Renting a car to just park it at a hotel seems an expensive alternative to taking the MARC train + Metro, unless you have a larger party.
Definitely look at that link posted upthread for Safetrack work. My daughter’s 45 minute metro commute doubled when they worked on our line. A friend came from DC to Virginia to meet me for coffee the other day and spent 2 hours via metro.
That being said, I’d still do public transit versus a car.
I also agree with the bus to metro or marc to metro depending on arrival time.
My sister and I just took Souhwest to BWI in June. We got the Super Shuttle directly from BWI to a downtown DC hotel-pickup also from the hotel. Not expensive and well worth it, especially with luggage. Easy to book online.
I’m not sure how much Uber is, but my daughters paid $90 for a taxi from BWI to Silver Spring when their original flight to Reagan was cancelled and they took one to BWI instead.
Check the weekend MARC schedule. Metro has been a real mess lately so make sure and check which tracks are affected by what and when. I’d stay in Bethesda or Silver Spring if not staying downtown.
I checked BWI to Hampton Inn Downtown/ Convention Center on 6th Street (as a downtown hotel example) on Super Shuttle, just to get a price. They drop directly at your hotel. It is a shared shuttle (not more than 10 people, although whenever I’ve taken it, is usually only 3 or 4 extra people). Easy to book online. Cheaper than a cab. 4 people would be $73 (one is 37, 2 is 49, 3 is 61). Gratuity can automatically be added on when you book so you do not have to worry about that.
It sounds good if you have 4 people but I’ve been on those shuttles and if you’re going to downtown DC you will definitely be the last stop. It can get a bit demoralizing. Not so bad if you land at night and there’s less traffic.
Yes, it can take awhile if you are the last stop on a shared Super Shuttle. But that hasn’t bothered me at all any time I’ve taken it . I thought it was kind of interesting seeing where other people were going or being picked up from and it still got me where I needed to be and in a reasonable time frame. But if you want to get downtown the fastest way, definitely taxi or Uber or a private Super Shuttle or limo would be faster (and more expensive). It is not for everyone, but I would rather do that than take public transportation , transfer, with a bunch of luggage.
With four people, it might be not much more to just grab a cab or Uber. You would have more control over that than something like a shared shuttle. And of course , public transportation could be an adventure for the 4 of you. Hope you have found a hotel that will work for you!
The train stations themselves are wonderful, historic pieces of art.
Union Station is beautiful. I took my kids to DC many times on the train when they were little to meet up there with family members.
We’ll be arriving (if the flight goes as planned) on a Saturday morning at 7:30 am at BWI. As long as we can find the train and it’s running “soon”, I don’t have a problem taking it! I’ve done Super Shuttle many times in many cities for conferences and they certainly have their purpose.
Looks like there is a MARC train from BWI to Union Station on Saturday morning at 845. arrives Union Station at 930am. Penn Line.
Arriving Saturday morning and heading to DC is a good thing. You get to miss rush hour traffic.
Union Station is beautiful and has a very nice food court with lots of options. We had many meals there with our kids when we stayed in downtown DC.
Union Station definitely is gorgeous-- it was recently renovated. Plus there is a pleasant shopping mall and lots of eateries, to kill time while you are waiting.