Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

This is a mid size airport that is very easy to navigate. The TSA process was a bit of a hassle for me. Using the same id used in the Atlanta airport I was flagged as high alert. Don't know why or how. Coming through the 3D scanner I was forced to take my AF1's off because they triggered the alarm. Now coming back through without shoes my right pocket triggered the alarm. After being patted and searched I were waved through. I did not know there was an observatory here. You can watch the ground workers and planes landing. Please allow your kids to experience this part of the property. The Thurgood Marshall artifacts are extensive. This is a treasure trove of history.

I flew out of BWI on a 6 AM flight to Las Vegas, and honestly, the whole process was surprisingly smooth for such an early departure. The baggage check was a breeze, staff were fast, efficient, and kept the line moving with zero confusion. TSA was also shockingly quick. There was only one ID checkpoint open and one line for bag screening, but even with that, the line moved fast. A handful of people ahead of us, and we were through in minutes. We flew out of Concourse A, Gate 11, and that area is definitely limited on food options at that hour. Mostly Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon, and a couple small convenience-style stores, so plan ahead if you want something more substantial. There's a lot of construction happening in Terminal A, which explains some of the reduced options. That said, everything was clean, organized, and easy to navigate. The gate agents were friendly, helpful, and on top of things, which made the whole boarding process smooth. Overall: Fast check-in Quick TSA Clean terminal Great staff Limited food choices near Gate 11 Construction in the area Still, for a 6 AM flight, I'll take "efficient and painless" every time. Would happily fly out of BWI again. Long term parking is $11 a day here.

• No special pass — just your ticket: Once you have your airline boarding pass you can access gates, shops and lounges after security; public landside areas (parking, rental, arrivals) are open without extra airport passes. • Terminal layout & scale: BWI’s single passenger terminal serves 5 concourses (A–E) with about 73 jet gates and roughly 2.4 million sq ft of terminal space—easy to navigate with clear maps and concourse signage. • Ground transport & rail link: BWI Rail Station (Amtrak/MARC) connects directly to the airport via a frequent free shuttle bus—an easy rail option to Baltimore, DC and regional points; shuttles run every few minutes during most hours. • Parking options & typical pricing: Multiple on-site choices (Hourly Garage, Daily Garage, Express lots and Long-Term Lot) with live availability on the site; expect typical day rates around $14–$30/day depending on lot. Check live parking on the BWI site before you go. • Airlines & traveler profile: BWI is a major East-Coast leisure and business airport with strong domestic service (Southwest is a large operator) and some international/swing gates—good for regional connections and many nonstop U.S. routes. • Ongoing improvements: Large projects (A/B connector and upgraded baggage-handling) are active to modernize concourse connections and improve flow—expect some construction zones and phased openings over the coming years. ⸻ ⚠️ What to keep in mind • Rail/parking price changes: BWI Rail Station garage and some parking rates have changed recently—check the MARC/Amtrak and airport pages for current parking rules and fees. • Operational hiccups do happen: Power outages and other incidents (e.g., a March 2025 outage) have caused significant delays in the past—always verify your flight status and allow extra time on travel days. • Busy times & reservations: Weekends, holidays and peak travel seasons fill parking and gates—book parking or arrive early, and use online terminal maps to plan gates/food options. • Travel tools: BWI publishes live parking availability, terminal maps and flight status on its site—use those pages the morning of travel for the smoothest experience

Stopped thru on a layover mid week/mid summer. I’ve traveled all over the US, my first time at this one and I LOVE this airport!! It’s smaller, easy to navigate, lots of restaurants and food choices. The bathrooms were very clean and love the light system to show open stalls along with the sign outside the bathrooms (all airports need this!) Simple and clean!

This is one of my favorite airports. It's easy to navigate. I've only been to concourse D. The bathrooms were clean. I enjoyed sitting in the rocking chairs and looking at the planes. Lots of food choices...I saw The Green Turtle, Apple Annie's, Smoothie King, McDonald's, Dunkin' Donuts, and a food market. All the staff I came into contact with was friendly.

