewalks. 
• Ridesharing services such as Lyft and Uber are available at both airports. They are located on the arrivals level at DCA and IAD.  

Arrive early and know the carry-on luggage rules 

• Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight. 
• Do not attempt to bring a firearm or ammunition through a TSA checkpoint. Doing so slows the screening lines and compromises the safety and security of other passengers and the officers in the checkpoint. If you are unsure about how to properly transport a firearm, read TSA’s transporting firearms and ammunition rules. 

Airport amenities update 

• A new play space called Curiosity Runway is available for children at Reagan National. It is located after the north security checkpoint between C and D Gates. 
• Mobile ordering for select concessions is available at both airports. Passengers can order for pickup via the D.C. Airports App. 
• Dunkin’ Donuts in Concourse D at Dulles International reopened March 1 after undergoing renovation. 

Visit the interactive shopping and dining website pages for Reagan National or Dulles International, which provide the latest status and operating hours for available concessions both pre- and post-security.