Arriving by plane

For those of you flying into the DC area, your best option is to arrive at either BWI Thurgood Marshall airport or Reagan National Airport. While it is possible to arrive at Dulles International Airport, it is a considerably farther drive than the other two airports, and the drive can be a traffic nightmare. I would advise against arriving there if possible.

Taking a Bus or Shuttle from the Airport to Campus / Hotel (train information below)
The B30 Metrobus from BWI Airport to Greenbelt Metro Station costs about $5 per person for a one-way fare. It is quick, comfortable, and convenient and has extra space for passenger luggage. The first bus leaves BWI for Greenbelt at 7:00 AM on weekdays and 9:40 AM on weekends and holidays, and the last bus leaves BWI at 10:50 PM seven days a week. The trip to Greenbelt takes approximately 30 minutes. The College Park Metro Station is one stop from Greenbelt on the Metro’s Green line. Printable timetables in PDF or Palm format are available on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority website. If you are staying at the Marriott, you can tell the hotel to pick you up at the College Park metro station. If you are staying at the Holiday Inn, you may be able to arrange to have the hotel shuttle pick you up at the metro station.

Super Shuttle is a van service that offers transportation from area airports to locations in and around DC. You must reserve Super Shuttle in advance; to do so online, go to Super Shuttle, Washington, DC for Reagan National and Dulles International Airports, and Super Shuttle, Baltimore, MD for BWI Airport. You may also call 1-800-BLUE-VAN (258-3826) toll free for reservations.

Renting a car and driving to campus from area airports

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) — 30–45 minutes driving time, depending on traffic. Follow signs for Airport exit. Take the ramp toward the George Washington Parkway, headed north. Merge onto I-395 north headed towards Washington. After 1. 5 miles, merge onto I-295 (Southeast Freeway) from the left exit. Take the Pennsylvania Ave. exit off the Southeast Freeway. You will cross the John Philip Sousa Bridge, and will need to get into the left lane when you see signs for 295 North. Turn left onto the on-ramp for 295 North. This will become the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. After 9 miles, get off at the exit for the Capital Beltway, I-495 North/I-95 North towards Baltimore/College Park. You will be on the Beltway for only one mile. Take exit 25, which is Baltimore Ave./US-1 south towards College Park. The main entrance to campus (on Campus Drive) is on your right approximately two miles south of the exit on Route 1.

Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) — 30–40 minutes driving time, depending on traffic. As you leave the airport, look for signs to 295 S (Baltimore-Washington Parkway) heading towards Washington. Travel on the Parkway until you see the exit for the Capital Beltway, I-495 North/I-95 North towards Baltimore/College Park. You will be on the Beltway for only one mile. Take exit 25, which is Baltimore Ave./US-1 south towards College Park. The main entrance to campus (on Campus Drive) is on your right approximately two miles south of the exit on Route 1.

Washington Dulles International Airport — 1 hour, 15 minutes driving time, depending on traffic. From the airport exit, take the Dulles Toll Road (267) east towards Washington. Take the exit for I-495 (Capital Beltway) headed towards Baltimore. Take exit 25, which is Baltimore Ave./US-1 south towards College Park. The main entrance to campus (on Campus Drive) is on your right approximately two miles south of the exit on Route 1.

Directions to Campus by Train (Metrorail, MARC, Amtrak)

Metrorail from Washington, D.C.

• Take the Red Line train (toward Glenmont); transfer at the Fort Totten station to the Green Line train (toward Greenbelt); get off at the College Park/U of MD station.
• Or take the Green Line train (toward Greenbelt); get off at the College Park/U of MD station. The university’s Shuttle-UM buses pick up university-bound passengers on the EAST side of the metrorail station. Hotel shuttles will arrange to meet you at the College Park metro station as well.

MARC from Baltimore (Inner Harbor)

• Take the Camden Line train (toward Washington, D.C.); get off at the College Park station.
• The university’s Shuttle-UM buses pick up university-bound passengers on the EAST side of the Metrorail station. Hotel shuttles will arrange to meet you at the College Park metro station as well.

MARC from Baltimore (Penn Station/West Baltimore/BWI Airport)

• Take the Penn Line train (toward Washington, D.C.); get off at Union Station.
• Transfer to the Metrorail system.
• Take the Red Line train (toward Glenmont); transfer at the Fort Totten station to the Green Line train (toward Greenbelt); get off at the College Park/U of MD station.
• The university’s Shuttle-UM buses pick up university-bound passengers on the EAST side of the Metrorail station. Hotel shuttles will arrange to meet you at the College Park metro station as well.

Amtrak

• From the north, take Amtrak to the BWI train station, and follow the above directions about arriving at airports. You will be able to arrive from BWI train station by using a bus, Super Shuttle, or MARC train to metro. Or, if you prefer, continue past BWI to Union Station and take the metro or a Super Shuttle. (See above sections for transportation from BWI and for information on Washington metrorail.)
• From the south, take Amtrak to Union Station, take a Super Shuttle or the metro (follow the above directions about using metro).