Baltimore-Washington Int'l Airport Spotting Guide

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Baltimore-Washington Int’l Airport Spotting Guide

Published by Ruoyang at June 10, 2019 - last modified on September 15, 2022

Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI/KBWI) is the international airport serving the city of Baltimore and Washington DC metropolitan area in the East Coast of the United States. It is located 9 miles south of Baltimore and 30 miles northeast of Washington DC. It is the biggest airport in the state of Maryland, with an annual passenger turnover of 27 million (as of 2018). The airport is named after Thurgood Marshall, a Baltimore native who became the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States.

The passenger air service operators in BWI include Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, Avelo. BWI is one of the major hubs for Southwest Airlines, which contributes 67% of airline market shares here. The second biggest carrier at BWI is Spirit Airlines, with a 9.5% market share, followed by Delta Airlines at 7.3%. There are air routes connecting Baltimore to most of the major cities in the United States, as well as Toronto and Montreal in Canada. British Airways, PLAY and Condor operating flights to the European continent. Air Senegal offers two weekly flights to Dakar via JFK.

BWI is also a significant cargo turnover station in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The cargo terminal is served by FedEx, UPS, DHL, Atlas Air, ABX Air, and Amazon Air. Its air cargo ramp provides parking for 17 aircraft with direct nose-in access for 8 freighters.

Guide written by Ruoyao Wang and Thomas Okaty. Last Update: August 2022 (Spots 7 and 8 added, Spot 5 updated)

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
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Airport Information
Runways
10/28	3.201m (10.503ft) Asphalt
15L/33R	1.524m (5.000ft) Asphalt
15R/33L	2.896m (9.501ft) Asphalt
Terminals
Concourse A and B	Southwest
Concourse B	Southwest and American
Concourse C	Air Canada Express, Alaska, Allegiant, Contour, Delta, United, and Jetblue
Concourse D	British Airways and Condor
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not needed.
Car/Public Transport	Recommend. Spot 4, which is located inside the terminal, can be accessed easily. All other locations can be accessed by bus transportation but not tested.
Restrooms	All locations except Spot 3 have restrooms nearby.
Drinks/Food	Spot 2 and 4 have shops nearby.
Hotels	There are multiple hotels near Baltimore Airport. Most of them provide shuttle bus services to the airport terminal.
Season	Aircraft spotting is an all-year-round activity at BWI and there is no special season.
Runway Usage
General Info	All depends on the wind direction and both major runways are always in use, whilst one is used for departures, and the other one for the arrivals. Some cargo and biz flights may differ from that routine.
10/28	When 15R/33L is in use for arrivals, this one will be used for departures. When 15R/33L is in use for departures, this one will be used for arrivals.
15L/33R	Used only by small propeller aircraft and some biz jets due to length limitation and the proximity to the GAT.
15R/33L	When 10/28 is in use for arrivals, this one will be used for departures. When 10/28 is in use for departures, this one will be used for arrivals.

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	Spot #1 – Thomas A. Dixon Jr Aircraft Observation Area – 33L Arrivals
WHERE	The address of this location is 1911 Dorsey Rd, Glen Burnie, MD. If you are driving towards this location from the south on the Interstate 97, exit the highway at exit 15, then follow the Dorsey Rd west. Thomas A. Dixon Jr Aircraft Observation Area is on the south side of the road. Park your car at the parking lot. If you are on foot or bike, this location can also be accessed through BWI trail.

WHAT	This location is good for spotting Runway 33L arrivals. It is one of two official spotting locations in BWI. When winds are from North, West, and Southwest, Runway 33L is the preferred runway for arriving traffic. All the arriving traffic except the small propeller aircraft uses this runway. From here you can spot all the passenger jets and the cargo jets.

TIME	From late noon to sunset all year round.

MISC.	There are portable restrooms and a playground inside the park. This park can also access the BWI trail for recreational activities like hiking and biking.

FOCAL LENGTH	60mm for Boeing 767 and 787, 100mm for narrow-body jets and business jets.

	Spot #2 – Royal Farm gas station – 28 Arrivals
WHERE	The address of this location is 5994+X6 Glen Burnie, Maryland. From southbound Interstate 97, exit the highway at exit 15. The gas station is right off the highway exist. From northbound Interstate 97, exit the highway at exit 15. Then you can turn right from Dorsey Rd onto Aviation Blvd. The gas station is on your right-hand side. Park your car at the gas station.

WHAT	Runway 28 arrivals can be spotted here. This runway is not commonly in use.

TIME	This location is good for the entire day. However, in the summer months it is backlit during sunrise and sunset.

MISC.	Food and restroom are available inside the gas station.

FOCAL LENGTH	80mm for Boeing 767 and 787, 120mm for narrow-body jets and business jets.

	Spot #3 – Charnwood Road – 10 Arrivals
WHERE	This location is at Charwood Rd. To access this point please make a right turn from Dorsey Rd onto Candlewood Rd. Then continue north onto Charwood Rd. Park your car by the side of the road. The aircrafts lands on the North.

WHAT	At this location, the arrival traffic to Runway 10 can be spotted. When the wind is from East or South, Runway 10 is the preferred runway for arriving traffic. All the arriving traffic uses this runway.

TIME	This location is good for the entire day. However, in the summer months it is backlit during sunrise and sunset.

MISC.	No restrooms or shops at this location.

FOCAL LENGTH	100mm for Boeing 767 and 787, 140mm for narrow-body jets and business jets.

