Last updated 7 minutes ago
Average security wait time at BWI: 10 min
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Try Fast Pass Free for 7 DaysCurrent security wait times at each BWI terminal
10 min
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See how terminals are connected and plan your route through Baltimore/Washington International Airport
Schematic layout -- not to scale. Times shown are approximate transit times between terminals.
Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) serves the Baltimore metropolitan area in MD. The airport has a single terminal with 2 TSA security checkpoints. TSA PreCheck lanes are available for expedited screening. CLEAR biometric screening is also offered.
Terminals
1
Checkpoints
2
TSA PreCheck
Available
Arrive at least 2 hours before your domestic flight and 3 hours before international departures at BWI.
Check GateReady for real-time BWI wait times before leaving for the airport.
Midweek travel (Tuesday-Wednesday) typically has the shortest security lines at BWI.
TSA PreCheck is available at BWI — members can keep shoes, belts, and light jackets on.
Enroll in TSA PreCheck ($78 for 5 years) to use expedited screening lanes. PreCheck members can keep shoes, belts, and light jackets on and leave laptops and liquids in bags.
Remove prohibited items before joining the line. The most common causes of secondary screening are oversized liquids, forgotten water bottles, and loose electronics.
The fastest way? Let GateReady do the work.
Fast Pass members get tools that take the guesswork out of BWI security:
Long security lines are not inevitable. Several trusted traveler programs let you bypass the standard screening queue at BWI. Here is what is available and what each program costs.
Available at BWI and 200+ US airports
TSA PreCheck members use a dedicated screening lane where you can keep your shoes, belt, and light jacket on. Laptops and 3-1-1 compliant liquids stay in your bag. The average PreCheck wait time is under 5 minutes nationwide.
CLEAR is available at Baltimore/Washington International Airport
CLEAR uses biometric screening (fingerprints or iris scan) to verify your identity, letting you skip the ID verification line entirely. When paired with TSA PreCheck, you go from the CLEAR lane directly into the PreCheck screening line — often clearing security in under 2 minutes.
Several travel credit cards reimburse the enrollment fees for trusted traveler programs. These cards pay for themselves by covering your PreCheck, Global Entry, or CLEAR membership costs as a statement credit.
$400/year annual fee
Reimburses: TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, CLEAR
Signup bonus: 50,000 bonus points
$525/year annual fee
Reimburses: TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, CLEAR
Signup bonus: 80,000 bonus miles
The current average security wait time at Baltimore/Washington International Airport is approximately 10 min. Wait times are updated every 15 minutes to keep you informed.
Baltimore/Washington International Airport has a single terminal with 2 security checkpoints. GateReady monitors all checkpoints and provides real-time data to help you choose the shortest line.
Yes, Baltimore/Washington International Airport offers TSA PreCheck at multiple checkpoints. PreCheck members can keep shoes, belts, and light jackets on, and leave laptops and 3-1-1 compliant liquids in bags. Enrollment costs $78 for five years. BWI also offers CLEAR, a separate biometric screening service that lets you skip the ID verification line entirely (from $189/year).
For domestic flights at Baltimore/Washington International Airport, arrive at least 2 hours before your scheduled departure. For international flights, arrive 3 hours early. During holiday periods and peak travel times, add an extra 30-60 minutes. Use GateReady's Best Time to Arrive calculator for a personalized recommendation based on current BWI security conditions.
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Best for international travelers
Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck and adds expedited US customs processing when you return from international trips. Instead of waiting in the standard customs line, you use a kiosk with facial recognition and walk through in minutes. If you fly internationally even once a year, Global Entry is the better value over standalone PreCheck.
Best for US-Canada travelers
NEXUS is a joint US-Canada trusted traveler program that includes both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry benefits at the same price as Global Entry alone. If you travel between the US and Canada, NEXUS is the best overall value — you get expedited screening in both countries plus all the domestic PreCheck benefits.
$650/year annual fee
Reimburses: TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, CLEAR
See all cards with travel perks on the full comparison page.
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GateReady provides independent airport intelligence. Wait time estimates are based on real-time data and may vary. Not affiliated with TSA or any airport authority.
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