# DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport > Machine-readable reference for DCA. Single-airport scope. Re-fetch when content_generated_at changes. Canonical: https://airport.flights/airport/dca HTML page: https://airport.flights/airport/dca Markdown alt: https://airport.flights/airport/dca.md JSON: https://airport.flights/api/airport/DCA.json (includes live arrivals + weather) Sitemap: https://airport.flights/sitemap-airports.xml Last refreshed: 2026-06-02T20:29:58.727+00:00 --- ## Identity - Name: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport - IATA: DCA - ICAO: KDCA - City: Washington - Country: US (US) - Timezone: America/New_York - Distance from city: 6 km (4 mi) south of downtown Washington, D.C. - Runways: 3 - Terminals: 2 - Annual passengers: 25.5M - Hub for: American Airlines - Official website: https://www.flyreagan.com ## Overview Welcome DCA feels more like a downtown train station with runways than a typical airport. Located just 6 km south of downtown Washington, it's possible to reach the National Mall in just 15 minutes, making it incredibly accessible to the city. The airport is known for scenic approaches; planes skim low over the Potomac, offering postcard views of DC monuments on descent. The compact, walkable layout is favored by frequent flyers, but be warned: security lines can be long during peak times. At a glance Handling approximately 25.5 million passengers annually, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a key hub for American Airlines. It features two terminals and three runways, servicing numerous domestic and international routes. Terminal 1 offers 9 gates primarily used by Southwest Airlines, while Terminal 2’s 49 gates cater to carriers such as Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and JetBlue Airways. Terminals & layout Terminal 1 serves as the quiet escape with its historic rotunda and fewer crowds, especially in the evenings. Meanwhile, Terminal 2 is a bustling hub thanks to the National Hall, a continuous post-security expanse connecting its various concourses. This configuration… ## Terminals (2) - **Terminal 1** — 9 gates · airlines: American Airlines, Southwest Airlines URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/terminals/1 - **Terminal 2** — 49 gates · airlines: Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/terminals/2 ## Dining (20) - **American Tap Room** — 2 URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/american-tap-room-2 - **Ben's Chili Bowl** — 2 · $$ · Post-security in the newer concourse. Lines spike during evening bank departures but move faster outside 5-8 p.m. Mobile order or walk up during mid-afternoon lulls. URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/ben-s-chili-bowl-2 - **Bracket Room** — 2 URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/bracket-room-2 - **Capitol Grounds Coffee** — 1 · $ URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/capitol-grounds-coffee-1 - **Cava** — 2 · $$ URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/cava-2 - **Chipotle Mexican Grill** — 2 · $ URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/chipotle-mexican-grill-2 - **District ChopHouse** — 2 · $$$ URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/district-chophouse-2 - **Five Guys** — 2 · $$ · Post-security. URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/five-guys-2 - **Good Stuff Eatery** — 2 · $$ · Past security in the newer concourse. URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/good-stuff-eatery-2 - **Lebanese Taverna** — 2 · $$ URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/lebanese-taverna-2 - **Mezza Mediterranean Grill** — 2 · $$ URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/mezza-mediterranean-grill-2 - **Panda Express** — 2 · $ URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/panda-express-2 - **Pizzeria Uno** — 1 · $$ URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/pizzeria-uno-1 - **Potbelly Sandwich Shop** — 2 · $ URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/potbelly-sandwich-shop-2 - **Smashburger** — 2 · $$ URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/smashburger-2 - **Starbucks** — 1 URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/starbucks-1 - **Starbucks** — 2 · $ URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/starbucks-2 - **Taylor Gourmet** — 2 · $$ URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/taylor-gourmet-2 - **U Street Pub** — 1 · $$ URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/u-street-pub-1 - **Vino Volo** — 2 · $$ URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/restaurants/vino-volo-2 ## Lounges (6) - **American Airlines Admirals Club** — 2 · access: Terminal 2, C Concourse · day pass: $79 · 05:15-22:15 Sun-Fri, 05:15-20:15 Sat (E concourse location) URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/lounges/american-airlines-admirals-club-2 - **Capital One Landing** — 2 · access: Terminal 2, National Hall · 06:00-21:00 daily URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/lounges/capital-one-landing-2 - **Delta Sky Club** — 2 · access: Terminal 2, near B15 · 05:00-21:30 Sun-Fri, 05:00-18:30 Sat URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/lounges/delta-sky-club-2 - **The Centurion Lounge** — 2 · access: Terminal 2, National Hall · day pass: 50 · 05:00-21:00 Sun-Fri, 05:00-19:00 Sat URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/lounges/the-centurion-lounge-2 - **United Club** — 2 · access: Terminal 2 · day pass: $59 · 05:30-19:30 daily URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/lounges/united-club-2 - **USO Lounge** — 2 · access: Terminal 2 · 06:00-18:00 Mon-Fri, 08:00-16:00 Sat-Sun URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/lounges/uso-lounge-2 ## Shops (15) - **Brookstone** — 2 URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/shops/brookstone-2 - **DC Marketplace** — 2 URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/shops/dc-marketplace-2 - **Duty Free Americas** — 2 URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/shops/duty-free-americas-2 - **Hudson News** — 1 URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/shops/hudson-news-1 - **Hudson News** — 2 URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/shops/hudson-news-2 - **InMotion Entertainment** — 2 URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/shops/inmotion-entertainment-2 - **Lids** — 2 URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/shops/lids-2 - **MAC Cosmetics** — 2 URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/shops/mac-cosmetics-2 - **Relay** — 1 URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/shops/relay-1 - **Smithsonian Museum Store** — 2 URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/shops/smithsonian-museum-store-2 - **Tech on the Go** — 2 URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/shops/tech-on-the-go-2 - **Traveler's Essentials** — 2 URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/shops/traveler-s-essentials-2 - **Tumi** — 2 URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/shops/tumi-2 - **Washingtonian** — 2 URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/shops/washingtonian-2 - **White House Gifts** — 2 URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/shops/white-house-gifts-2 ## Parking (5) - **Cell Phone Lot** — Free waiting area URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/parking/cell-phone-lot - **Economy Parking** — Long-term parking · $12/day URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/parking/economy-parking - **Terminal A Garage** — Short-term parking URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/parking/terminal-a-garage - **Terminal B C Garage** — Short-term parking · $20/day URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/parking/terminal-b-c-garage - **Valet Parking** — Premium service URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/parking/valet-parking ## Ground transport (10) - **Airport Shuttle** — Shuttle · 10-15 min · Free · Every 10-15 min URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/transport/airport-shuttle - **Lyft** — Rideshare · 15-30 min to central DC depending on traffic · $20-30 to central DC in typical conditions (plus surge and fees) · On-demand; typically 3-10 min wait times reported in daytime/evening URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/transport/lyft - **Metrorail** — Train · 20-30 min · $2.25 - $6.75 · Every 8-10 min URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/transport/metro - **Metrobus 10A** — Bus · 20-35 min DCA–Alexandria depending on traffic · $2 · Roughly every 30 min most periods; no overnight service URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/transport/metrobus-10a - **Metrobus 11Y** — Bus · .10 min · 3 terminal hops.15 min · Every 30 min URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/transport/metrobus-11y - **Metrobus 13Y** — Bus · .15 min · .30-45 min · Every 30-45 min URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/transport/metrobus-13y - **Metrorail Blue Line** — Train · 10-15 min to L’Enfant Plaza, ~18-22 min to Metro Center · $2-6 · Every ~6-12 min peak, 12-20 min late evenings URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/transport/metrorail-blue-line - **Metrorail Yellow Line** — Train · 13-18 min DCA–Gallery Place · $2-6 · Every ~6-12 min peak, 12-20 min late evenings and weekends URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/transport/metrorail-yellow-line - **Taxi** — Metered cab · 15-30 min to central DC depending on traffic · $20-30 to central DC (metered) · On-demand while flights are operating; queues form after large arrivals URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/transport/taxi - **Uber** — Rideshare · 15-30 min to central DC depending on traffic · $20-30 to central DC in typical conditions (plus surge and fees) · On-demand; typically 3-10 min wait times reported in daytime/evening URL: https://airport.flights/airport/dca/transport/uber ## Insider tips - _Insider_: Sit on the right side inbound and left side outbound for stunning views of DC monuments as you fly over the Potomac. - _Time_: Use Terminal 1’s security in the mornings to avoid long queues at National Hall during its busy periods. - _Local_: Use Priority Pass dining credits at Bracket Room (B Concourse) and American Tap Room (D Concourse) for cost-effective meals. - _Quiet_: Escape the crowds in Terminal 1’s historic rotunda with its quieter ambience and mid-century charm. - _Avoid_: Skip the curbside chaos by using the Cell Phone Lot when picking someone up by car. - _Money_: Metrorail is typically cheaper and faster than taxis during peak DC traffic, getting you into the city without the surge fares. - _Time_: Don’t rely on late evening dining in outer concourses; National Hall offers better options if you’re looking to grab a drink or meal. ## Travellers notes mentioning DCA - [Stop Defaulting to DCA: A Trip-Length and ZIP-Code Guide to IAD vs DCA](https://airport.flights/notes/iad-for-dc-flyers) — by Vivienne Park, 2026-07-18 Washington Dulles (IAD) and Reagan National (DCA) look obvious on a map. They are not. Here is when trip length, ZIP code, and parking costs flip the answer, using IAD’s 10 parking lots and 10 lounges as the tiebreaker i - [BWI vs. DCA vs. IAD: The Ground-Cost Math DC Travelers Usually Skip](https://airport.flights/notes/bwi-the-bwi-day-trip-calculus) — by Marcus Trenton, 2026-07-01 For DC trips, BWI’s cheaper fares can vanish once you add transport, parking, and time. Learn when BWI really beats DCA and Dulles. - [Lock in your spot at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport before you hit DC traffic](https://airport.flights/notes/dca-parking) — by Marcus Trenton, 2026-06-18 Beat last‑minute stress at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport by reserving parking in advance, comparing garages and off‑site lots before you drive. --- ## Live data Live arrivals, departures, and weather are not in this static reference. Fetch: - https://airport.flights/api/airport/DCA.json — JSON with current live boards + weather (12h cache) - https://airport.flights/airport/dca/arrivals — HTML page with live arrivals - https://airport.flights/airport/dca/departures — HTML page with live departures