How early should I get to DCA?
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Arlington, VA · Checked Oct 14, 2026
The short answer
Arrive 2 hours before domestic flights (the airport's security FAQ suggests 90-120 minutes); check with your airline too
Those are blanket rules. Your real number depends on your terminal, the time of day, traffic from your door, and whether you have PreCheck or a bag. Leave By works out your exact leave time.
Source: flyreagan.com
Security lines at DCA
Nationally, TSA checkpoints are busiest from 5 to 7 AM local time. See TSA's hourly numbers and the busiest days to fly.
TSA PreCheck: Each checkpoint at Reagan National has a designated PreCheck lane. Checkpoint hours: Terminal 2 North 4:00am-11:00pm, Terminal 2 South 4:00am-9:00pm, Terminal 1 4:00am-9:00pm (FAQ says Terminal 1 generally opens 4:30am).
CLEAR: Available at this airport (see terminals below for which checkpoints).
Touchless ID: TSA lists Touchless ID at 65 airports and tells travelers to check with their airline. Delta lists DCA as a participating airport with dedicated Touchless ID bag drop. A March 2026 third-party list shows Alaska, American, Delta and United participating at DCA.
Terminals and checkpoints
Terminal 1 (Gates A1-A9)
Southwest, Frontier, Air Canada
- Formerly Terminal A; 9 gates.
- Not connected airside to Terminal 2: moving between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 requires going through security again.
- Parking Garage 1 serves Air Canada, Frontier and Southwest.
- Rideshare pickup is on the third (outer) curb.
Terminal 2 (Gates B10-E59)
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue
- Formerly Terminal B/C; 49 gates, plus the 14-gate American regional concourse opened in April 2021.
- Since the Project Journey checkpoints opened in November 2021, passengers can move between Terminal 2 gate areas without re-screening.
- The Metrorail station connects directly to the Terminal 2 concourse level by two enclosed pedestrian bridges.
- Parking Garage 2 serves American, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue and United.
Between terminals: Terminal 2 gates B10-E59 are connected after security, but going between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 requires re-clearing security. Free airport shuttles run 24/7 between the terminals and parking facilities.
Terminals are not connected after security. Go to the right terminal the first time.
Getting to DCA
Rideshare and taxi: Terminal 2: meet your ride on the Baggage Claim (Arrivals) Level, 1st floor, outer curb (select Zone 1-4; green flags mark zones). Terminal 1: third (outer) curb. The airport does not publish separate rideshare drop-off instructions.
Transit: Metrorail Blue and Yellow lines stop at the Reagan National Airport station, linked to the Terminal 2 concourse level by two enclosed bridges; Terminal 1 is reached via the airport shuttle (exit to the street-side curb) or a walk inside the terminal. Daytime fares $2.25-$6.75.
Driving and parking: Parking Garage 1 (Terminal 1 airlines), Parking Garage 2 (Terminal 2 airlines) and the Economy Lot, all with 24/7 shuttle service. Reserving is the only way to guarantee a space and price. Economy Lot capacity is reduced by about 40 percent while a new parking structure is built (construction extends into 2026). The cell phone lot is listed as closed; garages 1 and 2 are free for up to 60 minutes.
Construction and changes in 2026
- Economy Lot: a new parking structure is under construction, cutting Economy capacity by about 40 percent; the airport says construction extends into 2026 and strongly encourages advance reservations.
- Metrorail: 2026 weekend closures of the Reagan National Airport and Potomac Yard stations (March 7-8, May 9-10, May 16-17) and additional Crystal City weekends for a new Crystal City entrance (expected to open spring 2027); Metro said closures could add about 15 minutes, with shuttle buses.
- Terminal 1 replacement (new facility replacing gates A1-A9, no added gates) is in planning; as of August 2026 construction was expected to start in 2027 and finish in December 2032, subject to change. The road outside Terminal 1 would be reconfigured.
Checking a bag
Delta at DCA: bags must be checked and check-in completed at least 45 minutes before domestic departure (with or without bags), 1 hour for international; bags not accepted more than 6 hours before departure.
DCA tips first-timers miss
- Southwest, Frontier and Air Canada use Terminal 1 (gates A1-A9), which has its own checkpoint and is not connected airside to Terminal 2.
- In Terminal 2, the North checkpoint is closest to American and stays open until 11pm; the South checkpoint (closest to Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, United) closes at 9pm.
- Delta at DCA requires check-in 45 minutes before departure even without bags, longer than Delta's usual 30-minute no-bag cutoff.
- The Metro station connects straight into Terminal 2's concourse level, which makes it the simplest way to avoid airport traffic and parking shortages.
- The Economy Lot has lost about 40 percent of its capacity to garage construction, so reserve parking ahead.
Leaving for DCA?
Pick your flight and where you're starting. Leave By checks live traffic, security lines and your terminal, and tells you the minute to walk out the door.
Free. No account.
Questions travelers ask
How early should I get to Reagan National (DCA)?
The airport recommends arriving 2 hours before domestic flights, and its security FAQ suggests at least 90-120 minutes. Delta requires check-in at least 45 minutes before departure at DCA.
Which terminal is Southwest at DCA?
Southwest, Frontier and Air Canada use Terminal 1 (gates A1-A9). American, Delta, United, Alaska and JetBlue use Terminal 2.
Can I walk between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at DCA after security?
No. The airport says you need to go through security again to move between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, though all Terminal 2 gates are connected after security.
Sources
- Reagan National - Frequently Asked Questions
- Reagan National - Security Information
- Reagan National - Airport Overview
- Reagan National - Ground Transportation (ride app pickup)
- Reagan National - Metrorail Station
- Reagan National - Parking Information
- Reagan National - Construction Advisories
- NBC Washington - Weekend Metro closures at DCA (Feb 10, 2026)
- WJLA - Major overhaul planned for Reagan National's historic terminal (Aug 10, 2026)
- TSA - PreCheck Touchless ID
- Delta - TSA PreCheck Touchless ID participating airports
- The Bulkhead Seat - Touchless ID airports and airlines (Mar 16, 2026)
- Delta - Domestic check-in time requirements
Airport conditions change. Always follow your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines.