Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is one of three airports serving the greater Washington D.C. area. The airport is also called National Airport, Washington National, Reagan, or DCA.

The airport is three miles south of Washington D.C. in Arlington, Virginia, across from the Potomac River. It is easily accessible to residents in Washington D.C., Virginia, and Maryland by vehicle and a stop on either the blue or yellow lines on the Metro. This rapid transit system serves both the inside and the outside of the Capital Beltway.

Passengers can be dropped off by loved ones or ride shares at one of two locations with access to all four terminals. Terminal A is the oldest terminal and services flights mostly from Air Canada, Frontier Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. Terminal B services American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. American Airlines and jetBlue share Terminal B/C. Terminal C is used solely by American Airlines.

On March 22, 2017, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates Washington National, announced the plans for “Project Journey,” a $1 billion remodel. To this day, scaffolding and alternate routes for security check-in, limit access to some of the areas inside the airport. The National Hall, which connects all the terminals within the airport, is only accessible for ticketed passengers. The public can only view the National Hall from the departure level through the glass.

People who are not flying but like to watch airplanes take off and land have another option to view this beautiful airport. Gravelly Point is a park north of Washington National and connects bike riders to the Mount Vernon Trail. There are picnic benches, a large field, and plenty of opportunities to take photos of incoming airplanes.