Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is the largest airport in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area and serves as Southwest Airlines' major East Coast hub. Located 10 miles south of downtown Baltimore and 30 miles northeast of Washington, D.C., BWI handles approximately 26 million passengers annually, with Southwest accounting for roughly 70% of all traffic.

The airport has a single terminal with five concourses arranged in a U-shape around a central parking garage:

• Concourse A: Southwest Airlines (Gates A1-A11)
• Concourse B: Southwest Airlines (Gates B2-B15)
• Concourse C: Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Contour Airlines (14 gates)
• Concourse D: Delta, United, JetBlue, Spirit, Frontier, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines (22 gates)
• Concourse E: International flights, British Airways (5 gates) - officially the Governor William Donald Schaefer International Terminal

Critical layout note: Concourses A, B, and C are connected airside. Concourses D and E share a separate secure zone. There is no airside connection between the A/B/C side and D/E side - transfers require exiting security and re-screening.

BWI is strategically located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., making it a convenient option for travelers to either city. The airport has excellent rail connections.

Distance and travel times:

• Downtown Baltimore: 10 miles, 15-25 minutes by car
• Baltimore Inner Harbor: 10 miles, 20-30 minutes by car
• Washington, D.C. (Downtown): 30 miles, 45-60 minutes by car
• Washington, D.C. (Union Station): 35 minutes by MARC train
• Annapolis: 20 miles, 30-40 minutes by car

The airport offers free 24-hour shuttle service to the BWI Rail Station, where you can connect to MARC commuter trains and Amtrak.

Uber/Lyft

Rideshare services pick up on the upper level (Departures) between Doors 5-12. Crosswalks to the outer curb are located near Doors 5, 8, and 12.

Typical fares:

Destination	Fare	Time
Downtown Baltimore	$25-35	15-25 min
Baltimore Inner Harbor	$25-40	20-30 min
Washington, D.C. (Downtown)	$70-100	45-60 min
Annapolis	$40-55	30-40 min

Taxi

Taxis queue outside the baggage claim area on the lower level, near Doors 5 and 13. All taxis accept credit cards.

Flat rates:

Destination	Fare
Downtown Baltimore	$30
Baltimore Inner Harbor	$35
Washington, D.C. (Downtown)	$90
Baltimore Cruise Terminal	$30

Metered rates: $2.90 for first 1/10 mile, then metered. Night surcharge of $0.50 applies between 9 PM and 5 AM.

Tip: For Washington, D.C., the MARC train is significantly cheaper at $7-8 and takes about 35-40 minutes to Union Station.

BWI has excellent rail connections via Light Rail, MARC commuter trains, and Amtrak.

Light Rail

The Light Rail station is located immediately outside the lower level terminal, adjacent to Concourse E.

To Downtown Baltimore:

1. Exit to lower level near Concourse E
2. Take Light Rail northbound toward Hunt Valley
3. Exit at Camden Yards or Convention Center for Inner Harbor
4. Journey time: approximately 30 minutes

Detail	Information
Fare	$2.00 one-way
Frequency	Every 20 min (peak), every 30 min (off-peak)
Hours	Mon-Fri: 4:45 AM - 12:40 AM; Sat: 5:05 AM onwards

To reach Baltimore Penn Station, exit at Mt. Royal Avenue and transfer to the Penn Station Light Rail branch. Same $2.00 fare covers both trains.

MARC Train (Penn Line)

MARC commuter rail connects BWI to Baltimore and Washington, D.C. via the BWI Marshall Rail Station, located off-site.

Getting to the MARC Station:

1. Take the free shuttle from the lower level, Doors 2, 8, 15, or 17
2. Shuttles run every 10-15 minutes (every 25 minutes between 1-5 AM)
3. Shuttle ride takes approximately 10 minutes

Service to Key Destinations:

Destination	Fare	Time
Washington Union Station	$7	35-40 min
Baltimore Penn Station	$5	15-20 min

Schedule: Operates Monday-Friday with frequent service. Weekend service available. Trains do not run on some major holidays.

Amtrak

The BWI Rail Station also serves Amtrak trains on the Northeast Corridor:

• Acela: High-speed service to Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Boston
• Northeast Regional: All stops between Boston and Washington
• Crescent: Service to New Orleans
• Palmetto: Service to Savannah
• Vermonter: Service to Vermont

Amtrak fares vary; Northeast Regional to Washington starts around $14. The same free shuttle connects the airport to the station.

