Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Terminal 1 Map (Most Up-To-Date)
Terminal 1 at DCA is the compact “Banjo” rotunda: a short, curved airside loop (Gates A1–A9) fed by a single, cramped landside lobby. Everything compresses into a few choke points—security exit doors, baggage claim belts, and the three-curb roadway. Terminal 1 sits at the south end of the Washington National hub, connected to Terminal 2 only by a landside indoor corridor through the Historic Lobby.
Map Table
| Zone | Connection | Walk Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ticketing lobby (T1) | Historic Lobby indoor corridor → Terminal 2 National Hall | 5–7 min |
| Metro (DCA station) | Pedestrian bridge → Terminal 2 National Hall → Historic Lobby → T1 lobby | 10–15 min |
| Security checkpoint (T1) | Rotunda hub → Gates A1–A9 | 1–3 min |
| Arrivals exit doors (T1) | Security egress “door lanes” → baggage claim | 5–10 sec delay |
| Baggage claim (T1) | Carousels 1–2 (sometimes 3) → outer curb rideshare | 2–4 min |
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Terminal 1 Map Strategy
- Stay landside for Terminal 1 ↔ Terminal 2 moves via the Historic Lobby corridor; do not enter TSA unless you’re committed to that terminal’s gates.
- Expect the timed exit “door lanes” right next to the Terminal 1 security checkpoint; keep moving through the vestibule so you don’t get trapped in a pulse queue.
- Budget Metro-to-TSA as a full indoor traverse through Terminal 2 National Hall to the Historic Lobby, then into Terminal 1; time certainty beats the shuttle loop.
- Make rideshare foolproof: exit baggage claim near the first doors, cross to the third curb (outer curb), and message the driver “Terminal 1 loop, keep left for outer curb pickup.”
2025 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Terminal 1 Map + Printable PDF
Terminal 1 continues to operate as DCA’s legacy, high-density “Banjo” for carriers like Southwest, with the same single-rotunda airside footprint and landside constraints. The critical map reality in 2026 is unchanged: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are not connected post-security, and arrivals still funnel through the timed egress doors into a tight baggage hall—so your printable map should emphasize chokepoints, the Historic Lobby connector, and the correct curb for rideshare.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Terminal 1 Level 2 Map 2025
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Terminal 1 Level 2 Checkpoint and Baggage Claim Map 2025
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Terminal 1 Level 2 Gates Map 2025
2026 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Terminal 1 Map Guide
What is the exact landside walking route from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 that avoids entering the secure area?
The landside indoor route runs through the Historic Lobby connector, staying entirely on the public side so you never enter TSA. Start in Terminal 1’s ticketing lobby (Southwest/Frontier counters), then walk away from the rotunda/gates toward the north end of the lobby until you reach the corridor that looks like an administrative hallway with art exhibits.
Continue straight past the Lost and Found area (landmark along the connector corridor), then enter the Historic Lobby (restored 1941 hall with high ceilings and big windows). Keep walking straight as the flooring transitions from terrazzo to modern tile, and you’ll emerge into Terminal 2 National Hall near the south end by Dunkin’ and the information desk area. Walking time is typically about 5–7 minutes from Terminal 1 ticketing to Terminal 2 National Hall.
Where is the one-way door / connector entrance from the Terminal 2 public side that leads toward the Terminal 1 pedestrian walkway?
The connector entrance is at the far south end of Terminal 2’s National Hall on the public (ticketing) side, adjacent to Dunkin’ and the nearby information desk zone. Walking south through National Hall past the United/Delta ticket counters brings you to the narrowing corridor that feeds into the Historic Lobby.
From that south-end cluster, follow signage for Terminal 1 / Historic Lobby and enter the tighter hallway beside the concessions/desk area. Staying straight through this corridor delivers you into the Historic Lobby first, then directly into the Terminal 1 ticketing lobby. Use Dunkin’ as the “you’re here” anchor—if you can see it, you’re within steps of the connector entrance.
What is the exact walking distance (or minutes) from the DCA Metro station entrance to the Terminal 1 security checkpoint?
The walk takes about 10–15 minutes and covers roughly 0.4 miles (about 650 meters) from the DCA Metro station into Terminal 1’s TSA checkpoint. This timing is most consistent when you stay indoors and use the Terminal 2 National Hall + Historic Lobby connector instead of waiting for the shuttle.
