Exit 9 off I-495 is your turn for Joint Base Andrews
For POV access to Joint Base Andrews, you’re aiming for Exit 9 off I-495 (Capital Beltway), which feeds you toward the Allentown Road and Woodyard Road corridors. The base’s Passenger Terminal sits on the installation, so you’re not driving to a public airport terminal; you’re driving to a controlled military gate, then onward to the terminal area.
I-495 itself runs about 64 miles around Washington, DC, and traffic can swing from 55 mph free-flowing to 10 mph gridlock during weekday rush hours between 7:00–9:30 and 15:30–18:30. Build 20–30 extra minutes into your plan if you’re coming from I-95 north of College Park or from I-295 across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge; backups near Exits 7–9 are common on workdays.
From Exit 9, follow posted Joint Base Andrews signs toward the appropriate gate listed in your official instructions or orders; different gates along Allentown Road and Perimeter Road have different access rules and hours. Some gates close overnight or switch to ID-check-only lanes after 22:00, so confirm which gate you’re authorized to use and its specific schedule on jba.af.mil before you leave.
Every person in the private car needs a valid DoD ID, approved base pass, or documented escort as outlined on the Joint Base Andrews website, and guards may run your license plate in real time at the gate. Have your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance in hand before you pull up; digging for paperwork at the guard shack is how a 2-minute stop turns into 10.
The Passenger Terminal handles Space-A and duty passengers and posts show times and roll-call times down to the minute, often 2–3 hours ahead of departure. Plan your I-495 and gate arrival so you’re parked at the terminal at least 60–90 minutes before your listed roll-call or show time; missing a Space-A roll call by even 5 minutes usually means you’re not flying.
One last tip: screenshot the base access instructions and gate hours page from jba.af.mil before you get in the car, in case your cell data drops somewhere between I-95 and Exit 9.