MTA Commuter Bus 201 between Gaithersburg, Burtonsville, and BWI
Weekday commuters along the I‑270/I‑95/ICC corridor use MTA Commuter Bus 201 as a rolling park-and-ride between Gaithersburg, Burtonsville, and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). The 201 line runs on weekdays only and links Shady Grove Metro, Gaithersburg Park & Ride, Burtonsville Park & Ride, Arundel Mills, and BWI. If you live along this spine and fly a lot, this bus can double as both your airport transfer and your workday commute.
Bus 201 serves the BWI terminal at the lower level, usually stopping near the MARC/Amtrak shuttle area on the arrivals roadway. You’re landside, not post-security, so you still go through TSA in the main Terminal after you’re dropped off. The route also stops at Arundel Mills Mall and at BWI Business District, which can matter if you’re meeting someone or staying at a nearby hotel. Build 20–30 minutes of buffer for traffic around the I‑95 and MD‑200 (ICC) junctions.
MTA Commuter Bus fares on route 201 match the statewide commuter bus pricing, with a standard one-way fare and discounted multi-ride passes available. You pay on board; drivers accept CharmPass mobile tickets and CharmCard, plus exact cash. This is a seated coach bus, not a local city bus, so you’re more likely to get a proper seat for the roughly 45–70 minute ride between BWI and Gaithersburg, depending on time of day and traffic.
Weekday schedules on route 201 lean heavily toward peak rush-hour patterns, with inbound morning runs toward BWI and outbound afternoon runs toward Gaithersburg and Burtonsville. Midday and late-night options are limited or nonexistent, so you have to match your flight time to the timetable. Check the current MTA schedule for exact trip times around Shady Grove Metro, Burtonsville Park & Ride on US‑29, and BWI, and assume that a missed bus can add close to an hour to your day.
Step-by-step from BWI to Gaithersburg/Burtonsville:
- 1. After landing, follow signs to the Terminal lower level and exit to the arrivals curb where MTA and shuttle buses stop.
- 2. Look for an MTA Commuter Bus 201 sign or the coach-style bus showing “201” in the front display, typically near the MARC/Amtrak shuttle zone.
- 3. Buy or activate your CharmPass ticket on your phone, or have exact cash ready before the bus pulls up.
- 4. Board through the front door, pay the driver using CharmPass, CharmCard, or cash, then take a seat toward the front if you want a quick exit at Burtonsville or Arundel Mills.
- 5. For Burtonsville Park & Ride, get off at the US‑29 lot; for Gaithersburg, ride through to Shady Grove Metro or the Gaithersburg Park & Ride stop, then connect to Metro’s Red Line or your parked car.
One tip: if your flight arrives after the last evening 201 trip, don’t gamble on it; line up a backup plan like the MARC/Amtrak train from BWI Rail Station or a rideshare to Shady Grove instead.