I didn't expect that Baltimore airport would be this big and clean. Impressive. The only thing I'm not sure it is a not a good thing or not is the carpet to the gates. It's a bit hard to go with carry on luggage. Not smooth. There are lots of restaurants too. Want to visit Baltimore in the future. This time around was just lay over.

Among the hyperspace lanes of the Northeast, BWI shines like a well-placed navigation beacon. A trusted stop on my galactic journeys, this mid-size starport is a key stronghold for Southwest Airlines travelers — where flight plans run smoother than a Jedi’s lightsaber through butter. The layout is compact and efficient — easy to navigate even without a protocol droid or datapad. Food and shopping outposts are plentiful and, surprisingly, BWI is one of the more reasonably priced airports for meals and shops. A rare victory for travelers trying to protect their galactic credits. My go-to dining stop? Leann Chin, where the crew welcomes you like an old friend at the Jedi Temple, and the cuisine is strong with the wok-side of the Force. Behind the blue construction walls, the airport is undergoing a major transformation — a new A/B Connector spanning over 200,000 square feet (that’s roughly the area of two football fields), plus a high-tech baggage system stretching nearly two miles — longer than the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel! Once complete, travelers can expect smoother connections, expanded lounges, and upgraded restrooms worthy of the Galactic Council. Speaking of restrooms — many have already been modernized, offering comfort, space, and cleanliness that would make any traveler breathe a sigh of relief before their next hyperspace jump. ⚠️ Ground Transport Intel: The rental car facility is located off-site at 7432 New Ridge Rd., Hanover, MD 21076. Free airport shuttles run between the terminal and the rental car base, with pickup points at Doors 1, 11, and 16 on the lower level of Arrivals. Just note — shuttle delays can occur during peak hours due to driver shortages, so allow extra time for your mission. Still, the Force flows well at BWI. Friendly staff, fair prices, and visible upgrades make this a top-tier mid-size hub for travelers of all ranks — from Padawan tourists to seasoned Jedi business fliers.

This airport is awesome clean and easy to navigate Staff are friendly and professional Toilets are great as well I look forward to flying out of bwi international airport again soon.

I'm a little biased as my home airport is ATL but this was cute. Easy to navigate. I only saw 3 terminals. Good amount of food options. The seats by the gates don't have charging ports so you may have to Hoover around the tables with plugs and jump at the first opening. Weird note but appreciative - cleanest public restrooms I've ever seen with extra room for your luggage!

On my way out for a weekend getaway. BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport is just the right size for me. I mean it's large enough to house various restaurants, bars, and shopping kiosk, but not too large that I feel overwhelmed. The airport is easy to access, has great drop off and arrival areas to fit your travel needs. The airport is in the last stages of a remodel and from what I've seen, it looks great. I love that they are offering more international and local travel options. This airport also has a Southwest hub. The only thing that grinds my gears about this airport is the constant need to direct you to one carousel to retrieve your luggage and then they change it at the last minute to another! That is nothing to really complain about though! Luckily this trip I have a carry on! All in all, this airport fits my traveling needs without having to take the long, congested commute to Dulles or Reagan airports.

Had to take a flight back home and book3d my reservation online. The airport (at least when I was there) wasn't the usual hustle and bustle like MIA. Everything went super smoothly.Arrived on time and was able to go to one of the new kiosks to get my ticket info and be on my way. Walking to my gate they had the usual duty free shops with all types of gifts and trinkets. They also had a great selection of different fast food and restaurants to kill time. I did see a bar but only one (which is more than u need in my opinion). Found my gate after stopping to eat at one of the restaurants and boarded with no problem. The airport is clean and has easy to follow directions making your way a cinch. Fly on peeps

I loved their bathrooms. Now I'm spoiled and feel that all other airports need to get with the program .

This airport has whatever you might need while getting ready to fly or simply waiting for someone to arrive. Restrooms are conveniently located and cleaned regularly. Food places are plentiful. Lighting in the garage is adequate and shuttle service is the only thing I see that need a little improvement they could be more frequent for lot A it seemed like we were waiting for ever. Overall this airport is really nice just haven't flew out of here in a minute.