Note: BWI is the busiest Amtrak station without checked baggage service. Carry-on only.

Bus

MTA bus routes 75 and 201 serve both the airport terminal and the rail station, operating 24/7.

BWI offers multiple parking options with varying prices and convenience levels.

On-Site Parking

Lot	Rate	Notes
Hourly Garage	$4/hour, $22/day	Direct walkway to terminal
Daily Garage	$12/day	Shuttle every 8-10 min, covered
Express Lot	$10/day	Door-to-door shuttle service
Long Term Lot	$11/day	Surface lots, shuttle service
Valet	$8/hour, $30/day	5th floor of Hourly Garage, includes vacuuming

Weekly rates: Hourly Garage $154/week, Daily Garage $84/week, Valet $210/week

Additional Information

• Cell Phone Lot: Free for up to 1 hour while waiting to pick up passengers (near Daily Garage)
• EV Charging: Available in Daily/Hourly garages and Cell Phone Lot
• Off-site alternatives: Third-party lots start around $4-7/day with shuttle service

BWI offers over 50 dining options with "street pricing" - prices match what you would pay outside the airport, which is uncommon.

Concourse A (Southwest)

The most extensive food options of all concourses:

• Silver Diner: Full-service American diner
• McDonald's: 24 hours
• Dunkin': Coffee and breakfast
• Concourse A/B Food Court: Multiple quick-service options

Concourse B (Southwest)

• Chipotle: Mexican fast-casual
• Auntie Anne's: Pretzels
• Various grab-and-go options

Concourse C

• Starbucks: Coffee
• Subway: Sandwiches

Concourse D

The most retail and dining variety:

• Phillips Seafood: Chesapeake Bay crab cakes and seafood (local favorite)
• Potbelly Sandwich Shop: Sandwiches and salads
• The Greene Turtle: Sports bar, American fare
• Ledo Pizza: Baltimore-style square pizza (local institution)
• Fire & Ice: Full-service restaurant

Concourse E (International)

Limited options - connected to Concourse D for more choices:

• Dunkin': Coffee and breakfast

24-Hour Options: McDonald's (A/B Food Court) and Dunkin' (landside, near American Airlines counters)

Local Tip: Phillips Seafood and Ledo Pizza are Maryland institutions worth trying. Phillips has served Chesapeake Bay crab for over a century.

Free WiFi is available throughout the entire airport.

Detail	Information
Network name	#MyBWI-Fi
Registration	Accept terms on splash page
Time limit	Unlimited
Speed	Adequate for browsing and streaming

Unlike some international airports, BWI does not have dedicated SIM card stores inside the terminal. Options for mobile connectivity:

• eSIM providers: Purchase online before arrival (Airalo, Holafly, etc.)
• Carrier stores nearby: T-Mobile and Verizon stores in the Baltimore area
• Prepaid SIM: Available at Walmart, Target, and Best Buy locations near the airport

For international visitors: US prepaid SIM cards from T-Mobile, AT&T, or Verizon typically range from $30-50 for 30 days with data.

ATMs are located throughout the airport on both levels, including:

• Upper level near Concourses A, B, C, and D
• Lower level near Concourses A, B, C, D, and E
• Concourse A/B food court (next to Sunglass Hut)
• Near Gate A9 (Concourse A)
• Between Gates B8 and B10 (Concourse B)
• Concourse D dining area

Bank

M&T Bank has a branch on the upper level near the entrance to Concourse A.

Currency Exchange

Currency exchange options are limited at BWI:

• One location on the upper level near American Airlines ticketing
• One location in the D/E connector

Note: Airport exchange rates are unfavorable. Better alternatives:

• Use a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card
• Withdraw USD from ATMs using a bank card with low fees
• Use Wise, Revolut, or similar multi-currency cards

BWI has retail options throughout the concourses, though it is not known as a major shopping destination.

Duty-Free

Available for international departures in Concourse E. Limited selection compared to major international hubs.

Notable Stores by Concourse

Concourse A/B:

• Hudson News
• Sunglass Hut
• Maryland-themed souvenirs

Concourse D (best selection):

• Duty-Free Americas
• Hudson News
• InMotion (electronics)
• Various boutiques

Local Souvenirs: Look for Old Bay seasoning, Baltimore Ravens and Orioles gear, and Maryland crab-themed items.

BWI has limited lounge options, largely because Southwest Airlines (which dominates the airport) has not historically operated lounges.

