Getting to Baltimore-Washington International Airport

Okay, so first things first.  It's not that easy to get to BWI on the cheap - it's going take two train rides and a bus trip just to get to the airport's rail station, and then you still need to take a shuttle to get to the airport itself.  That said however, all this trouble can be worth your while when you consider the great fares you can often find from BWI.  Much of this has to do with the "Southwest Effect" - i.e., the presence of Southwest Airlines, a discount carrier whose cheaper tickets force down prices across the airport.  Thus, be sure to weigh the relevant fare savings against the extra trouble incurred, when making travel plans.

The cheap but complex way of getting to BWI, as will be outlined below, costs around $25 one-way (including all costs between Swarthmore and the airport) and will take about 3 to 3-1/2 hours, depending on connections.  An easier and faster way is take Amtrak from 30th Street Station directly to the BWI station.  This method is about $50 one-way and takes roughly half the time.

While you might save enough in fares to cover the higher cost of Amtrak, chances are that you're looking at this page because you want the cheapest-possible transportation.  And thus, without further adieu, the most economical way to get to BWI, short of hitchhiking:

1) Take SEPTA to Market East Station in Center City. (Time: ~35 minutes, Cost: $4-5)

 2) Exit the station onto Filbert St. and walk across the street to the Greyhound depot.

3) Take Greyhound to the Downtown Baltimore depot.  There are a limited number of trips each day, so choose your time carefully.  (Time: 2 hours, Cost: $20)

4) Walk from the depot to the Lexington Market Light Rail station, just two blocks away.

5) Take the MTA Light Rail south to the BWI Aiport station.  Make sure that your train is actually going to BWI, since only every other train makes a stop there.  (Time: 30 minutes, Cost: $1.35)

6) Take a shuttle to BWI (they run every 10 minutes), and you're there!

Have a great trip!