Up and coming. Definitely see some positive upgrades coming along! However, their website is full of scams and lies. Out of the twelve airports I have visited this year--BWI is the most expensive with the worst service and food quality. They should remove their descriptions on the BWI's website...

I've been to most airports across the US and found this to be one of the better ones. We were just here for a layover, but they had an array of open businesses, a decent layout where we didn't feel cramped non-stop and friendly service from everyone we interacted with.

Baltimore - Washington International Airport is 1 of 3 available flight options in the DMV area. Dedicated in honor of Thurgood Marshall, a Baltimore native and first African American serving on the U.S. Supreme Court. I appreciate this airport as a Southwest hub, a go to airline for me. BWI is fairly easy to get around, there's a shuttle in the parking lot, Express or Long term, there is a designated area for hotel shuttles, taxi and ride share are located outside the baggage are near the terminal curb. There are several national chain restaurants and local shop options

Flying in was easy peasy and they have the nicest bathrooms and a wide assortment of food spots not only fast food but they actually offer a few diners and full service restaurants We are at the silver diner it was delicious The bill being barely $70 for three people, including drinking was amazing considering we were at the airport They did have to change our date, which is a little bit hectic, but they were very good on communicating changes and making sure everybody got to the new gate. Staff seem to be very well trained here and are very positive. The airport is pretty well overnight and clean.

I had a great experience with the airport. The airport, including the bathrooms, were clear and modern. The security technology is high-tech, where you don't need to take out your laptop from your bag for screening. There were multiple water fountain around, along with bathrooms. Getting to Uber pick up spots were easy. And I enjoyed the art objects around the museum.

The bathrooms are well maintained and updated, which is nice. There is also space in between the sinks so you aren't on top of each other, which is also nice and ensures more safety. Side note, the airport is small so meals and sundry items are limited.

One of the best things I liked about this airport is how clean their bathrooms were. It always feels like it was just cleaned. It's a nice airport apart from that. I usually am only here on Monday evenings. Not the busiest of times. Their food court is pretty legit. Feels like a mall food court. Tons of options and not all of them are burgers and greasy. A long layover here wouldn't be the worst. It has long corridors to get your steps in, there's a handful of local shops that are located in the airport so you can get a piece of the DMV on your stop. Only thing missing here I would say is some solid coffee. It was okay but not breathtaking. TSA, checkin, and baggage is pretty calm. Easy layout throughout the place. Definitely slowly getting better.

This is one of the few airports I have no issue making a connection in. It's easy to navigate although it's getting a little bigger so you may need to allot more time. I used to do connections under an hour here, but I'd go about an hour if I could, depending on the season, of course. Their rest rooms have signs on the outside that list the number of open stalls, and there seem to be a lot of open stalls. Pretty good if you ask me. Food can be hit or miss, but the center area between A&B terminals may have the best options, even though most are fast food. I've had some terrible Mexican at the QDoba and the worst mocha ever at a Dunkin, so I'm not too happy so far. Maybe I'll find the "go to" spot at this airport someday.

1 hour layover here. From what I see airport is clean. Some wear and tear on seats and in bathroom. Seafood bar lookedngood but drinks expensive. $14 for IPA draft beer. $12 for Jack and coke. We did not try any of the food. Going to wait till we get to Cleveland. But they did have several options One place looks good and serves breakfast brunch lunch and dinner. Miss Shirley's Cafe. We were only in one part of the airport in it kind of loops around I was disappointed they didn't have any good coffee on our side she said I'd have to walk to get to the Starbucks. Perfect spot for a 1 hour layover.

Kinda feels like Dallas Love but transported to the East. Medium-sized, disjointed and old, but well utilized and with updates cobbled into the mix that make it work in a way that you don't dread having to change planes here. There are a good variety of places to eat so you will be able to find something acceptable and I've found the workers in BWI/Thurgood Marshall to be all be friendly and helpful.

