Which path is better to get to Regan National Airport at 5PM?

[Qacer]

For those living in the Virginia area near DC, which way has less traffic at 5PM and will take me to the Regan National airport quicker starting from Mclean, VA:

1. Kirby Rd (695) to the George Washington Parkway

or

2. Dulles Airport Access and Toll Road (267) to Custis Memorial Parkway (66) to George Washington Parkway


I have to catch a flight at 7:00PM.

 

[Vette73]

To be honest either way will have traffic.


Best way is to find the closet Metro and just ride in.

 

[biggestmuff]

I guess it depends where you'll be leaving. Are you closer to GW Parkway or 66?

McLean isn't that far, plus you'll be going into town as most are leaving the city so traffic shouldn't be too bad.

Personally, I'd take GW Parkway; it's mostly scenic. Mostly.

 

[marketsons1985]

To be honest either way will have traffic.


Best way is to find the closet Metro and just ride in.

Second this. Just catch a cab to Dunn Loring / West Falls Church and take it in. You'll save aggravation and time.

 

[dmw16]

To be honest either way will have traffic.


Best way is to find the closet Metro and just ride in.

Agree with this. But otherwise, I'd guess 695.

 

[Triumph]

You usually don't have trouble getting INTO town in the evening. So either one.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Option C: Yellow or Blue Line Metro.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

mclean is not near the metro, you would be going well out of your way to take it. take kirby or 123 over to GW parkway. you may hit some traffic, esp at the 395 interchange but its really not that far of a distance to cover

 

[L1FE]

If you want a predictable way to get to National, I'd avoid 66. It can get really congested at random times for no apparent reason aside from retarded drivers not knowing how to merge (a common problem in NOVA). If you insist on driving/cabbing, check the traffic before you leave and go that route.

 

[Elganja]

Second this. Just catch a cab to Dunn Loring / West Falls Church and take it in. You'll save aggravation and time.

The travel time from the end of the metro (pretty much the end) to DCA wouldn't be worth it (not to mention getting to the metro)

If you want a predictable way to get to National, I'd avoid 66. It can get really congested at random times for no apparent reason aside from retarded drivers not knowing how to merge (a common problem in NOVA). If you insist on driving/cabbing, check the traffic before you leave and go that route.

66 going into DC is bad up until the Ballston exits (maybe 10-15min tops from the 267/495 spur). Then it clears right up.. I've done the drive many times when going to Capitals games (season tickets) which are at 7pm.

For those living in the Virginia area near DC, which way has less traffic at 5PM and will take me to the Regan National airport quicker starting from Mclean, VA:

1. Kirby Rd (695) to the George Washington Parkway

or

2. Dulles Airport Access and Toll Road (267) to Custis Memorial Parkway (66) to George Washington Parkway


I have to catch a flight at 7:00PM.

I recommend #2 if you are near the 66 entrance on 123 (i.e. ~1-2miles from 495/267/66)

 

[MiniDoom]

personal helicopter.

 

[kstu]

You usually don't have trouble getting INTO town in the evening. So either one.

no

mclean is not near the metro, you would be going well out of your way to take it. take kirby or 123 over to GW parkway. you may hit some traffic, esp at the 395 interchange but its really not that far of a distance to cover

agreed. I would take GW parkway. I take 267 to 66E in the evening almost every day (GW is just too far out of the way) and traffic will almost surely be stop and go for about 1/2 mile on 267 all the way to Ballston as you said.

 

[ravana]

Just wanted to add my vote to the 123->GW

Should get you there by 6 at most....just make sure you've got your boarding pass in hand.

 

[Pepsei]

To be honest either way will have traffic.


Best way is to find the closet Metro and just ride in.

this is it. the best way to get there on time.

 

[mchammer187]

this is it. the best way to get there on time.

Pretty sure the metro would take longer from Mclean than to drive by a minimum of 30 minutes.

 

[dbk]

Metro. Vienna/Dunn Loring to Rosslyn (switch to blue) to Reagan

 

[ravana]

Metro. Vienna/Dunn Loring to Rosslyn (switch to blue) to Reagan

This used to be my preferred method when I lived in the area.

 

[zinfamous]

Is this Dulles?

 

[Qacer]

It'd be nice to take the metro, but I got a rental, so I need to take it back to the airport. I'm hoping GW Parkway won't be that busy going to Reagan at 5PM. I still have to take into account of the waiting time for the shuttle to the terminals.

 

[Qacer]

So I left around 4:30PM took the Dolly Madison to GW Parkway. I also stopped at the Exxon before the GW Parkway ramp. The total trip took less than 30 minutes. I was at the airline gate in 1 hour. Plus, it the roads were wet from rain... It wasn't too bad at all.