Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI): Guide, Facilities & Hotels, Cafes and Restaurants

Introduction

When you are traveling to and from the Baltimore Washington International Airport, it is a good idea to know about the airport and the amenities it offers.

Whether it’s your holiday or a business trip, having general information and tips, especially when traveling alone or with a companion, can actually save you from experiencing troubled moments.

Our airport guide gives you all the essential insights that you, as a traveler, can make use of while journeying across places in any part of the globe.

A Brief Overview of Baltimore Washington International Airport

The airport is named after a renowned Baltimore native, Thurgood Marshall, who is remembered for his contribution and also for being the first African American to serve as a judge in the U.S. Supreme Court. Thus, the airport is also called the BWI Marshall Airport and is the busiest airport in Maryland and Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.

IATA: BWI 

Address: 7050 Friendship Rd, Baltimore, MD 21240

Contact:(410) 859 7683

Website:https://www.bwiairport.com

Operation Hours: The Baltimore Washington International Airport is open 24 hours. However, certain food concessions and car rental services may not offer their services 24 hours. Also, services like airline check-in and baggage drop hours may also vary with the flight schedule. Hence, it is advised that you check with the airport

Airport Terminal 

The BWI Marshall Airport has a single terminal, the Main Terminal inter-connected with Concourses A-B (25 gates), C (13 gates), D (24 gates), E (7 gates), and four arrival-only gates.

Concourses A and B are merged into one as a result of the airport’s renovation. Passengers can transit freely between Concourses A and C and between Concourses D and E.

There are plenty of eateries and stores on the airside, while only a few are on the landside. Concourse A/B also offers the widest range of dining and shopping options to travelers.

Parking Facility at Baltimore Washington International Airport

Vehicle parking facilities are available at Baltimore Washington International Airport. There are, however, different rates that are charged for the duration of parking vehicles. The airport offers various parking options, such as the Long Term Lots A and B (being the most convenient option), Express Lot, Valet Parking, Daily Garage, and Hourly Garage.

Express Lot: The airport’s Express Lot option provides travelers with personalized, trunk-to-terminal service. This means that you have the Express Shuttle bus ready to pick you up (along with your baggage) from the parking lot and also drop you in your car when you return.
The fee charged for this parking service is $10 per day. You can find the Express Lot located across from BWI Marshall Airport’s Daily Garage at Terminal Road and Scott Drive (one block off of MD 170). Take Exit 1-A off of I-195 and turn right onto Terminal Road.

Hourly Garage Parking: This parking option lets you park your vehicle closer to your gate, or when dropping off or picking up someone. It is located directly across from the terminal building and charges about $4 per hour ($22 a day).

Daily Garage: For $12 per day, you can park your vehicle at BWI Marshall Airport’s Daily Garage sheltered and guided parking area, which also offers frequent shuttle service. The Daily Garage parking is located at Terminal Road and Scott Drive (one block off of MD 170). Take Exit 1-A from I-195 and turn right onto Terminal Road, then turn left onto Scott Drive.

Long-Term Parking: For $8 per day, this is the most economical parking option among the others. It has two lots, namely Lots A and B. However, one caveat here is that their parking space cannot accommodate oversized vehicles. This means that vehicles must fit in the allotted parking space. You can find Long Term Parking located just off of MD 162 (Aviation Blvd.) between S. Camp Meade Road and Andover Road.

Valet Parking: The airport’s Fly Away Valet parking option will cost you $8 for up to one hour and the price just doubles with every two hours of parking (i.e. $16 for 1-2 hours, $24 for 2-3 hours, and so on). The service also includes complimentary window cleaning and interior vacuuming. Valet parking is located on the 5th Floor of the Hourly Garage, near Tower B.

Additionally, the BWI Marshall Airport provides a free Cell Phone Lot that allows patrons to wait for a maximum of one hour when picking up someone who is arriving. The BWI Marshall Airport Cell Phone Lot is located on Scott Road, just to the right of the Daily Parking Garage entrance.

Airlines Served by Baltimore Washington International Airport

The major regional and international airlines that are served daily by Baltimore Washington International Airport include Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, American Airlines, Apple Vacations, Boutique Air, British Airways, Condor, Contour Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southern Airways, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country Airlines, United Airlines, and Vacation Express.

Facilities and Services Available at Baltimore Washington International Airport

The Baltimore Washington International Airport offers various amenities to passengers to make their traveling experience worthwhile.