Very nice airport and from what I hear it has won awards for best restrooms! I gotta agree! The restrooms were nice, clean, tidy and had a lot of room for your luggage.. The only problem I came across with are the metallic covers in the bathrooms. I literally got one of my Gucci sandals' heel stuck in one of the holes and I couldn't bring out my shoe. I tried and tried and just was able to get the shoe out but the heel tip broke off! I was so sad to have ruined my Gucci sandals! I'll have to get them fixed, so this airport owes me my Gucci sandals! Lol Other than my heel getting stuck in the restroom floor, the airport was great! Lots of food choices to choose from! Thank God there were plenty of healthy options! I also liked the stores. They had a lot of natural soaps and oils and other products that were very natural! I definitely wouldn't mind having a long layover at this airport as it happened this time since our flight was delay for a little over 3 hours!

I love this airport. It's typically less crowded than other D.C area airports and I feel comfortable arriving only 2 hours before an international flight. Plenty of food and beverage options and quick security. Bathrooms are a little dirty and some of the doors are broken.

Cleanliness: 5 Variety of shops: 5 Variety of restaurants: 5 TSA: 5 Check in: 5 Baggage claim: 5 I flew into the BWI Airport on Sunday, so I could attend a work-related conference. The airport is a very large and provides flights to domestic and international destinations. Everything from the ticketing, check in, TSA, and baggage claim was very easy and stree free. This airport has plenty of options when it comes to shopping and restaurants. I'm pretty sure that I will fly through the BWI airport in the near future.

Do not park in Daily Parking. While it may appear "close" the shuttle service is awful. Been waiting for over an hour only to have 2 completely full shuttle buses show up (20 minutes apart). Odd they would only have a single shuttle bus operating on a busy Sunday evening. Still hopefully waiting on the third bus (with a big crowd here). I definitely should have just used Uber.

There are several airports you can fly into this region, and Baltimore's main airport is easy to access. The terminals are clean, and the 14 baggage claim areas are simple to locate. Taxis are easy to find as well as ride shares. Getting in and out of BWI was a breeze.

For one this airport is very clean. From the restroom to the restaurants. The staff very friendly too. Really enjoyed my time at this airport. As much as one can enjoy an airport.

Very clean and pretty big airport. Doesn't look so big from the outside but they have a lot of little shops and many places to eat inside.

Very good airport clean and easy layout to get from point A to B. Friendly staff and very knowledgeable of airport areas and policy's. The Baltimore/Washington wall mural is amazing. Definitely an easy stress less airport to navigate trough wen flying. :)

I flew out of BWI to Miami two weeks ago and the experience was great! I moved quickly through security and found my gate easily. I was flying stand by and grabbed a beer across from my gate to keep an eye on it. The TSA agents were helpful and nice to me when I checked in with them about being on standby. The airport is clean and the bathrooms are also clean. FYI you can fill a water bottle with ice (metal works best and keep in the freezer overnight) and you can take it through security as long as it's not melted (just drink the melted part first) And you'll be able to fill it up with a water filling station past security!

Off to the annual gathering with friends from grad school less than 30 hours after I last left the airport. The airport was much quieter this Saturday morning with a very short line that moved quickly at TSA pre-check. Flying out of terminal C this time around. Definitely recommend grabbing food at the food court as this terminal has limited options. It's been amusing to watch confused travelers as it seems most follow the family bathroom signs instead of the men's or women's signs and end up looking bewildered and confused.

Here for a quick layover. Nice that there's a bar just as we exited or plan to the gate area, but drinks a bit on the high side for me. I asked the bartender at R&R Seafood for the cost on their draft Wicked Weed IPA and she said about $14, yikes, I asked about a Jack and coke she said $11.50; I'll wait until I get back on the plane. We didnt see much of the airport here since we are on the move. Overall all the staff here have been pleasant, the food looks good especially the stromboli and pizza, and the restrooms were clean.

This airport is clean and easy to get around. There were NO lines at the TSA checkpoint! Yay! (This is on a Sunday at 8am) very please to see a good flow on the checkpoint and restaurants. Bathrooms are clean and updated. Food selection is pretty good. Highly recommend this airport!

