Fare is $2 on MTA Local Bus 75 from BWI
If you care more about saving cash than saving time, MTA Local Bus 75 is the $2 way between BWI and parts of Baltimore and Columbia. The route stops at the BWI Airport Light Rail station on the airport loop road, not directly at the Terminal, so budget an extra 5–10 minutes to walk from arrivals to the bus stop.
The bus runs through Baltimore and Howard County, connecting BWI to places like Arundel Mills, Columbia Mall, and downtown Baltimore via local streets. You pay the $2.00 fixed fare when you board (exact cash or CharmPass app), the same as any other Maryland MTA local bus. No airport surcharge, no special luggage fee.
Local Bus 75 runs roughly every 30–60 minutes during the day, with service starting around 5:00 a.m. and ending around 11:00 p.m., but exact times shift by day of week. The stop you want at the airport is signed for MTA buses near the BWI Light Rail station; follow the ground transportation signs from the Terminal baggage claim for “Light Rail / Public Transit.”
This is a regular city bus with two doors, standard seats, and only a few front-area priority seats, not an airport coach. You’ll be lifting your own bag up the single step and likely sliding it under your seat or into a side space. On busy runs, especially near Arundel Mills and Columbia Mall, expect people with groceries, backpacks, and strollers.
Transfers from Local Bus 75 to other MTA routes are included in the $2 fare if you use CharmPass or a CharmCard and complete your transfer within 90 minutes. That means you can chain a 75 ride with, say, a CityLink or LocalLink bus in Baltimore for one paid boarding. Cash riders pay $2 per boarding with no free transfer, so download the app before reaching the airport Wi‑Fi.
Build a buffer of at least 60–90 minutes over what a direct rideshare would take, since 75 makes multiple local stops and deals with traffic on MD‑295 and MD‑100. If you have a late flight after 10:00 p.m., check the exact schedule for your day on the MTA site before you commit, instead of assuming the last northbound or southbound bus will line up with your arrival.
Practical tip: if you land in the Terminal and see a 75 departure within 10 minutes on the schedule, skip the restroom and walk straight to the Light Rail station stop; missing one bus can add 30–60 minutes to your total airport-to-door time.