Exit the Metro platform and follow the pedestrian bridge into Terminal 2 National Hall (ticketing level). Turn right (south) and walk the full length of National Hall toward the Dunkin’ area at the far south end, then enter the corridor signed for Terminal 1 / Historic Lobby. Continue straight through the Historic Lobby into the Terminal 1 ticketing lobby; Terminal 1 security is at the far end past the counters.
Where are the timed exit-gates / “door lanes” located relative to Terminal 1 arrivals, and what alternate exit path (if any) bypasses them?
There is no alternate public exit path that bypasses the timed exit-gates in Terminal 1 arrivals. The “door lanes” sit immediately at the security egress point from Gates A1–A9, where the secure-side corridor dumps into the landside baggage claim hall.
After you deplane, follow “Baggage Claim/Exit” toward the single Terminal 1 security checkpoint area; the timed doors are the glass, sensor-controlled vestibule right beside that checkpoint, before you reach the carousels. Expect a 5–10 second delay between the first and second door, which creates a pulse queue. Once you pass through into baggage claim, you cannot cut around them—any re-entry requires going back through TSA.
Which baggage claim carousel numbers serve Southwest/Terminal 1, and where are they positioned relative to the main arrivals exit?
Southwest bags in Terminal 1 typically come out on Carousel 1 and Carousel 2. Those two belts sit immediately to your left as soon as you clear the timed exit “door lanes” from the gate corridor into the Terminal 1 baggage claim room.
After the sensor-door vestibule opens into baggage claim, angle left and you’ll see the low-number carousels running parallel to the curbside roadway. The main public exits to ground transportation are on the opposite side of the room from the timed doors, so the quickest flow is: timed doors → Carousel 1/2 (left side) → nearest exit doors toward the outer curb rideshare crossing. Occasionally Carousel 3 is used, but Southwest is primarily 1–2.
Where is the airline baggage service office (lost/delayed bags) in Terminal 1, and what is the shortest route from the carousels to it?
The Terminal 1 baggage service office area sits inside the baggage claim hall along the back wall on the ticketing-lobby side, typically near the oversized baggage door. From Carousels 1–2, the shortest route is to stay inside the room and walk away from the curbside exits, aiming toward the wall that separates baggage claim from the ticket counters.
Stand at Carousel 1 or 2 and look across the baggage hall toward the interior wall (not the glass doors to the curb). Walk straight to that back wall; the airline service counters/offices are positioned there to handle carousel issues without you exiting the building. Use the “Oversized Baggage” doorway as the anchor—if you’re near that door, you’re in the right service-office zone.
Which exact exit door from Terminal 1 baggage claim is closest to the rideshare pickup point?
Door 1 or Door 2 is the closest exit from Terminal 1 baggage claim for rideshare because it lines you up with the shortest straight shot to the third curb (outer curb) pickup zone. These are the first exits you reach near the main baggage claim flow, before you drift toward the Historic Lobby end of the building.
After collecting bags at Carousel 1 or 2, head toward the nearest glass doors marked for ground transportation and use Door 1 or Door 2. Once outside, continue straight across the first and second curbs to reach Curb 3, where the “App Ride”/green-flag signage is posted. Avoid walking down toward Door 5 unless you intentionally want the Historic Lobby/Terminal 2 connector side.
What is the precise vehicle approach path to Terminal 1 rideshare pickup (the specific turn/loop entry) that minimizes “miss-the-turn” errors?
The safest approach is the early split signed “Terminal 1 / Garage A,” then staying left into the Terminal 1 loop for outer curb (Curb 3) rideshare pickup. Missing that split typically forces a full recirculation of the airport roads, so the goal is committing to the Terminal 1/Garage A branch immediately.
| Segment | Visual cue | Driver action |
|---|---|---|
| Airport entry | Overhead direction boards | Select the branch for Terminal 1 / Garage A, not Terminal 2 Arrivals |
| Split point | “Terminal 1 / Garage A” appears early | Move left early; do not stay in the main through-lanes |
| Terminal 1 loop | Tighter-radius loop vs main road | Enter the Terminal 1 loop; keep left to avoid inner taxi/shuttle lanes |
| Pickup curb | “App Ride” / green-flag area | Stop at Curb 3 (outer curb), not the first curb by the doors |
Where are the water bottle filling stations in Terminal 1 post-security, and which one is closest to Gate A1?