Very clean restrooms - easy to maneuver the massive/wide open concourse and terminal. I saw lots of food and shopping options and felt comfortable in the clean, nicely decorated and very user friendly airport.

When you get through security at d gate and you see the Starbucks right there... just know that this is the only one in the terminal! It is really the only place to get something more then just a mass drip horrible coffee. Security moves fast and there was no issue for me at all. The airport is clean and well maintained. There are other places to get food and other drinks if you don't want coffee... but a good drinkable cup of liquid life... gotta get it right when you come through security.

I came at 7am after getting off a flight I just had at 5 am I already had breakfast so I wanted to have some lunch 2 of the places when I asked about can I have lunch they look at me like wtf and give me attitude when I asked them they said it's 7 am are u crazy I would rather spend $18 on a hamburger than two eggs hashbrowns. Wish they had more chargers for the cell phones. And. One employee was talking very loudly with a ear peace in her ear

We arrived early from our first flight. We needed to go to another gate but st least we could go at a standard pace rather than rushing. It was a very short layover at BWI Thurgood Marshall airport. They has been plenty of makeover at this airport for the better. It is clean and thriving.

We had a short layover at BWI. It was supposed to be short but there were several delays. Our flight crew had some issues getting a plane to this airport. So there were several gates overflowing with people. Most of the seats were taken. We finally found somewhere to sit. So we waited and were relieved when the crew got there. They got cheered on like they had just won a game!! Lol... I didn't really get to see much of the airport as we only went from one gate to the next. It was super crowded, the bathrooms had lines, and it just seemed like a busy time!! But there were several stores and restaurants to choose from while waiting. There were several messages over the intercom, but my confusion is why do they talk at the same time when doing an announcement? I could barely tell what was going on. From what i saw its a decent airport. Check them out!!!

An update to my 2017 review! This airport has apparently been renovated and it's pretty nice now, with tons of food choices. I've now been to all the terminals - I flew in here from Detroit to BWI to Jacksonville on Sunday and I'm currently at BWI waiting for my flight back. I had to walk from the very end of the B terminal to the very end of the C terminal, which was a hike, which is why I'm downgrading this review from 5 to 4 stars. (Also, there still are only a few areas to charge your phone...). The airport has a few sit-down restaurants and a super nice food court between terminals A and B - on Sunday I had Chinese food at a knockoff Panda Express. I had to walk to the end of the B terminal on Sunday to find a sitting area to charge my phone, but apparently the C terminal has charging areas at the seats. Also the bathrooms are FANCY here and among the nicest I've seen. Would fly through here/to here again.

Believe it or not, BWI is one of my favorite airports in the nation. The primary reason, is their amazing selection of food! So many different options to choose from, healthy and unhealthy, fast casual to sit down... you are all set! I've been here numerous times and the only bad experience I had was on my return flight with a rude TSA agent. Other than that, I've thoroughly appreciated my experiences traveling through this mid size airport!

I have flown into this airport a couple of times. They have a nice selection of places to eat. The bathrooms are usually clean too. BWI Thurgood Marshall (named for the Supreme Court Justice) is about 10 miles from downtown Baltimore and 30 miles northeast of Washington, D.C. Both times I have flown here I was in a hurry to catch an Amtrak. I am thankful that they offer a courtesy shuttle that takes you to the train station.

I'd have to say that this airport is unusually clean for an airport. It has one of those small town airport feels to it. Everyone is not jam packed like sardines and it appears as if the whole vibe of the airport is stress free. It is smaller than other airports but that makes getting to your connected flights that much easier here. You don't have to run from gate to gate. Despite being a smaller airport it still has all the restaurants and shopping areas that you could need for those long layovers. Also, I just have to reiterate that its a clean airport and that it has some of the nicer public bathrooms. So that's always a huge plus. Especially if you have to go #2.

This airport has excellent options for parking. However, the terminals are old and need updating. The food choices at BW Airport are poor compared to other airports like San Francisco and Atlanta, which offer much better food choices. I like there's a lot of flight choices at this airport and they are reasonably priced.

This can be a really airport most times. Got through TSA and boarding process in 30 mins.

