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Airport information

Pickup and drop-off at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Washington, United StatesIATA: DCAICAO: KDCA

Where you can drop someone off, pick someone up, wait or meet at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, according to the official sources. Each spot lists only the verified actions; anything missing is unknown.

Picking someone up

Picking someone up

Where someone can get in, where you can wait or meet inside, and when short-stay parking is needed.

Kiss & Fly Passenger Drop Off

Kiss & Ride
Where
Kiss & Fly Passenger Drop Off: marked pull-off area between the Parking Garages and the Metro station

WaitingNot permittedVehicles may not wait in this area; use the Parking Garages instead (free up to 60 minutes, a promotion in effect for a limited time).

Pick-up at the curb

Kiss & Ride
Where
Pick-up curbs: outside curb at Terminal 1 and at Terminal 2 (Baggage Claim Level) (right by the terminal)

Picking upPermittedDrivers and passengers should agree on a specific meeting location outside the Terminal. Terminal 1: pick-up is at ground level; cars may pull up anywhere along the terminal's outer traffic lane in the circle, although the airport recommends pulling down to the far north end, as the curb at the entrance is often congested. Terminal 2: pick up on the Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level; consider picking up your party on the Departures Level (level 3) during busy times. Construction may limit available curb space. Use designated crosswalks to reach the curb.

WaitingNot permittedAll vehicles stopped at the curb must be actively loading or unloading passengers. Consider parking in Parking 1 or 2 until your passenger arrives and contacts you for pick-up.

Terminal Garages (Parking 1 and 2)

Park and come inside
Where
Parking 1 (near Terminal 1) · Parking 2 (near Terminal 2)

Picking upPermittedFree within 60 minutes; if you stay longer, you are charged from the time you entered.The Terminal Garages are also the most convenient option for picking up passengers. Follow signs directly to the parking garage that matches the terminal serving your airline: Parking 1 for Terminal 1 (Air Canada, Frontier, Southwest), Parking 2 for Terminal 2 (American, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, United).

WaitingPermittedFree within 60 minutes; if you stay longer, you are charged from the time you entered.With the Cell Phone Lot closed during construction, the Terminal Garages offer a grace period of up to 60 minutes as a place to wait: pull a ticket at the garage entrance, proceed to a parking space and wait for your traveler. To exit, insert your ticket at any open express exit lane within 60 minutes for complimentary parking. For stays longer than 60 minutes, regular parking fees apply, and there is no first-hour discount. The promotion is in effect for a limited time.

MeetingPermittedFree within 60 minutes; if you stay longer, you are charged from the time you entered.If you prefer, lock your car and meet inside the terminal at security or baggage claim; the suggested meeting location is Baggage Claim. From Parking 1, take the elevator down to ground level and follow the underground walkway to Terminal 1. From Parking 2 South or North, take the covered walkway from Level 2 of the garage to Terminal 2, then the escalator or elevator down one level to baggage claim.

Dropping someone off

Dropping someone off

Where someone can get out quickly, and where you park if you want to come inside.

Kiss & Fly Passenger Drop Off

Kiss & Ride
Where
Kiss & Fly Passenger Drop Off: marked pull-off area between the Parking Garages and the Metro station

Dropping offPermittedKiss & Fly drop-off provides a quick route for customers flying on Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue and United who have only carry-on luggage and their boarding pass, with easy access to the North and South Security Checkpoints. Follow purple signs to "Kiss & Fly Passenger Drop Off," which leads to a marked pull-off area between the Parking Garages and the Metro station.

WaitingNot permittedVehicles may not wait in this area; use the Parking Garages instead (free up to 60 minutes, a promotion in effect for a limited time).

Pick-up at the curb

Kiss & Ride
Where
Pick-up curbs: outside curb at Terminal 1 and at Terminal 2 (Baggage Claim Level) (right by the terminal)

WaitingNot permittedAll vehicles stopped at the curb must be actively loading or unloading passengers. Consider parking in Parking 1 or 2 until your passenger arrives and contacts you for pick-up.

Terminal Garages (Parking 1 and 2)

Park and come inside
Where
Parking 1 (near Terminal 1) · Parking 2 (near Terminal 2)

Dropping offPermittedFree within 60 minutes; if you stay longer, you are charged from the time you entered.The Terminal Garages, both with free grace periods of 60 minutes (a promotion in effect for a limited time), are the most convenient parking option for picking up and dropping off passengers, and the preferred alternative to avoid traffic congestion or delays due to construction near Terminal 2. All garages have easy indoor connections to the terminals.

WaitingPermittedFree within 60 minutes; if you stay longer, you are charged from the time you entered.With the Cell Phone Lot closed during construction, the Terminal Garages offer a grace period of up to 60 minutes as a place to wait: pull a ticket at the garage entrance, proceed to a parking space and wait for your traveler. To exit, insert your ticket at any open express exit lane within 60 minutes for complimentary parking. For stays longer than 60 minutes, regular parking fees apply, and there is no first-hour discount. The promotion is in effect for a limited time.

This is a selection of verified information. Check the official sources for additional and current conditions.

More at this airport

Current conditions

Rates and current rules

Rates and temporary rules change; the airport publishes them itself. We deliberately do not copy them.

Go to the official page of Ronald Reagan Washington National AirportOfficial external website
SourcesWhere this comes fromChecked on the airport's official website on October 5, 2026.