WASHINGTON BALTIMORE AIRPORT (BWI) INFORMATION

Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, commonly known as BWI Marshall Airport, BWI Airport, BWI Marshall, Baltimore-Washington Airport and many other variations of the name, is one of three major airports serving the Baltimore-Washington DC area. It is an international airport located in an unincorporated area of Anne Arundel County just outside Baltimore, Maryland and it is owned and operated by MDOT MAA, Maryland Department of Transit Maryland Aviation Administration.

The airports IATA code is BWI and the ICAO code is KBWI.

Downtown Baltimore is 14 km/9 mi north of the airport while Washington DC is 48 km/30 mi southwest to the southwest.

The airport is named after a Baltimore native, Thurgood Marshall, who was the first African American to serve as an Associate Justice to the U.S. Supreme Court. It is the 22nd busiest airport in the US and the busiest in the region of the National Capital Region.

The airport has 3 asphalt runways of 10,503 ft/3,201 m, 5,000 ft/1,54 m and 9,501 ft/2,896 m respectively. It also has an asphalt helipad.

In 2020 11,204,511 passengers came through the airport, a decrease of more than 15,000,000 from the year before, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

BWI is a base for Southwest Airlines.

The airport’s history started just before the end of World War II, as many other airports in the US did.

Friendship International Airport was dedicated by President Harry S. Truman in June 1950, and it was named after the Friendship Methodist Church that was the previous owner of the land on which the airport was constructed. In 1972 the Maryland Department of Transportation purchased the airport from the city of Baltimore and from there the airport grew. In 1973 the airport was renamed Baltimore/Washington International Airport, but the IATA code wasn’t updated from BAL to BWI until 1980.

The airport had train connections with Washington in 1980 already through the BWI Rail Station.

The airport expanded over the year to meet the growing needs as airlines like Southwest were more and more focused on the airport.

In 2005 the airport was once again renamed, this time to its current name.

BWI Marshall Airport has one single terminal building and 5 concourses with a total of 77 gates, out of which 13 are international gates. Concourses A and B have a total of 30 gates, Concourse C has 14 gates, Concourse D has 23 gates and Concourse E has 10 gates. The international gates are all of the gates in Concourse E, two of which are arrivals only, and three of the gates in Concourse D.

The airport also carries a lot of cargo and was estimated to be 595,195,364 lbs (269,976 t) in 2020.

The terminal has three levels, the top level is where the Maryland Aviation Administration has its headquarters while Departures is located on the second level, normally referred to as the upper level, and Arrivals on the first level, or lower level as it is most commonly called.

Arrivals, Departures and Airlines at Baltimore-Washington Airport

• See live flight arrivals information at Baltimore-Washington Airport
• See live flight departures information at Baltimore-Washington Airport
• See all airlines and routes that serve Baltimore-Washington Airport

Transfers at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport

Rental Cars – The rental car companies at Baltimore-Washington Airport are located in a separate car rental facility a minute shuttle ride from the airport’s terminal building. Complimentary shuttles run between the two buildings with a frequency of around every 10 minutes.

Buses – MDOT MTA provides local bus routes #75, #107 and Commuter bus 201 to different locations in the surrounding areas. More about buses to and from Baltimore-Washington Airport.

Taxis – Taxi ranks are found outside Baggage Claim doors 5 and 13. Taxis from the airport are provided by BWI Airport Taxi. Please contact a local taxi supplier to transfer to the airport as this service is not provided by BWI Airport Taxi. See more about taxis at Baltimore-Washington Airport.

Trains – BWI Marshall Airport Light Rail Stations provides direct train connections with Downtown Baltimore, Timonium and Hunt Valley on a daily basis. The station is located outside Concourse E on the lower level.

The MARC/Amtrak Station located not far from the airport is connected with the airport through complimentary shuttles running every 10 minutes, except for between 1 AM and 5 AM when they run every 25 minutes. Drop off points are on Departures level while pick up points are on the Arrivals level.

Hotel Shuttles – Hotels that offer airport shuttle services will collect their guests from specific zones outside the terminal. The hotel will inform their guests of the exact location.

Ride Shares and Private Transfers – Ride share companies will inform their clients of where they will collect them from the airport. There is also the option to pre-book private transfers to or from Baltimore-Washington Airport.

Parking at Baltimore-Washington Airport

Parking at Baltimore-Washington Airport is easy and there are more than 20,000 parking spaces available. For Hourly Parking the adjacent parking garage is where to park while the Daily Garage provides covered parking for longer term parking. The Long Term Lots offer the lowest parking fee.

The Hourly Garage has skywalks connecting it with the terminal while other alternatives offer complimentary shuttles every 10 minutes to transfer to or from the vehicle and the terminal.

The Cell Phone Lot is where greeters may wait in their vehicles for the arriving traveler to be ready for pick up on curbside.

Smoking at Baltimore-Washington Airport

Smoking at the airport is only allowed in designated areas located on the center islands on the outer curb in front of the terminal, on both the upper and the lower level.

WiFi at Baltimore-Washington Airport

The airport provides free high-speed internet through a network named “#MyBWI-Fi”. Simply connect, accept the T&Cs and surf away.

ATMs at Baltimore-Washington Airport

ATMs/cash machines can be found throughout the terminal’s airside as well as landside areas.

Currency Exchange at Baltimore-Washington Airport

Currency exchange services are offered in two locations, one on airside and one on landside. On airside the location is just past the D/E Security Checkpoint and on landside it is in between the Lost and Found Office and the American Airline ticketing area.

Nursing Stations at Baltimore-Washington Airport

Mamava facilities are located near Gates A7, B2, C5, D2 as well as in the Children’s Play Area in the D/E Connector. There are also two private nursing rooms near Gates A12 and E6. These rooms are for nursing mothers who want some privacy, although it is not prohibited to nurse in other areas of the airport.

Fitness at Baltimore-Washington Airport

BWI offers access to exercise while at the airport. There is a Hiker-Biker Trail outside in the surrounding area, a full gym on airside as well as Cardo Trails inside the terminal, one on airside and one on landside.

Meditation Room at Baltimore-Washington Airport

The meditation room is located in the hallway behind the Delta ticket counter, close to the D/E Security Checkpoint. Access to the room is provided after calling BWI Landside Operations at +1 410-859-7736.

Children’s Play Areas at Baltimore-Washington Airport

There are two playgrounds at the airport, one in the Observation Gallery and one in the D/E Connector. There are also rocking chairs in various locations throughout the terminal.

Family Restrooms at Baltimore-Washington Airport

Family restrooms are situated in various locations of the airport, in some areas more frequently than in other areas. Adult changing stations can be found in some of the family restrooms.

Water Stations at Baltimore-Washington Airport

Water bottle refilling stations are available throughout the terminal’s airside areas.

Food and Beverages at Baltimore-Washington Airport

There are a few places to eat and drink in the public landside areas of the airport, but once through to airside the range of places to eat and drink is vast.

Shopping at Baltimore-Washington Airport

There is a wide range of shops on airside, while on landside the supply is mostly newspaper shops.

Lounges at BWI Marshall Airport

See and book airport lounges at BWI Marshall Airport.

Things to do in Baltimore-Washington DC

There are a number of activities to suit all ages and interests in the region - see a selection of tourist activities in Baltimore-Washington DC in the United States of America.

Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport Contacts

Address: BWI Marshall Airport, Baltimore, MD 21240, USA
General Phone: +1 410-857-7111
Lost and Found email: maalostandfound@bwiairport.com
Lost and Found Phone: +1 410-859-7387
Official Website: https://www.bwiairport.com/

Local Information

Drive on: Right
Electricity: 120V/60Hz
Plug: A, B
Currency: US Dollar, USD, $