The 2nd busiest trans-Atlantic gateway on the East Coast, handling up to 2,000 flights daily, Washington Dulles International Airport has been serving the Washington D.C. area only since the 60’s. It has gained momentum as a primary facility for low-cost carriers in the past forty years, and it appears that the airport may continue to see passenger growth in the coming years. With this growth, Washington airport has come up against some severe crowding, organizational, and airport parking and transportation issues.
The main terminal was recognized for its distinct design concept; the roof is a suspended catenary, creating a wide, enclosed area without the obstruction of columns. The main terminal contains ticketing, baggage claim, information, and international arrivals, so you can imagine how busy the area must get. What was once large enough to handle all of the traffic of the airport, however, now sees a checkpoint line wrapped around the entire ticketing area, in which one might have to wait for 45 to 90 minutes. Thus, there is no time to spare when seeking Washington airport parking. The parking garages, though often boasting available parking spots, are near impossible to reach. A major project has begun to improve the road traffic in and out of the airport. There will soon be more lanes, ramps, and signs, but until then, the roadway into the Washington airport parking area experiences frequent closings and obstructions. Washington Dulles is also located 26 miles from Washington D.C.’s downtown, which tacks quite a bit of travel time onto your trip, if coming from the capital.
With a 90 minute wait in the checkpoint line, a 26 mile car trip to the airport, and all the time spent walking to and from all of the necessary airport destinations, one might have to allot him or herself an enormous amount of time just to catch a flight. If you avoid on-site Washington airport parking and seek off-site Washington airport parking, you might find yourself with much more available time, which makes waiting in long lines not as nerve-wracking. Rather than experience roadblocks and construction sites on your way to Washington airport parking, you should consider booking an off-site parking spot at one of the parking garages or private parking lots listed on Parkingspotter. It conveniently lists all the available spaces in the area surrounding the airport, so that you can find the parking spot with all your needs. Many offer shuttle services to the terminals, which cuts time that much more. Don’t miss your flight because you spent hours simply driving to Washington airport parking; guarantee a parking spot outside the mess with Parkingspotter.