	Spot #4 – Airport Observation Gallery – Taxiway
WHERE	The Observation Gallery is inside the airport terminal, adjacent to the B/C security checkpoint on the upper level. You do not need to go through the security to go to this location.

WHAT	The Observation Gallery is an official spotting location in BWI. It overlooks the concourse B and concourse C. It is a public area with multiple aviation exhibits, including the cockpit section of a 737 and a horizontal stabilizer in Southwest’s “Maryland 1” scheme. The taxiing aircraft and aircraft at the terminal can be spotted. The movements on Runway 10/28 and 15R/33L can also be seen in the distance. The Observation Gallery is a relaxing place to visit while transferring flight. However, the photographing situation is far from ideal. The windows of the Observation Gallery are tinted and photos here are backlit all day.

TIME	The Observation Gallery faces south, hence it is backlit all day.

MISC.	Restaurants, shops, and restrooms are inside the terminal.

FOCAL LENGTH	50 – 300mm

	Spot #5 – Arundel Golf Park Parking Lot – 33L Arrivals
WHERE	This spot is located in the parking lot of the Arundel Golf Park. Alternatively, you can also position yourself on the grassy area adjacent to the parking lot, but approaching planes become visible late as some trees block the view. Once the golf park has opened (9AM), you can use the upper level of the driving-range, from where you have a fantastic sight of the approach without disturbing trees. It is free of charge and plane spotting is tolerated by the owners so please behave properly! The address is 1501 Dorsey Rd, Glen Burnie, MD 21061, USA If the parking lot is full, then just park your car in the gravel parking lot right next to the main road (Dorsey Rd) and walk up to the Golf Park.

WHAT	Morning arrivals on runway 33L. There are some light poles which force proper timing of shots.

TIME	From sunrise until late morning. When getting backlit, then just move over to spot #1.

MISC.	No food and drinks. Restrooms are available inside the Golf Park facilities, you will need to ask at the entrance if you can use them. Trees in the parking lot provide some shade.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-200mm.

	Spot #6 – BWI Daily Garage – 33L/15R departures and arrivals
WHERE	The Daily Garage is located northwest of BWI terminal complex. Its address is 7000 Elm Rd, Baltimore, MD 21240. To access the garage from i195, follow the road signs and exit at 1A to 170 North, then make a right turn to Terminal Road. The entrance of the garage is on your left side. After entering the terminal, go to the top floor. There is also a shuttle bus service running between the terminals and the Daily Garage.

WHAT	This location is good for spotting Runway 33L/15R departures and arrivals, as well as airport taxiways. Runway 10/28 is also in sight. The cargo terminal can be sighted east of the garage. When winds are from North, West and Southwest, Runway 33L is the preferred runway for arriving traffic. When winds are from South or East, Runway 15R might be used for departures and Runway 10 might used for arrivals.

TIME	Runway 33L/15R can be spotted in early mornings in summer months. Runway 10/28 can be spotted in early mornings and late afternoons in summer months. All other times are backlit.

MISC.	Restrooms and restaurants are inside the terminal complex.

FOCAL LENGTH	For Runway 33L/15R, you need 100mm for Boeing 767 and 787, 150mm for narrow body jets and business jets. For Runway 10/28, you need at least 400mm.

	Spot #7 – Construction Vehicles Parking Lot – 15L departures
WHERE	This location is not far away from the official observation park (#1) at Dorsay Road. Turn into Digiulian Rd and immediately turn right and stay on the side of this dead end road. This is some kind of parking for construction vehicles but the workers are fine as long as you don’t block their access road.

WHAT	From here you can only photograph 15R departures.

TIME	From late noon to sunset all year round.

MISC.	Nothing nearby except portable restrooms and a playground inside the viewing park.

FOCAL LENGTH	300-350mm for 737/A320 family which is 90 percent of the traffic.

	Spot #8 – Northrop Grumman Parking – 15R arrivals
WHERE	This one is easy to find, just follow the signs to the BWI airport train station and pass the Northrop Grumman facility on Aviation Blvd. Turn into Amtrak Way and turn right after approximate 300 meters. The spot is next to a gate which is an exit from the Northrop Grumman parking lot, which of course can’t be entered. Just stay close to the gate without blocking it (as seen on the photo below). It is better to stay there only on weekends when there is less traffic on the parking lot. A good and safe alternative is to park at the train station and walk on the BWI trail by foot back to the spot.

WHAT	From here you can only photograph 15R arrivals.

TIME	From late noon to sunset all year round.

MISC.	Nothing nearby.

FOCAL LENGTH	767 = 160mm; 737/A320 family = 200-250mm

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Ryan

2 years ago

For Spot 3, you can also go to the nearby Charwood Deli. There is a little grass hill next to the parking lot you can walk up to. There is a large tree that blocks the view for a few moments, but you can see the plane for a long period of time before landing. You could also go to the ramp along between Stoney Run Rd, and Aviation BLVD. You can see the plane just as it hits the ground.

pym.aviation

2 years ago

What about the tops of the parking garages? Are you allowed to spot there?

Ryan

Reply to pym.aviation

2 years ago

I haven’t tried spotting there, but if I were to guess, it probably wouldn’t be that great. Just because the terminal building’s height may interfere with views of terminals, taxiways, etc. Also, you’d probably need a high lens to capture a full frame shot from up there.

Jackson

3 years ago

Another spot I would recommend for all spotters coming to BWI is the Midfield Cargo Complex. It’s a good way to get some runway10 action. One thing I would say is to stay away from the Fire Department.