Hotels Near DCA Airport: Free Shuttles and Pickup Spots

DCA says hotel shuttles pick up on the lower level of the terminals. Authorized shuttle buses, which include hotel shuttles, use designated pickup spots shown on the airport's maps for Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

The Hyatt Regency gives its own spots. At Terminal 1, go outside the main doors and follow the Hotel Shuttle Pickup signs. At Terminal 2, go outside Doors 4 and 7 on the baggage claim level. Other hotels do not post their stop on the hotel pages, so ask when you book.

This is the one hotel that posts a shuttle schedule. The hotel says its airport shuttle runs about every 20 minutes, from around 4:20 a.m. to 12:40 a.m., seven days a week. It lists the hotel at 2799 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA 22202, phone 703-418-1234.

Two cautions. The hotel's page carries a special schedule notice about limited shuttle service, with no service to the Crystal City Metro station during that period, and gives no dates. And the shuttle has a tracking link that asks for hotel code 2799. Call the hotel to confirm before you count on it.

The hotel says it is about half a mile to one mile from the airport.

These hotels say on their own sites that they have an airport shuttle. None of the hotel pages posts shuttle hours, so call before you land.

• Courtyard by Marriott Arlington Crystal City/Reagan National Airport, 2899 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA 22202, 703-549-3434. Marriott says the hotel is about half a mile from DCA and offers a courtesy shuttle to and from the airport.
• The Westin Crystal City Reagan National Airport, 1800 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA 22202, 703-486-1111. Marriott says the hotel has an airport shuttle and is about 1 mile from DCA.
• Hampton Inn & Suites Arlington Crystal City DCA, 2000 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA 22202, 703-418-8181. Hilton says the hotel has a free shuttle to DCA and the Metro, about a mile from the airport and a five minute walk from the Crystal City Metro station.
• Embassy Suites by Hilton Crystal City National Airport, 1393 S Eads St, Arlington, VA 22202, 703-979-9799. Hilton says the hotel is less than two miles from DCA, with a free shuttle there and back.

The Metrorail station connects to Terminal 2 by two enclosed bridges on the concourse level. From Terminal 1, board any Airport Shuttle bus to reach the bridges at the Terminal 2 stop.

The airport says daytime fares range from $2.25 to $6.75, and from $2.25 to $2.50 after 9:30 p.m. and on weekends. Fares change, so check Metro's trip planner. The Hyatt says the Crystal City Metro station is about a 10 minute walk from the hotel.

Uber and Lyft pickup: Terminal 1 uses the third (outer) curb, and Terminal 2 uses the outer curb on the baggage claim level. Pick Zone 1 through 4 in the app. Taxis wait at designated stands with a dispatcher. Taxis must use meters, so fares vary.

Late arrival or early flight: ask for the shuttle's first and last trip. The Hyatt posts 4:20 a.m. to 12:40 a.m., but confirm. The other four hotels do not post hours on the hotel pages.

Before you book, ask whether the shuttle is free, which stop it uses at your terminal, and whether it still runs on your dates. Hotels can change shuttle service without notice.

This page lists no room prices. Rates change daily, so check the hotel's own site. DCA does not publish a hotel list, so this page covers only hotels that state a shuttle on their own sites.