US Airport · Maryland

Baltimore-Washington (BWI)

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall is Southwest Airlines' largest East Coast operation, serving roughly 27 million passengers a year and acting as the budget-friendly alternative to Reagan National and Dulles for the DC metro area. BWI's single connected terminal building runs along five concourses (A, B, C, D, E) with a long landside walkway. The airport has unusually strong rail connections — the BWI Marshall Rail Station, served by both MARC commuter trains and Amtrak, is connected to terminals by a free shuttle and offers fast service to Baltimore Penn Station and DC Union Station.

Compare flights from BWI →

Terminals at BWI

Concourse A/B
Southwest
Southwest's exclusive home at BWI. Multiple gates across two linked concourses; about 70% of all BWI traffic.
Concourse C
American, Delta, JetBlue, Frontier
Mix of legacy and low-cost domestic. Delta Sky Club here.
Concourse D
American Eagle (regional), Allegiant, Air Canada, Alaska, Spirit, Sun Country
Mostly regional and seasonal carriers.
Concourse E
International arrivals, British Airways, Condor
Federal Inspection Services. Limited daily international departures, mostly to UK and Caribbean.

Getting to Baltimore-Washington

Mode Details Cost Frequency
MARC Penn Line and AmtrakFree shuttle from each terminal to BWI Marshall Rail Station, then trains to Baltimore Penn (15 min) and Washington DC Union Station (35-45 min).$7-8 MARC / $19-39 AmtrakEvery 30-60 min MARC; hourly Amtrak
Light Rail (Maryland Transit)Direct light rail service from the airport stop to downtown Baltimore and beyond.$2Every 15-30 min
MTA Commuter Bus 201/204Service to Annapolis and Kent Island; useful for Eastern Shore travelers.$5-7Limited weekday peak
Taxi or rideshareDowntown Baltimore is 10 miles, downtown DC is about 32 miles via I-295. Designated zones on the lower level.$30-45 Baltimore; $75-95 DCOn demand

Parking at BWI

Tier Rate Shuttle Best for
Hourly Garage$32/day maxConnected to terminal by skywalkShort stays under 24 hours
Daily Garage$22/dayWalk via skywalkTrips of 1-3 days
Long-Term Lots A and B$10/dayFree shuttle every 10-15 minTrips of 4 days or longer
Express (off-airport BWI Park)$10-13/dayOperator shuttle 5-10 minMost economical option
Off-airport lots (Linthicum, Hanover)$8-11/dayOperator shuttles 10-15 minLowest rates for week-plus trips

Lounges at BWI

Delta Sky Club
📍 Concourse C
Delta One, Amex Platinum (Delta same-day), paid annual
British Airways Galleries Lounge
📍 Concourse E
oneworld business and first, status; opens for BA's daily LHR flight
The Club BWI
📍 Concourse D/E area
Priority Pass, paid day pass

Top destinations from BWI

Destination Country From
London (LHR)United Kingdom$449Open route guide →
Paris (CDG)France$449Open route guide →
Rome (FCO)Italy$449Open route guide →
Los Angeles (LAX)United States$249Open route guide →
New York (JFK)United States$79Open route guide →
Miami (MIA)United States$119Open route guide →

Airlines at BWI

British Airways Condor Southwest Airlines Spirit Airlines Frontier Airlines American Airlines Delta Air Lines United Airlines

5 things you didn't know about Baltimore-Washington

Verified by the CompareFlights team
  1. 1BWI was originally Friendship International Airport, opened 1950 — renamed Thurgood Marshall Airport in 2005 after the late Supreme Court Justice, who was born in Baltimore.
  2. 2Southwest Airlines' BWI operation is the airline's largest East Coast presence — over 200 daily flights at peak season, and the only Southwest hub serving the New York / DC / Boston corridor.
  3. 3The MARC Penn Line train to Washington Union Station runs every 30 minutes during peak times for $8 — making BWI a viable alternative to flying into DC's airports for any traveler willing to add 30 minutes of train time.
  4. 4BWI is one of the few major US airports with public access to a runway-side observation deck — the Thomas A. Dixon Aircraft Observation Area on the airport's western edge is a popular weekend destination for plane spotters.
  5. 5BWI Rail Station (a 12-minute light-rail shuttle ride from the terminal) is one of the only major US airport rail stations served by Amtrak — direct trains to NYC, Philly, Newark and DC make BWI a surprisingly versatile northeast corridor connection.

Frequently asked about BWI

Is BWI a Southwest hub?

Southwest doesn't formally call any of its airports a hub, but BWI is one of its three or four largest operations and the airline's biggest East Coast base. Southwest occupies all of concourses A and B and operates the bulk of BWI's flights, with destinations across the eastern half of the country.

Can I take the train from BWI to DC?

Yes. A free terminal shuttle runs to BWI Marshall Rail Station, where MARC commuter trains (Penn Line) reach Washington DC Union Station in about 35-45 minutes for $8 weekdays. Amtrak Northeast Regional and Acela trains also stop here, with faster but pricier service.

How does BWI compare to DCA and IAD?

BWI is usually the cheapest of the three Washington-area airports, especially with Southwest's flat-fare network. DCA is closest to central DC and connected by Metro. IAD has the most international long-haul. From northern DC suburbs, BWI is often a 45-minute drive and worth checking for fares.

Is there light rail to downtown Baltimore?

Yes. Maryland Transit's Light Rail has a stop at the BWI terminal and runs directly to Camden Yards, downtown Baltimore (Lexington Market), and Hunt Valley to the north. The trip to central Baltimore is about 30 minutes and costs around $2.

Nearby airports

Reagan National (DCA)
32 mi SW
Closest to central DC, perimeter rule applies
Dulles International (IAD)
50 mi SW
United hub, biggest international option
Philadelphia International (PHL)
100 mi NE
American hub, alternative for north-bound trips