City: Washington, DC

Category: Getting Here, Getting Around

Telephone: (703) 572-2950

Description: Dulles, at the end of the airport-only access road 26 miles (about 45 minutes) from downtown Washington, is the area’s full-service domestic and international hub. Dulles was the first airport built for the jet age, opening in 1962 and named after John Foster Dulles, secretary of state under President Eisenhower. Finnish-born architect Eero Saarinen sought to convey the movement of flight in his design of the stunning main terminal, which the American Institute of Architects has recognized as one of the greatest architectural achievements of the twentieth century. Beauty wasn’t a harbinger of immediate success, however. Plagued by a “white elephant” label virtually from day one, Dulles languished severely until the mid-1980s, when a concerted effort was made to market and promote the airport and its rich, untapped potential. Airlines and passengers have since been flocking to Dulles in increasing numbers as the airport further establishes itself as a major player in international aviation. There are 15 major domestic airlines (United has a substantial presence) and 19 foreign carriers serving Dulles. The roster continues to grow as the airport expands and bolsters its role as an East Coast hub for travel to Europe and the Far East. Its 11,000-acre site on the Loudoun-Fairfax border, a broad expanse of meadows and forest near established residential areas and a booming business corridor, provides room for enlargement that few airports in the world can match. In recent years Dulles has added a new international terminal, additional parking, and a new air traffic control tower. Travelers can expect the development (and related construction) to continue as part of the Airport Authority’s $3.4 billion D2 Dulles Development Program, whose projects include replacing the airport’s mobile lounge system with an underground people-mover and pedestrian-walkway system and adding a new concourse to the main terminal and two new runways. Plans are also progressing to connect Dulles directly with downtown D.C. via Metro’s new Silver Line, with an expected delivery date of 2015. Meanwhile, many people still find Dulles easily accessible, thanks to the access road, which connects to I–66. Parking proves relatively hassle-free, with close-to-terminal and various reduced-price satellite options available. The terminal has a variety of eateries and shops to keep passengers occupied while waiting. Dulles passengers can choose from numerous parking options, including an adjacent daily garage with 4,600 spaces. If you’re running hopelessly late, you can get valet parking right in front of the main terminal. It will cost you a lot extra, however.