Security Checkpoint

There are security checks at the airport’s terminal. All passengers are required to pass through the security checks. In addition to normal security, there is TSA Pre, which is basically a quick screening program that allows eligible passengers to voluntarily provide their information to expedite the screening.

Help Desk

When you are at the Baltimore Washington International Airport and need help, there is an information desk to assist you. Here, you can inquire about your flight or find other facilities easily at the airport.

The information desk is located in the Upper Ticketing Level, landside, just before Concourses A, B, and D, Lower Level, landside, Southwest Airlines Baggage Claim 1-5 area, Lower Level of Concourses C and D, International Concourse Arrivals area.

The help desks are open from 5:00 am to 9:00 pm. The hours, however, may vary for each location.

Wi-Fi and Mobile Charging Stations

Free Wi-Fi is available at Baltimore Washington International Airport, in case you need to connect your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to access the internet. The Wi-Fi internet services at the airport are provided by Slice Wireless Solutions. You can connect to their Wi-Fi named “#MyBWI-Fi” on your device and surf the internet.

In addition to free Wi-Fi, mobile charging power outlets are also available at the airport, in case you need to charge your phone’s battery. Mobile charging power outlets can be found at the Observation Gallery.

Baggage Handling and Storage

The baggage claim at BWI Marshall Airport can be found on the lower level of the terminal. It is accessible from each concourse with an easy exit to the pick-up lane, the hourly garage, and transit options.

The airport limits carrying baggage and personal items on flights. You are allowed one carry-on bag and one personal item, which can easily fit underneath your seat or in the overhead bin. Your personal item should be smaller than your carry-on bags, such as a small purse, briefcase, laptop, or musical instrument.

While these types of baggage like Diaper bags, child safety seats, and medical or mobility devices are not counted as carry-on or personal items. Also, if you are traveling with a pet, the kennel or container will be counted as a carry-on item and an additional pet fee will be charged.

Make sure to check with your respective airline as to what carry-on items (and their size) are allowed.

Lounge and Business Conference Rooms

Baltimore Washington International Airport provides premium lounges which you have to book either by directly coming up and paying at the door or purchasing a lounge pass in advance or simply under lounge membership programs direct entry.

Shops and Duty-Free Stores

You will find over a dozen stores throughout the airport’s terminals and concourses. These shops sell a wide range of items – from children’s toys to fashion accessories. You can also buy books, magazines, etc., to help pass time. The airport also provides an interactive wayfinding map that can help you locate stores easily.

The Charm City Market is located at D/E Connector. There is also Onsite News (located at Main Terminal, Concourse B, and A/B Food Court) and Hudson News (located at Concourses B, C, and D).

Cafes, Bars, and Restaurants

Finding fast food options should not be a problem as there are many local and popular nationwide food chains at the BWI Marshall Airport. These fast-food restaurants are located throughout the terminals and concourses, giving you the best options to eat and satisfy your pre-flight craving.

Popular fast-food restaurants at BWI Marshall Airport include:

• Dunkin’ Donuts (located at Main Terminal and Concourse B)
• Ledo Pizza (located at Main Terminal and Concourse B)
• Potbelly (located at Concourses A and C)
• Starbucks (located at Concourse B and D/E Connector)
• Subway (located at Concourse B)
• McDonald’s (located at A/B Food Court and Concourse D)
• Chick-Fil-A (located at A/B Food Court)
• The Greene Turtle (located at Concourse D)
• Chipotle (located at A/B Food Court)
• Silver Diner (located at A/B Food Court)
• Quizno’s (located at Concourse D)

Other Amenities

1. Fitness Centre

BWI Marshall Airport has a fitness center to suit your health needs. It provides from a fully-fledged gym workout to a leisurely stroll around the Concourses on the Cardio Trail, to navigating your way around the airport’s 20.1 km (12.5 miles) Hiker-Biker Trail on a Zagster bike. Whatever your fitness demands, the airport offers activities to suit your needs. In addition, a shower is also available.

The ROAM Fitness is an ADA-accessible gym that is located after the D/E security checkpoint and provides travelers access to cardio equipment, stretching space, free weights, medicine balls, stability balls, a TRX system, and yoga props.

2. Meditation Room

The BWI Marshall Airport also offers a meditation room, where you can relax your mind and body. You can find the meditation room located in the hallway behind the Delta ticket counter, on the side closest to the D/E Security Checkpoint. To access the room, you will need to call BWI Landside Operations.

