Gate-side grab at DCA Terminal 1: Relay is it
Right in Terminal 1 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Relay is the basic newsstand and snack stop you hit when you realize your boarding pass says “Group 8” and you haven’t eaten. It sits past security with the other older Terminal 1 gates, so you don’t need extra time to detour.
Expect the usual airport markup: bottled drinks around $4–$5, candy and chips in the $3–$6 range, and a small rack of last-minute travel items like phone cables and earbuds that can run $15–$30. There’s a modest wall of magazines and a few DC postcards and souvenirs if you forgot to grab something in the city.
Food is mostly prepackaged: protein bars, trail mix, cookies, and fridge sandwiches and salads in the $8–$14 range. Coffee is basic drip from a counter machine, not a full café setup, so skip it if you’re picky and walk toward the main concessions in Terminal 2 for better espresso.
Hours usually track the Terminal 1 schedule, opening around the first departures and closing after the last wave of evening flights, typically near 9–10 p.m., but staffing can shift slightly by day. If you land late into Terminal 1, this may be your only open option before baggage claim.
Tip: If your gate is in Terminal 1, grab water and a snack at Relay before you sit down; there aren’t many other food spots right at these older gates.