Airport transfer · IAD → Washington, DC

Dulles (IAD) to Washington, DC

In short

The cheapest way from Dulles (IAD) to Washington, DC is Metrorail Silver Line: $2.25–$6.75, about 53 min.

A licensed taxi costs $65–$73 per vehicle, before extras.

Fares and times are from the operators’ own pages, checked 23 October 2026.

Data updated October 23, 2026

Every way from Dulles (IAD) to Washington, DC

Journey times are to Downtown Washington, DC (Metro Center / Union Station area). Fares are standard adult fares as each operator publishes them.

Cheapest

Metrorail Silver Line

$2.25–$6.75 · 53 min

Fastest

Metrorail Silver Line

53 min · $2.25–$6.75

Late at night

Washington Flyer Taxi (metered)

Dulles (IAD) to Washington, DC: every option compared
Option	Journey time	Fare (USD)	Hours
Metrorail Silver LineMetro / subway	53 min	$2.25–$6.75	Last train 23:15 Sun–Thu, 01:15 Fri–Sat
Washington Flyer Taxi (metered)Taxi	Not stated	$65–$73 per vehicle	24 hours
Rideshare (Uber, Lyft)Rideshare	Not stated	Varies	Not stated

Travelling as a group: train or taxi?

Per-person fares add up; a taxi fare is shared. The table shows the total for one to four travellers.

Total cost for a group, Dulles (IAD) to Washington, DC
Option	1 traveller	2 travellers	3 travellers	4 travellers
Metrorail Silver Line	$2.25	$4.50	$6.75	$9
Washington Flyer Taxi (metered) *	$65	$65	$65	$65

Lowest published adult fare × travellers; a per-vehicle fare is shared (up to the vehicle’s seats). * Plus the extras listed for that option (tolls, surcharges or tip). Children’s fares and passes can be lower.

Which Washington airport is easiest for Washington, DC?

The same comparison from each airport, so you can weigh the ground trip when you pick flights.

Into Washington, DC from each Washington airport
Airport	Cheapest	Fastest
Dulles (IAD) (this page)	$2.25–$6.75 · 53 minMetrorail Silver Line	53 min · $2.25–$6.75Metrorail Silver Line
Reagan National (DCA)	$2.25–$6.75 · Not statedMetrorail Blue or Yellow Line	—
BWI Marshall (BWI)	$8 · 34–50 minMARC Penn Line commuter train (+ free BWI rail shuttle)	30 min · VariesAmtrak Northeast Regional / Acela (+ free BWI rail shuttle)

The options in detail

Metro / subway · WMATA (Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority)

Metrorail Silver Line

Route: Washington Dulles International Airport station (indoor pedestrian tunnel with moving sidewalks from the main terminal) -> Silver Line toward Downtown Largo / New Carrollton via Rosslyn -> Metro Center (downtown DC). Union Station is on the Red Line (transfer at Metro Center).
Journey time: 53 min
How the time is measured: WMATA stated '53 minutes from Metro Center in Downtown DC' to Dulles when the line opened (news release 11/07/2022). No newer official runtime found. The Dulles airport FAQ says it takes about 50-55 minutes from the airport to Rosslyn (which is before Metro Center), implying a longer trip - treat 53 min as a minimum, excluding the walk to the station.
Fare: $2.25–$6.75
Fare details: Airport FAQ: 'A trip to Metro Center in downtown DC is $6.75' on weekdays; fares drop to $2.25-$2.50 after 9:30pm on weekdays and all day on weekends. No separate airport surcharge is published. Tap a contactless credit/debit card or mobile wallet at the faregate (tap again to exit). WMATA's FY2027 budget page says fares are held at FY2026 levels.
Hours: Metrorail general hours: Mon-Thu 5:00am-12:00am; Fri 5:00am-2:00am; Sat 6:00am-2:00am; Sun 6:00am-12:00am. Last train from Dulles toward Downtown Largo: 11:15pm Sun and Mon-Thu, 1:15am Fri night, 1:14am Sat night (WMATA station schedule).
Frequency: Silver Line: every 9-10 min weekday rush (7-9am, 4-6pm); every 12 min other weekday daytime and weekend daytime; every 15 min after 9:30pm.
Luggage: Bags cannot be checked in at the Metro platform (airport FAQ).
Accessibility: Elevators at the Metro station and at the main terminal; wheelchair services are not available on the platform (airport FAQ).
Good to know: Walk between the terminal and the station is about 600 feet: the airport FAQ says about 5 minutes; WMATA says around 7-8 minutes.

Verified on: Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (flydulles.com) · Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (flydulles.com) · WMATA · WMATA · WMATA · WMATA · WMATA · WMATA

Taxi · Washington Flyer Taxicabs (exclusive Dulles taxi concession)

Washington Flyer Taxi (metered)

Route: Lower level of the terminal, Door 1 or Door 7 (follow Ground Transportation / Taxi signs) -> downtown Washington, DC (approx. 26-30 miles)
How the time is measured: No travel time stated on official airport pages.
Fare: $65–$73 per vehicle
Fare details: Airport's approximate fare map: 'Washington, DC (26 miles - 30 miles) $65 - $73'; mileage and fares approximate and subject to change; information effective as of January 2024. Meter: $3.50 first 1/4 mile, $0.54 each additional 1/4 mile, $0.54 per 81 seconds waiting, $1.50 each additional passenger, $5.00 surcharge on every trip to/from Dulles, tolls added. The map does not say whether the $5.00 surcharge and tolls are included in the $65-$73 estimate. Cash or credit card (AmEx, Visa, MasterCard, Discover).
Hours: 24 hours
Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible vehicles carry one person in a wheelchair plus three additional passengers.
Good to know: Non-Washington Flyer cabs may not solicit pickups at Dulles; a different cab company must be pre-arranged directly.

Verified on: Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (flydulles.com) · Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (flydulles.com) · Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (flydulles.com)

Rideshare · App-based ride services

Rideshare (Uber, Lyft)

Route: 3rd curb, ground level outside Baggage Claim (Doors 2, 4 or 6), zones 3A-3H as assigned in the app -> downtown Washington, DC
How the time is measured: No travel time stated on official airport pages.
Fare details: No official price published; fare is set in the app.

Verified on: Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (flydulles.com)

Search flights to IAD

Not verified yet

Current scheduled Silver Line runtime Dulles -> Metro Center (only WMATA's 2022 opening figure of 53 min; the airport FAQ's 50-55 min to Rosslyn implies longer). · Whether the $65-$73 Dulles-to-DC taxi estimate includes the $5.00 airport surcharge and tolls. · Taxi and rideshare travel times; rideshare prices. · Any Metrobus/express bus from Dulles to downtown DC in 2026: the airport's Other Public Transportation page lists no Metrobus (only Fairfax Connector 952/983, Loudoun commuter bus, Virginia Breeze, Megabus, OurBus); the former 5A was not found on any current official page. None included. · Virginia Breeze / Megabus to Washington Union Station are listed by the airport but with no fares or schedules; not included.. We only publish a figure once an official source states it.