3. Children’s Play Area

The BWI Marshall Airport has a Children’s Play Area which is located in D/E Connector. If you are traveling with children, they can have a wonderful moment of fun before boarding the flight. Access is free.

4. ATM

ATMs are available at the Baltimore Washington International Airport. You can swipe your bank card and withdraw cash at the airport’s ATM if you’re running low on cash or need to make cash payments at other services or stores. You can find ATMs on the airside and landside.

5. M&T Bank

M&T Bank offers full-service banking and is located on the landside, near Concourse A.

6. Currency Exchange

Travelex offers a range of services, which includes ordering and gathering foreign currency, currency exchange, and traveler’s checks. One Travelex location is at pre-security between the airport’s Lost and Found office and the American Airlines ticketing area. The other Travelex kiosk is located just inside Checkpoint D/E. Once you clear the checkpoint, take a right into the D/E Connector and the kiosk will be on the right aspect of the hallway.

Hotels at and nearby Baltimore Washington International Airport

Finding accommodations at the Baltimore Washington International Airport or nearby should not be a problem for you as there are several hotels out there. Whether you are traveling alone, with friends, family, or children, you will find comfortable places to stay during your visit to Baltimore.

A few hotels that are located not very far from the Baltimore Washington International Airport are:

1. Minute Suites

This airside micro-hotel offers small rooms that can be rented for a few hours or overnight. All standard suites feature complimentary DirecTV, Netflix, and Wi-Fi. Rooms are offered for $42 for an hour and $10.50 for every 15 minutes after that (an 8-hour stay is $155).

2. Aloft BWI Baltimore Washington International Airport

The hotel is located about 5 minute drive from the BWI Marshall Airport. It provides a free airport shuttle service from 4:30 am to 12:30 am.

3. Hilton Baltimore BWI Airport

The hotel is located about 5 minute drive from the BWI Marshall Airport. It also provides a free 24-hour airport shuttle service that transits to surrounding areas (within a 3-mile radius).

4. Red Roof Plus

The hotel is located about 5 minute drive from the BWI Marshall Airport. It also provides free shuttle service to the airport, Amtrak station, and light rail station from 4:00 am to 1:00 am (on weekdays) and from 5:00 am to 12:00 am (on weekends).

Transportation Options

Getting to and from the BWI Marshall Airport is easy with all of the different transportation options that are available. With options ranging from public transportation to app-based ride services, you can quickly find a convenient mode of transportation to meet your travel needs.

Airport/Hotel Shuttle Services:

To control car traffic on the terminal roadway, the BWI Marshall Airport has created specific pick-up zones for hotel shuttles and off-airport parking shuttles. Hotel and off-airport parking shuttles can pick up passengers at the designated zones only. Private vehicles are limited from these off-airport pick-up zones. Zones 1 and 3 are assigned for hotel shuttles, while Zone 2 is designated for off-airport parking shuttles. And Zone 4 airport is occupied by both hotels and off-airport parking companies.

Bus Services

The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) offers bus service on the #75 bus from BWI Marshall Airport connecting to Parkway Center, Arundel Mills Mall, Airport 100 Park, and the Patapsco Light Rail Stop. MDOT MTA additionally offers weekday peak service on the #107 bus from BWI Marshall Airport connecting to UMBC, CCBC Catonsville, Bloomsbury & Frederick, Rolling & Security Blvd., Liberty & Milford Mill, and the Old Court Metro Subway Station.

Taxi Services

The taxi stands are located just outside of the baggage claim area on the Lower Level of the BWI Marshall Airport terminal near doors 5 and 13. This service is available from BWI Marshall Airport only and taxicabs are prohibited from charging flat rates to passengers.

Car Hire/Rental Services

You can hire a car at Baltimore Washington International Airport if you are in the mood to move around places in Baltimore city. There are a number of car hire/rental companies that provide this service. If you are searching for car rental counters, then you can find that at Stoney Run Road and New Ridge Road. There is a free shuttle service that carries passengers to and from the airport, approximately every ten minutes.

When arriving on flights, you can take the free shuttle from the lower level terminal for a ten-minute ride to the area where you can get a new car rental facility. When returning a vehicle, simply look for highway directional signs to reach the facility. The car rental companies that offer services on-site at BWI Marshall Airport are Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, NextCar, Payless, and Thrifty.

Conclusion

So when visiting BWI Marshall Airport, do not forget to take note of the various art galleries located throughout the airport, which offer glimpses into local, regional, and even international art. The art rotates on a regular basis, so remember to visit often so you do not miss any of the art on display.