Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI)

International passengers disembark at Concourse E, clear US passport control, retrieve checked luggage, and pass through customs inspection before exiting into the arrivals hall.

• Follow signs towards passport control immediately upon leaving the aircraft gate.
• Present your passport, visa or ESTA authorization, and required travel documentation to US Customs and Border Protection officers.
• Collect all checked baggage from the assigned carousel in the baggage reclaim area past passport control.
• Proceed through customs clearance; declare any restricted goods, agricultural items, or currency over 10,000 USD.
• Exit into the public landside arrivals hall, where ground transportation options and information desks are located.

• Train

  Maryland Transit Administration (MTA)

  MTA Light RailLink departs directly outside the lower level of the terminal adjacent to Concourse E.

  Time:

  roughly 30-40 minutes to downtown Baltimore

  Typical cost:

  typically under $3 USD

• Train

  MARC Train / Amtrak

  Free shuttle buses run frequently between the airport terminal lower level and the nearby BWI Rail Station.

  Time:

  roughly 15-30 minutes to Baltimore Penn Station or Washington Union Station

  Typical cost:

  typically $6-$35 USD depending on operator and route

• Train

  WMATA (Metrobus B30)

  Connects BWI directly to the Washington Metro system; pick-up points are outside the lower level.

  Time:

  roughly 40-50 minutes to Greenbelt Metro Station (DC Metro line)

  Typical cost:

  typically $7.50 USD

• Taxi

  BWI Taxi Stand Services

  Metered taxis line up immediately outside the doors of the lower level arrivals roadway.

  Time:

  roughly 20-30 minutes to Baltimore; 45-60 minutes to Washington, D.C.

  Typical cost:

  typically $35-$45 USD to Baltimore; $90-$120 USD to Washington, D.C.

• Ride-hailing

  Uber / Lyft

  Pick-up locations are designated along the upper curbside departure level.

  Time:

  roughly 20-30 minutes to Baltimore; 45-60 minutes to Washington, D.C.

  Typical cost:

  typically $30-$50 USD to Baltimore; $70-$110 USD to Washington, D.C.

Transferring between domestic concourses (A, B, C, D) is possible airside, but arriving international passengers must exit and clear security again.

• Airside walkways connect Concourses A, B, and C inside security.
• International arriving passengers must claim all bags, clear customs, and re-screen through TSA security before connecting to domestic flights.
• Allow at least 2 to 3 hours for international-to-domestic flight connections.
• Connecting baggage drop counters are located right after exiting the customs clearance area in Concourse E.

Free Wi-Fi access is provided throughout all terminal concourses and public areas.

• Select the official airport network '_BWI Free WiFi' on your mobile device.
• Accept the terms and conditions on the browser landing page to connect.
• Session access is continuous, though re-authentication may be required after extended periods.

Automated teller machines (ATMs) and foreign exchange services are available landside and airside.

• ATMs accepting major international cards are located throughout all concourses and baggage claim areas.
• Travelex currency exchange desks operate landside and near the international arrival concourse.
• Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) are universally accepted for transport, food, and retail.

A broad range of casual dining, quick-service outlets, and coffee shops are available across the terminal.

• Food courts are located centrally between Concourses A/B, as well as in Concourses C and D.
• Concourse E has limited food options airside; broader choices exist before security landside.
• Most food outlets operate from early morning until late evening to match flight schedules.

Airline lounges and independent pay-per-use lounges are located airside.

• The Club at BWI is open to all passengers for a day fee or via independent lounge membership programmes, located near Concourse D.
• US military service members and their families have access to the USO Lounge located landside on the lower level.

Numerous hotels are located within a five-minute drive of the airport, offering free shuttle services.

• Direct-dial courtesy phone boards for off-site hotels are available near baggage claim exits.
• Hotel shuttle buses pick up passengers along the outer curbside lane of the lower level arrivals hall.
• There is no hotel attached directly inside the main terminal building.

Luggage carts and baggage storage guidelines are established for arriving travelers.

• Smarte Carte luggage trolleys are available for a small fee near baggage claim carousels.
• Left-luggage storage services are unavailable inside the airport terminal due to national security regulations.
• Lost property items left in public terminal areas are handled by the BWI Airport Lost and Found office.

Family facilities include nursing rooms and accessible family restrooms across the terminal.

• Dedicated Mamava nursing pods and rooms are situated throughout Concourses A through E.
• Family restrooms equipped with baby-changing tables are available in all concourses landside and airside.

• Free Wi-Fi
• ATMs
• Currency Exchange
• Nursing Rooms
• Service Animal Relief Areas
• USO Lounge
• Meditation Room
• Baggage Carts

Local emergency number: 911

• Dial 911 from any mobile phone or pick up any emergency assistance telephone in the terminal for immediate response.
• First aid and medical emergency assistance are provided by the BWI Marshall Airport Fire & Rescue Department.
• If you lose your passport, contact your country's embassy or consulate in Washington, D.C., located approximately 30 miles from the airport.

• Check your passport validity and any visa, ETA or entry declaration required.
• Confirm your departure terminal on your boarding pass the day before.
• Activate a travel eSIM so you are online the moment you land.
• Download offline maps and screenshot your hotel address and booking reference.
• Tell your bank you are travelling and carry a backup payment card.
• Save the local emergency number and your embassy contact in your phone.
• Photograph your passport and store the copy somewhere you can reach offline.
• Check baggage allowance and any restricted items for your destination.

Airport operations change. Always confirm terminals, fares and timetables with the official sources below before you travel.

• BWI Marshall Airport Official WebsiteOfficial airport source
• US Customs and Border ProtectionGovernment source
• Maryland Transit AdministrationOfficial transit source
• Amtrak Rail ServicesOfficial transit source