Baltimore Travel Forum

On the day before Thanksgiving, I need to get from DC (Georgetown) to BWI to take a Southwest airlines flight to Manchester, NH, then travel to Boston. My choices are train, then bus shuttle to the Terminal, or bus from DC. It's one of the busiest travel days, so I'm worried about packed highways. Since the airport will be so busy, I think I should allow 2 hrs to get through security lines at the airport itself rather than the airline-recommended 1 1/2 hrs. I don't know how much time to allow myself to get from DC's Union Station to the airport on that busy day. Would it be better to get a flight from IAD (Dulles) to Boston?

When I was living in DC, I constantly flew to SFO, but for some reason the fares were always cheaper out of BWI. So my suggestion is to take the Red line to Union Station and take the MARC train to BWI station.

For eight years I traveled between DC and Baltimore via MARC train. Of course, on this rail trip, I passed the BWI rail station.

The trains are VERY crowded that day. Very. All seats are taken, people are standing packed in the entire length of the train.

I would recommend taking a train that gets you to the airport two hours before you flight, and then take the train that is before that one.

I would also recommend just taking a cab from G'town to Union Station. I think getting to IAD is a pain at any time, btw.....

I remember the same thing. For a while I also lived in Severna Park and would take the MARC from Union Station to Odenton. It was really crowded on Wednesday the day before Thanksgiving.

Also, if I remember correctly, people who did not have a monthly pass would buy their tickets in the same counter as the Amtrak Counter so day before Thanksgiving, there would be a large line there as well. I'm not sure if you can buy the tickets on board, but if you can, there will probably be a surcharge. You may consider going to Union Station the day before and buy a ticket to BWI. Also, I don't remember the MARC trains running on week-ends so if you come back on a Sunday, you will have to take Amtrak.

As everyone has said - Go to BWI on the MARC Train - I have done it often.
When you get to Union Station and into the MARC area - there is an automated ticket vendor that was easy to use.

Schedules and such http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/marc/schedulesSystemMaps/penn.cfm

You take the Penn line that goes to BWI - When you get there, you have to take a shuttle over to BWI, comes about every 15 minutes. Unfortunatly, you have to add some extra time to make the shuttle, there are usually cabs around if things get tight which I have done.

I agree - stick with your BWI option and take MARC Penn Line to the airport. The MARC trains will be very crowded on the day before Thanksgiving, so you will want to get from Union Station to BWI before all the DC workers start their trek home. Most of them will be leaving their jobs early that day. The trip should take about 45 mins. You will have to take a shuttle bus from the MARC station to BWI terminal. Just wait right in front of the station. It runs continuously.
Watch out for MARC schedule changes that day. They may take one of the later trains and move it to 2 pm or so to accommodate DC workers.

I used to do this trip every week. I advice you to use this shuttle service http://m-selam.tripod.com/shuttle/ It is agreat service. They had non-stop private van service, and coast about 55.00. The traffic do not worry. That would not be as bad as you thought, While most people already would be out of town. But always it is good to have enogh time. good luck