From USNA to Reagan Washington Airport (DCA)?

birdwatcher4125

birdwatcher4125

5-Year Member
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May 28, 2018
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108
Greetings,

Does anyone know of any links to bus services, or any other transport services, from USNA to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) for the Christmas break?

Our DS (Plebe) has never flown before and he's concerned about making his flight @ 7:45pm when his last exam wraps-up around 4:00pm-ish.

DS has handled all the arrangements on his own so far, but this one he's having trouble with. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you for your time and consideration.
 
Has he already asked his sponsor ?
When my DS was a Plebe, he got a couple of rides to the airport from his sponsor.
 
If you are a member of Facebook, there are several USNA parent pages that have been offering rides. You could post asking if there is anyone available and see what happens. I have been impressed over and over by strangers offering to help Midshipmen, some are sponsor parents, some are parents of alumnus, some are just locals who have time and like to help.
 
Best and quickest bet: Uber/Lyft to the New Carrollton Metro station. From there, take the Orange line. Transfer to the Blue or Yellow line to DCA. Have him use Google Maps to plan all this. Incredibly foolproof.
 
My Plebe DS is also heading to DCA for a 7pm flight after his last exam at 4pm ish. He is catching a ride with his squad leader who will drop him off at the New Carrollton Metro Station and will take Orange/Blue line into DCA.

DS did this path at Thanksgiving and it worked well. However I do suggest leaving as soon as possible. Sometimes the wait to transfer from Orange to Blue line can be as much as 20 Minutes.
 
birdwatcher4125 said:
Greetings,

Does anyone know of any links to bus services, or any other transport services, from USNA to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) for the Christmas break?

Our DS (Plebe) has never flown before and he's concerned about making his flight @ 7:45pm when his last exam wraps-up around 4:00pm-ish.

DS has handled all the arrangements on his own so far, but this one he's having trouble with. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you for your time and consideration.
Click to expand...
Oh dear. That will be tight with little wiggle room, because it may involve DC Beltway by car. Is it weekend or weekday?

All the local airports are recommending being at the airport 2 hours before flight time. I don’t know what’s involved with signing out of company area and any other post-exam tasks before departing.

Normally I recommend asking a sponsor, upper class or taking Uber to New Carrollton Metro Station, taking the Orange Line into DC, then switching to one of the Metro lines that stops right at Wash Natl DCA. I’m taking one of our sponsor plebes to New C, the closest to Annapolis. We don’t offer to drive them to DCA or IAD, as that can turn into a 3-4 hour RT.


Here’s the Metro Trip Planner. Select the train option, otherwise bus info gets mixed in.

www.wmata.com

WMATA | Trip Planner

Metro news and service information for the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia region.
www.wmata.com www.wmata.com

It’s about 17 miles USNA > New C Metro Station.
 
Good Evening! I know this might sound odd, but I am willing to help. I am an Annapolis resident and special agent with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. My daughter is an applicant to the class of 2026 from Florida 23) and one of her close friends is a current plebe. My office is literally on the backside of DCA. I know the commute like the back of my hand. I would be willing to pick up your plebe by the Commodore Barry gate and get them to New Carrollton. Please PM me and I can verify my credentials with you. It may be tight, because Metro is still running a limited schedule but I am willing to try. I am burning annual leave next week. I would be glad to help.

On edit: I just ran the WMATA trip planner. If we got him on the 1646 Orange Train, he would be at DCA at 1730.
 
There used to be Super Shuttles and such, but those have dried up. They always used to allow huge margins for pick-up windows due to shared van service model.
 
Capt MJ said:
BWI and its proximity away from DC Beltway is worth every penny of more expensive airfare.
Click to expand...
I concur with this statement! I grew up in Maryland, worked in Miami for 11 years and came back. I travel all of the time on personal and official business. Most times the fares at BWI are cheaper anyway. Although, I do remember a city pair from FLL-DCA for $49.00 on Jet Blue as the contract carrier!

Plus the commute to BWI is 20 minutes versus 45-60 minutes to DCA on a good day.
 
This is all excellent information, and a couple of very kind offers to help DS out, which I greatly appreciate and am thankful for.

But, I just had a text-conversation with him a little while ago and he says he was able to make his own arrangements. He didn't specify what he's doing, but I'll have him read through this thread to make sure he's accounted for these options and the associated time crunch.

Thanks again everybody.
 
Best way to learn these life skills is coach ‘em and launch ‘em.

If the worst happens and he misses the flight, he will get extra practice in solving travel challenges in the moment.

Let him know there is a USO Center at the airport, for active duty, Guard, Reserve, retired military if he has to wait for anything. It’s safe, with free snacks and staffed by caring volunteers. Most major airports have these.

metro.uso.org

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport USO Lounge

Find USO locations and events in the USO National Capital District area
metro.uso.org metro.uso.org
 
It’s doable, depending on day. He needs assurance that someone will pick him up on time and has to hope for no traffic. Uber, etc. are an option. May want to splurge for a car service. More $$ but typically dependable and very aware of alternate routes if traffic.

If NO traffic, probably an hour commute. Traffic can easily add 45 minutes to an hour. DS needs to sprint to pickup and hope for the best.
 
@birdwatcher4125 did your DS make it to DCA? My DS left the Yard around 2 and it took about 1 hour 45 minutes to get to his departure gate at DCA via the metra.
 
Capt MJ said:
Let him know there is a USO Center at the airport, for active duty, Guard, Reserve, retired military if he has to wait for anything. It’s safe, with free snacks and staffed by caring volunteers. Most major airports have these.
Click to expand...
With construction at DCA, depending which gate you are at, access to USO is limited. DS said he would have had to go through security twice to access the lounge. It was the same situation at Thanksgiving.
 
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