As if getting to Dulles wasn’t already enough of a headache, which will set you back well over $50 if you take a rideshare or grab a cab before you even account for the flight itself, we now know that IAD has the most expensive domestic travel costs in the nation!
First reported by Axios, the data from the Bureau of Transportation collected in Q3 of last year displayed prominently that IAD had the highest average domestic ticket price by nearly $50 compared to the next most expensive airport.
Dulles ranked the most expensive airport in the nation for domestic travel
The most recent data collected from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics breaks down the average cost of domestic travel, which noted that the national average price for domestic travel was $366.
Considering that, the average cost for domestic flights out of Dulles was $473, which is $107 more than the national average!
When you factor in paying for a ride to the airport, it could easily add another $75 to your trip before you even arrive.
Add again the same cost for a drive home from Dulles after your return, and the total cost on average for the trip is already well over $600!
If you are stuck traveling out of Dulles but want to keep the costs as low as possible, we highly recommend you take the Silver Line, which will take around an hour from downtown but could save you quite a bit of spending money.
How to get cheap domestic flights to or from Washington, D.C.
Unlike the remarkably high cost for flights out of Dulles, you may be surprised to hear that the average price for domestic flights from Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) are less expensive than the national average!
On average, domestic flights from Reagan will only cost $359, which is $7 less than the national average.
Considering how much closer Reagan is to the District, it’s also not surprising that cabs or rideshares to the airport are much cheaper compared to Dulles – a cab from downtown to Reagan could be as little as $25, including tip.
If you’re still trying to save on spending and want to avoid a cab or just want to be a little more environmentally friendly, there is a public transit option from downtown that will only take around 30 minutes to get you to Reagan.
What are the other most expensive airports in the nation for domestic travel?
The top six most expensive (on average) airports in the nation, including Dulles, for domestic flights are as follows:
- Dulles – $473
- John Wayne Airport (Santa Ana, California) – $428
- San Francisco International Airport – $425
- Salt Lake City International Airport – $411
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport – $404
- Newark Liberty International Airport – $403
What were the least expensive airports in the nation for domestic travel?
The top six least expensive (on average) airports in the nation for domestic flights are as follows:
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport – $252
- Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (Puerto Rico) – $266
- Orlando International Airport – $270
- Harry Reid International Airport (Las Vegas) – $275
- Chicago Midway International Airport – $292
- LaGuardia Airport (New York City) – $303