The Club BWI

Location: Concourse D, near Gate D10

Detail	Information
Access	Priority Pass, LoungeKey, Lounge Club, day pass purchase
Day Pass	Available at door or online
Hours	Open daily
Amenities	Snacks, drinks, WiFi, comfortable seating

Important for Southwest passengers: If flying from Concourses A, B, or C, you must exit security, walk to Concourse D, and re-clear security. Only worth it for layovers of 3+ hours.

Chesapeake Club Lounge (British Airways)

Location: Concourse E (International)

Access: Oneworld Emerald/Sapphire status, British Airways Club World (Business Class) passengers

USO Lounge

Location: Main Terminal lower level (outside security)

Access: Active duty military, Guard, Reserve, military dependents, and retired military with valid ID

Future Development

Southwest Airlines has hinted at developing airport lounges, and BWI's new $500 million A-B Connector (opened January 2025) includes space for a potential Southwest lounge. No confirmed opening date as of this writing.

At/Near the Airport

Hilton Baltimore BWI Airport

• 10 minutes from terminal, free 24-hour shuttle (3-mile radius)
• Indoor pool, fitness center, restaurant
• From $130/night

BWI Airport Marriott

• Free 24-hour shuttle, on-site parking
• Indoor pool, 24-hour fitness center
• From $120/night

Hilton Garden Inn BWI Airport

• 1.8 miles to airport, free shuttle
• Near Arundel Mills mall and Live! Casino
• From $100/night

Embassy Suites by Hilton Baltimore at BWI Airport

• All-suite hotel with separate living areas
• Complimentary made-to-order breakfast
• Free evening reception with drinks
• From $140/night

DoubleTree by Hilton Baltimore - BWI Airport

• Complimentary shuttle service
• Full-service amenities
• From $110/night

Budget Options

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Baltimore BWI Airport

• 3 miles from airport, shuttle service
• Suites with separate living areas
• From $95/night

Courtyard by Marriott Baltimore BWI Airport

• Restaurant, fitness center, bar
• From $100/night

Most hotels offer free parking packages for fly-and-park guests.

BWI serves both Baltimore and Washington, D.C., offering easy access to two distinct cities plus the Maryland capital of Annapolis.

Baltimore

Getting there: 15-30 minutes by car or 30 minutes by Light Rail

Top Attractions:

Destination	From Airport	Notes
Inner Harbor	20-30 min by car	National Aquarium, historic ships, shopping
Fells Point	25 min by car	Historic waterfront, restaurants, nightlife
Camden Yards	20 min by Light Rail	Orioles baseball, iconic stadium
Fort McHenry	25 min by car	Birthplace of Star-Spangled Banner
American Visionary Art Museum	25 min by car	Unique outsider art collection

Baltimore Specialties:

• Crab cakes: Maryland's signature dish - try Phillips, Faidley's, or Jimmy's Famous Seafood
• Old Bay seasoning: Goes on everything in Maryland
• Pit beef: Baltimore's BBQ specialty

Washington, D.C.

Getting there: 35-40 minutes by MARC train to Union Station, 45-60 minutes by car

Top Attractions:

Destination	From Union Station	Notes
National Mall	15 min walk	Free Smithsonian museums, monuments
Capitol Building	5 min walk	Tours available
White House	20 min walk	View from Pennsylvania Avenue
Georgetown	20 min by Metro/bus	Shopping, dining, historic neighborhood
Arlington Cemetery	20 min by Metro	Historic military cemetery

All Smithsonian museums are free admission.

Annapolis

Getting there: 30-40 minutes by car

Maryland's charming state capital and home to the US Naval Academy:

• Historic downtown with colonial architecture
• Waterfront dining and sailing
• US Naval Academy tours
• Maryland State House (oldest state capitol in continuous use)

Layover Recommendations

3-hour layover: Stay at the airport - grab Phillips crab cakes and explore the terminal

5-hour layover: Light Rail to Baltimore Inner Harbor, walk the waterfront, return

7+ hour layover: MARC train to D.C., quick visit to National Mall and a Smithsonian museum (Air and Space or Natural History are closest to the Mall)

Regional Tips

• Crabs: Eating steamed blue crabs is a Maryland tradition. Season runs April-November.
• Traffic: I-95 and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway can be heavily congested during rush hour (7-9 AM, 4-7 PM)
• Tipping: Standard 18-20% at restaurants, $1-2 per drink at bars