2 VA Airports Among Best In U.S., New Report Says

DULLES, VA — Two of the nation's top-notch airports call Virginia home, according to a new ranking from the Washington Post, which lists the best 50 airports in the U.S.

The national news outlet released its analysis Thursday, saying Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was ranked No. 3 overall and Washington Dulles International Airport is 17th overall in the country.

The only two airports to rank better than Reagan National are Portland International Airport in Oregon at No. 1 and Long Beach Airport in California at No. 2.

While Washington Dulles International did not crack the top 10, the major Virginia airport bested those like it in San Francisco, Kansas City and Pittsburgh.

Nearby Baltimore-Washington International Airport in Maryland ranked No. 19 on the list.

The number of people traveling by air is also projected to set a new record for the Fourth of July. AAA Maryland experts predict 5.84 million travelers will fly to their destinations; that’s 8% of all Independence Day travelers. This year’s projection is a 1.4% increase over the previous record set last Independence Day week of 5.76 million air travelers.

According to AAA data, which is based on what travelers paid when they booked their July 4th trips, a roundtrip domestic flight is averaging $810, 4% more expensive than last year. When booking last-minute flights for summer trips, consider flying on weekdays like Tuesdays or Wednesdays for the best deals.

To determine the standings, the Washington Post considered reader responses and data that focused on what people value at airports, according to the report.

Analysts filtered through at least 450 airports that all served 1,000-plus passengers in 2024. Once the list was slimmed down to 50, gate capacity, Yelp reviews and parking were among the factors examined.

The Washington Post also took into account the fact that travelers most preferred airports that were "easy to get to (and through) above all else," according to the report.

Washington Dulles International serves about 22 million passengers annually, according to its website. The airport touts 113 airline gates and has enough parking for at least 24,000 vehicles.

The Washington Post's survey was released just in time for the 4th of July busy season as travelers prepare to fly across the sky to celebrate Independence Day with others.

The Washington Post's top 10 airports in the U.S. were:

1. Portland International Airport
2. Long Beach Airport
3. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
4. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
5. Seattle Paine Field International Airport
6. Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport
7. Albuquerque International Sunport
8. Indianapolis International Airport
9. Salt Lake City International Airport
10. Detroit Metro Airport

See the full list via the Washington Post.

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