The main post-security water bottle filling station is in the central rotunda amenities cluster just past the Terminal 1 security exit, adjacent to the primary restrooms near Page and the District Bar area. That central hub unit is also the closest option to Gate A1 because A1 sits at the start of the rotunda curve and you pass the hub immediately after clearing TSA.
From the security exit, walk straight into the rotunda and aim for the restroom entrance area beside Page; the bottle filler is positioned with the restroom/hydration node rather than out at the gate spokes. Gate-side fillers at the far ends are minimal to non-existent in Terminal 1, so the reliable move is filling up in the center before you settle at A1 or push farther toward A9.
Where are the nearest restrooms post-security for Gate A9, and what is the shortest walking route to reach them?
The nearest post-security restrooms for Gate A9 are in the central rotunda hub near the security checkpoint exit, not at the A9 pier. The walk is short in distance but often slow in practice because the curved corridor crowds up during boarding.
From Gate A9, turn back along the main rotunda corridor toward the center of Terminal 1, following the interior wall as you leave the far end of the curve. Continue until you reach the central concessions cluster anchored by Page and the District Bar; the primary restrooms are on the interior/right-side zone just before you hit the security exit area. There are no restrooms at the tip of the A9 spoke, so plan a return-to-center bathroom run.
Where are the largest seating clusters in Terminal 1 post-security, and which are closest to a power/charging location?
The largest practical seating clusters are in the central rotunda hold areas around the main concessions, where seating banks from multiple gate spokes overlap. Power is most dependable in the same central zone, concentrated around Page and the District Bar counters rather than at the far gate ends.
- Central rotunda seating near Page and District Bar, shared overflow for A1–A9
- Gate hold seating at each gate podium, highest density near A1–A5
- Page seating/bar area, most reliable outlet access with purchase
- District Bar counter area, consistent charging/outlet availability
- Intermittent “Power Up”/charging towers between gate holds, often fully occupied
Where is Page bar (and the other primary food kiosks) located in Terminal 1 post-security, and what is the shortest path from security exit to reach it?
Page is centrally located in Terminal 1’s post-security rotunda, positioned in the main concessions cluster immediately after you exit the security checkpoint. The shortest path is essentially a straight shot: you clear TSA, step into the rotunda, and Page is directly ahead in the center hub area, near the restrooms and the District Bar zone.
From the security exit lanes, keep walking forward into the open rotunda space rather than turning along the gate curve. Use the concessions “island” as your landmark: Page sits on that central island and is visible from the checkpoint exit. This hub is also where most food options and kiosks concentrate, so once you reach Page, you’re within steps of the other primary grab-and-go counters.
What is the exact walking distance from Terminal 1 security exit to the farthest Terminal 1 gate, using the main corridor?
The walk from the Terminal 1 security exit to the farthest gate (typically Gate A9) is about 300–500 feet and usually takes 1–3 minutes. The distance is short because the “Banjo” rotunda is compact, but congestion along the narrow curved corridor can make it feel longer during boarding pulses.
From the security exit, step into the rotunda and follow the main curved corridor along the gate arc, staying on the primary passenger flow line past the central concessions cluster. Continue around the curve until you reach the end-of-arc gate podium area for A9. The key timing variable isn’t distance—it’s the choke created by boarding lines protruding into the corridor at the mid-curve gates.
What is the best mapped meeting point on the public side for a Terminal 1 traveler and Terminal 2 traveler, minimizing backtracking and choke points?
The Historic Lobby is the best public-side meeting point because it sits directly on the indoor connector between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 and stays clear of baggage-claim crowds and curb chaos. It also prevents accidental TSA entry, which can force re-screening.
From Terminal 1, walk away from the Banjo rotunda toward the north end of the ticketing lobby and enter the corridor with the art exhibits; it opens into the Historic Lobby. From Terminal 2, walk to the far south end of National Hall to the Dunkin’/information-desk area and enter the narrower corridor signed toward Terminal 1/Historic Lobby. Meet inside the Historic Lobby hall itself, not at the corridor mouths, so neither traveler blocks the flow.
