When I have done this I have slept abysmally and woken up every hour through the night in the hotel worried about oversleeping. Then there is the stress of waiting for the hotel airport shuttles, which rarely run as often as scheduled. The poster who suggests driving up in the morning has a point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will cost you more time. Just drive up in the morning. It's not that far. It's not even in Baltimore.

Agree. What does a hotel save you, an hour of time? Nothing wrong with getting a hotel the night before a flight, but I prefer my own bed.

I’m not eager to drive on 95 at 4 in the morning … not a time to bleary eyed

Then take 295 😉. Just kidding. Each their own. If you are an hour or less from the airport, hotel to me makes no sense. I would rather drive Beaty eyed, but that’s just me.

Anonymous wrote:Don't do it. I've tried this method and driving in the morning is a better plan. Those hotels near BWI are terrible.

+1
There’s no traffic that early so by the time you factor in checking out of the hotel, getting out of the hotel, etc, you’ve probably saved 40 minutes and had a mediocre hotel stay.

Anonymous wrote:It will cost you more time. Just drive up in the morning. It's not that far. It's not even in Baltimore.

What does this mean - it will cost time?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will cost you more time. Just drive up in the morning. It's not that far. It's not even in Baltimore.

Agree. What does a hotel save you, an hour of time? Nothing wrong with getting a hotel the night before a flight, but I prefer my own bed.

I’m not eager to drive on 95 at 4 in the morning … not a time to bleary eyed

Anonymous wrote:It will cost you more time. Just drive up in the morning. It's not that far. It's not even in Baltimore.

Agree. What does a hotel save you, an hour of time? Nothing wrong with getting a hotel the night before a flight, but I prefer my own bed.

We've done it and it works fine, just make sure you understand their rules/rates related to parking. I'm not super picky on hotels so I just go with the cheapest rate.

We've also driven up early and park at the offsite Parking Spot. It seems to work quicker than dealing with the long term lots.

It will cost you more time. Just drive up in the morning. It's not that far. It's not even in Baltimore.

Anonymous wrote:Don't do it. I've tried this method and driving in the morning is a better plan. Those hotels near BWI are terrible.

The hotels near BWI are just typical airport hotels. I don’t think they’re “terrible.” I assume OP is just looking for a night to lay their head before an early flight, and doesn’t need anything fancy.

Westin. You can park there. Long term and daily parking suck at BWI. If you don't park at hotel, use hourly garage connected directly to terminal (25-30/day).

Anonymous wrote:Don't do it. I've tried this method and driving in the morning is a better plan. Those hotels near BWI are terrible.

What did you try? And why was it terrible?

Don't do it. I've tried this method and driving in the morning is a better plan. Those hotels near BWI are terrible.

It’s a smidge further but I like the hotel and Arundel preserve, and it’s near the mall which has some good food options including Yard House. (There’s also the guiness brewery near the airport but it’s only open some nights and there’s a famous crab cake place.).
If you want to leave your car there, you’ll need to specifically look for hotels with fly and stay packages.

Look for park sleep fly packages, many hotels near the airport do it.

We’re catching a 6:15am flight from bwi and want to stay overnight there instead of driving from dc morning of. Probably have dinner up there too.

Recommendations on hotels and decent restaurants?

Also - I’ll probably drive up to BWi - do I park at BWI long term? Or can I stay parked at the hotel parking lot?