Please allow additional time if using shuttles to travel between the terminal, parking lots and rail station as shuttle delays are possible. Travelers should plan to arrive at the terminal 2 hours before scheduled domestic departure.

HomeAt BWI Holiday Travel Guide

Holiday Travel Guide

Graphic including a photo of a  decorated tree at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport with text of Holiday Travel Guide and Tips to make the most of your travel this holiday season.

We expect BWI Marshall Airport to be busy this holiday season, but we want you to enjoy your airport visit.

Arrive early and be patient. You should arrive 2 hours early if heading to a domestic destination and 3 hours early for international travel. Arriving early allows yourself plenty of time for parking, a stop at the airline counter, clearing security checkpoints and anything else you may need to take care of prior to boarding your plane.

Parking availability is posted at BWIairport.com and on roadway signage. In the event that all of our facilities are at capacity, drivers will be directed to the BWI Marshall Airport Rail Station Garage at 5 Amtrak Way.

If you need wheelchair assistance while traveling, please arrange this with your airline before your day of travel. Wheelchair arrangements should preferably be made at time of booking.

To contact our Customer Experience team, call 410-859-7683 or email [email protected]. Lost and Found information is available here.

To help alleviate potential traffic congestion on the Arrivals/Lower Level roadway, drivers should consider using the Departures/Upper Level roadway for both passenger drop-off and pickup.

Our Cell Phone Lot is a safe and convenient location for drivers to wait for an arriving passenger. Click here for directions to the lot, off I-195 next to our Daily Garage. To minimize curbside wait times, arriving passengers are encouraged to contact their driver only once they are ready to leave the terminal.

Thank you for including BWI Marshall Airport in your holiday travel.

Parking and Transit

Exterior photo of the BWI Marshall Airport Daily Garage

BWI Marshall Airport parking lots and garage are home to nearly 25,000 parking spaces.

To see real-time parking availability for all airport parking facilities, click here.

Dine and Shop

Photograph with long exposure blur showing passengers walking by restaurants at the A/B Food Court inside BWI Marshall Airport

There are so many restaurants and retail shops to visit while you wait for a flight.

Click here to check airport dining and shopping options.

Security Information

Photo of passengers in a security checkpoint queue at BWI Marshall Airport.

TSA operates security checkpoints at BWI Marshall Airport. For info on permissible items, visit TSA.gov.

For other airport security info, click here.

Connect With Us

Photo with a blurred effect showing passengers walking through the main terminal area at BWI Marshall Airport with a graphical overlay prompting viewers to follow the airport on Facebook, X, Threads and Instagram.

Follow our FacebookInstagram / ThreadsX accounts for travel info or to ask travel questions.

Tag us and include #HolidaysAtBWI in your social media posts.

Terminal Information

Photo of a wreath with holidays displayed near the top of the end on a terminal roadway canopy at BWI Marshall Airport with a departing Southwest Airlines aircraft in the background.

For assistance in navigating the airport, click here to visit our wayfinding page.

Do not stop on area roadways to wait for passengers. Please wait in our safe and convenient Cell Phone Lot until your loved one is ready to exit the terminal.

Other Helpful Tips

Photo of the top half of a decorated tree and a replica plane overhead the International Arrivals area at BWI Marshall Airport

Our busiest travel period each day is in the morning. Arrive early and be patient.

For questions on flight status and baggage information, please contact your airline.