Travel to Washington, DC

By Air

Three major airports serve the Washington area: Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), and Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI). Reagan National Airport is the closest to Georgetown and is the only one with metro access. Dulles Airport is the largest and has the most flights, especially for international travelers. BWI Airport is the farthest from DC (it is closer to Baltimore), but some airlines offer cheaper fares there.

All three of the airports have taxi service available at Ground Transportation and SuperShuttle, a door-to-door shared van-ride system. Check the SuperShuttle website (new window) for fares and for the location of the SuperShuttle within the airport. The fare should be between $15-40 for the first passenger depending on your airport of arrival. Additional passengers are deeply discounted, so this is a good option if you are traveling in a group. No reservation is needed leaving from the airport. To take SuperShuttle back to the airport, reserve online or call 1-800-BLUE-VAN (800-258-3826). Below you will find more airport-specific options.

From Dulles International Airport

MetroBus 5A (new window) ($6) is an express bus from Dulles Airport to Rosslyn MetroRail Station and L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station (downtown DC). The bus leaves right outside the airport on the lower level (in Section E). To get to Georgetown University, get off the 5A at Rosslyn Metro stop. From Rosslyn, taxis and buses (GUTS, DC Circulator, or MetroBus 38B) will take you to Georgetown.

Washington Flyer Coach (new window) is a coach bus to West Falls Church Metro Station (Orange Line). Their ticket counter is on the upper level, Door 4. Regular fare is approximately $10. Once you arrive at West Falls Church Metro Station, take the Orange Line (direction: New Carrollton) to Rosslyn, which is the nearest subway stop to Georgetown. From Rosslyn, there are buses and taxis that take you to Georgetown.

Silver Line Express (new window) is a shuttle service between Washington Dulles International Airport and the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station (a 15-minute trip). Tickets for the Silver Line Express are $5 one-way and can be purchased at the ticket counter located inside the vestibule of Door 4 on the Arrivals Level of the Main Terminal. From the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station, take the Metro Silver Line to Rosslyn station (about 30 minutes). On your return trip, passengers boarding at Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station can purchase their Silver Line Express fare when they arrive at Washington Dulles International Airport.

From Reagan International Airport

MetroRail’s Blue Line stops adjacent to Terminals B and C at National Airport. Take the Blue Line to Rosslyn (direction: Largo Town Center). From Rosslyn, buses (GUTS (new window) or MetroBus 38B (new window)) and taxis will take you to the Georgetown area. Alternatively, you can walk across Key Bridge.

From Baltimore-Washington International

MetroBus

MetroBus B30 (new window) ($6) runs between BWI and the Greenbelt Metro station (Green Line). There are two bus stops at BWI. One stop is on the lower level of the International Pier and the other is on the lower level of Concourse A/B. From Greenbelt Metro station, take the Green Line downtown. Change to the Orange or Blue line at L’Enfant Plaza (direction: Vienna on the Orange; Franconia/Springfield on the Blue) if you want to continue to Rosslyn, or change to the Red Line at Gallery Place/ Chinatown (direction: Shady Grove) if you want to continue to Dupont Circle. From Rosslyn (GUTS (new window), DC Circulator (new window), or MetroBus 38B (new window)) or Dupont Circle (GUTS (new window), DC Circulator (new window), or MetroBus G2 (new window)), buses and taxis will take you to the Georgetown area.

MARC Train 

The Penn Line of the Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) MARC trains runs from BWI to Union Station in DC. Fares are around $6. Check MTA website (new window) for schedules, price updates, and instructions for getting to the train stop. From Union Station, take the DC Circulator straight to Georgetown (new window). Alternatively, take the Red Line to Dupont Circle (in the direction of Shady Grove) and catch a cab or bus (GUTS (new window) or MetroBus D2 (new window), G2 (new window), D6 (new window)) from there.

Amtrak

Amtrak trains take you from BWI train station to Union Station in downtown DC. There are free shuttles from the airport to the BWI train station. For Amtrak schedules and information call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) or go to their website (new window). The fare varies and will increase as your departure nears. It should start at $16 (check their website for price updates).

By Train

Trains from around the US arrive directly downtown at Union Station. Amtrak (new window) runs the largest passenger rail. However, if you are coming from Virginia or Maryland, consider commuter rails, as they tend to be much less expensive and are very reliable. The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) (new window) runs from Fredericksburg and Manassas on the weekdays and has stops in Alexandria, VA and downtown DC. Note that they are unidirectional with commuter traffic and do not operate on weekends. MARC trains (new window) from Maryland to DC now offer a weekend service in addition to weekday service.

To get from Union Station to Georgetown, you can take a taxi or the DC Circulator (new window) bus straight to Georgetown. Alternatively, take the Metro Red Line in the direction of Shady Grove to Dupont Circle. From Dupont Circle, buses (GUTS (new window), DC Circulator (new window), or MetroBus G2 (new window)) and taxis will take you to the Georgetown area.

By Bus

Metro Rail trains and Metro Buses are operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. For more information including a real-time trip planner, please check their website.

Rosslyn Station

The closest Metro Rail Station to Georgetown University is Rosslyn on the Blue and Orange Lines. From Rosslyn Station, you can take Metro Bus 38B (new window) (in the direction of Farragut Square) or the DC Circulator (new window) bus northbound to the stop M Street and 34th Street. You can then walk from there to the Georgetown University main gate.

You can also take the Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle (GUTS) from Rosslyn (the stop is at 19th and Moore Streets (new window)). For information about the shuttle service, please visit the GUTS website (new window). Note that the GUTS bus does not run on Sundays.

Dupont Circle Station

From Dupont Circle Station (on the Metro Rail Red Line), you can take MetroBus G2 (new window) (towards Georgetown University) or MetroBus D2 (towards Glover Park). MetroBus G2 stops right in front of the Georgetown University main gate. You should depart MetroBus D2 (new window) at the stop Q Street and 35th Street and walk 2 blocks south to O Street, turn right on O Street and walk 2 blocks west to the front gates. Another option is taking the DC Circulator (new window) bus southbound to the stop M Street and 33rd Street. You can then walk from there to the Georgetown University main gate. You can also take the Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle (GUTS (new window)) from Dupont Circle (the stop is at 20th Street and Massachusetts Avenue). For information about the shuttle service, please visit the GUTS website.

By Car

If you are planning to commute to the conference by car there is street parking near campus, but the limit is generally two hours. Georgetown also has a parking garage. For more information click here.