Very nice and orderly airport. The shuttle to the rental cars is a little different but the navigation through the airport, the staff, and the restaurants and vendors were all very nice. Felt very safe and comfortable which is important if you are about to fly. Hope to visit this airport again soon.

Hello Yelpers!!! Can we please give a standing ovation to the BWI airport restroom taken on the local terminal. It was clean, it smelled nice and it was state of the art. You no longer have to hold your pee after a flight and wait till you get home lmaooo. Your pee is safe and is in good hands I promise. So feel free to pee with ease.

In the Baltimore Washington area, this is the best airport. There's three main terminals (A,B, C) for domestic and D and E for international. It's a major SWA hub for domestic. I read somewhere they test new tsa securities here so even without pre check the lines are pretty quick. If you have A-list you can skip to the front of the line in gate C for regular security. BWI doesn't have enough intentional offerings but it's perfect for connections and nonstop domestic. There's a central food court for A and B gates - a flying dog brewery which is special. BWI also has global entry interview locations. I usually Uber or park at Fast Park. There's also a museum section between the domestic and international gates pre-security about Thurgood Marshall.

Can anyone believe that they are still using TSA in 2024 and implementing full touch pat downs to innocent people just wanting to either enjoy a vacation, go to work, or visit family (etc?). Disgusting! beyond that this airport gets swarmy crowded at odd times. All not dissimilar to most other airports.

(Connecting only) Been a while since i have been through BWI and was pleased with how nice it was. The concourses were nicely laid out, with reasonable food options. the bathrooms were the highlight, being both clean, well organized and a cool notification system for number of stall openings.

Pro: light in bathroom that tell you if it empty, clean interior, food shops. Con none. First time here at BWI and park on a paid off site parking area and was shuttle in. Check in at the counter and then pass through TSA check. Pass some shop on the way to the gate. The interior is modern and bathroom have a lighting signals that tell you if the stall is empty. All in all, a good airport to come to.

I already loved this airport. They have CPR stations for you to practice on. Wide corridors. Lots of restaurant selections that are great! And now, they have finished the A gates upgrade area. And they did it right. The bathrooms have wide stalls so you already wouldn't have to climb over your suitcase. To enhance your experience, there's a cutout for your suitcase to be scooted in to. They have a shelf for your phone and suitcase and another cutout over the toilet. Also the doors clearly are marked green when unlocked and red when occupied. Nothing irritates me more than when an airport does an upgrade, or even opens a new wing and the bathrooms already need renovating. (PHX and CLT).

Ahhhh BWI... the DMV airport I fly out of the most. I couldn't begin to count how many trips I have taken, but I can say that I've never had any major issues. The biggest things would be TSA and the parking lot shuttle. There are certain peak times that vary based on the day of the week (and which security checkpoint you need to take), and the TSA line can get insane -- I've seen the line wrap around like I'm waiting for Kingda Ka at Six Flags NJ. Despite the occasional heavy crowd, I do appreciate how polite the staff are. I've parked in daily / long term a handful of times, and the shuttle timing isn't always accurate... it's been off by at least 5 minutes sometimes, and that gets scary if I'm unintentionally cutting it close! But either way it's never failed to get me to the terminals! There's quite a few restaurants to explore, but I never arrive early enough to just chill -- I'm ready to be up and out haha. In my experience, BWI tends to be cheaper than DCA -- it varies with Dulles. Great airport!

I was flying out of this airport domestically, and then internationally. BWI airport was small and clean. It wasn't busy while I was there (Sunday, mid-afternoon) and that made for a better experience. I took a star off only because I was disappointed they didn't have any water bottle refill stations.

TSA getting worse about policy and procedure resulting in longer lines and waiting around. Avg over an hour to get through security if greater than 20 people in line. Gate B is TSA pre now and pushing everyone else through C, even if you have clear.

Not a bad airport to navigate, and if you have a longer layover, lots of restaurants and shopping. Bathrooms are clean (always a plus while traveling). Lots of walkways for getting around. Cannot speak to security because this was only a layover during my trip. Apparently for very many, cause it was crowded and flights were booked.