Air Travel

The Washington, DC area is served by three different airports, Reagan National Aiport (DCA), Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Baltimore-Washington Airport (BWI). All are comparable distances to the University of Maryland (DCA is 15 miles, IAD is 35 miles, and BWI is 25 miles). Except for DCA, which is directly accessible to the DC Metrorail System (DC's subway system), all the airports are most easily accessible by rental car, taxi, or shared van (either the Super Shuttle or Airport Shuttle). Taxis can be found immediately outside the airport (follow signs for "Ground Transportation"). For shuttle buses, look for signs at the airport or follow instructions on the company's web page.

Traffic in and around Washington DC, can be very slow during rush hour (6:30-9:00am and 4:00-6:30pm). It is a good idea to allow for extra half-hour of travel time, if you are planning to drive to any of the airports during these times.

Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, commonly known simply as National Airport, is located in Arlington County, Virginia and is the closest airport to downtown Washington, DC. Because of its proximity to downtown (and the fact that the University of Maryland is in the suburbs), National Airport can be difficult to drive to during rush hour.

By Taxi:

Roughly $32 to the University

By Super Shuttle:

Roughly $25 (plus $10 per additional person)

By Airport Shuttle:

Roughly $81 (plut $15 per additional person)

By Public Transit:

There is a Metro (subway) station in the airport. Take the Metro Yellow line to the L'Enfant plaza station and transfer to the Green line to the College Park Station followed by a free UM shuttle bus ride from the to the center of the University. The trip takes about 50 minutes and will cost about $4.

Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Dulles International Airport is located approximately 26 miles from downtown Washington, DC and roughly 35 miles from the University. Unlike DCA, IAD is not directly accessible from the Metrorail System. It is most easily reached by car, taxi, or shuttle buses.

By Taxi:

Roughly $72 to the University

By Super Shuttle:

Roughly $35 (plus $10 per additional person)

By Airport Shuttle:

Roughly $81 (plut $15 per additional person)

By Public Transit:

Taking public transit from Dulles to College Park takes a long time (about 1 hour 30 min), but if you want to do this, take the 5A Metrobus from the airport to L'Enfant Plaza Metrorail station and take the Metro (subway) Green line from there to the College Park Station, followed by the free UM shuttle bus to campus. This should cost about $5. Be sure you have exact change ($3.10) for the Metrobus.

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is located north of DC and south of Baltimore. The MARC and Amtrak train station is nearby offering train service to the DC Metrorail System.

By Taxi:

Roughly $60-$70 to the University

By Super Shuttle:

Roughly $30 (plus $10 per additional person)

By Airport Shuttle:

Roughly $44 (plut $7 per additional person)

By Public Transit:

Taking public transit from BWI to College Park can be very fast (about 50 minues), but the bus only comes every 40 minutes, so it depends on your arrival time. Take B30 Metrobus to the Greenbelt Metrorail station, and take the Metro Green line one stop to the College Park Station. Then take the and the free UM shuttle bus to campus. This should cost about $4.50, make sure you have exact change ($3.10) for the Metrobus.

By Amtrak Train

Washington DC is easily reachable from most major cities on the east coast by the Amtrak Rail System. The closest Amtrak station to the University is the New Carrollton Station. This is also a stop on the DC Metrorail system. (BWI Airport also has an Amtrak stop. Shuttle and taxi rates from this stop are about the same as for the airport.)

Connection from the New Carrollton station to the University (Stamp Student Union) can be made by taxi (about 6 miles) or by Metrobus with the F6 bus. (Bus Schedule: http://www.wmata.com/timetables/md/f4-6.pdf).

You can come from anywhere in the Washington DC area by the DC Metrorail system (System Map) and can get off at the College Park, University of Maryland Metro Station (on the Green Line) and take the free Shuttle-UM shuttle bus (Route 104) to the Stamp Student Union.

Important Update: The Shuttle-UM schedule has recently changed. Here are their Summer Routes. The most important change is that the metro-to-campus shuttle no longer runs on the weekends and it does not run very late (until 10pm). The simplest alternative is to take a taxi from the College Park Metro Station. (Note: The taxi stand is just out of sight of the station entrance. It is located in front of the parking garage next to the station.) Another alternative is to take the 86 Metrobus (towards Rhode Island Ave) from the station and exit at the intersection of Baltimore Ave and Regents Drive. Then walk up Regents Drive to Annapolis Hall (about a block). It is a good idea to inform the driver of your destination, since this is not a major stop.)

By Car

For directions, click on the link below, or paste it into your favorite map search engine.

Van Munching Hall, College Park, MD 20742