Best Travel Insurance in Virginia for 2026

The Washington Airports: A Tale of Two Hubs

Northern Virginia is home to two major airports serving the Washington metropolitan area: Washington Dulles International (IAD) and Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA). Both set all-time passenger records in 2024, but their operational realities couldn’t be more different.

Washington Dulles: Record Growth, Rising Star

Washington Dulles International Airport handled 27.25 million passengers in 2024, breaking a 19-year record set in 2005. International traffic hit a record 10.38 million passengers, up 11% from the prior year, representing one of the highest percentages of international passengers of any U.S. airport. The airport serves as United Airlines’ secondary East Coast hub after Newark, with United controlling over 70% of passenger traffic.

In 2024, AirHelp ranked Dulles the 11th-best airport in the world, with an 8.22 out of 10 rating based on on-time performance, customer satisfaction, and amenities. The airport is investing $700 million in a new 14-gate Concourse E designed explicitly for United’s widebody international fleet, scheduled to open in 2026. Six new airlines began service in 2024 alone, including Aeromexico, Avelo, Breeze, Frontier, Sun Country, and Swiss International.

Reagan National: Convenience at a Cost

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport served 26.29 million passengers in 2024, setting its own record. Located just five miles from downtown Washington across the Potomac River, it’s the closest airport to the nation’s capital and a hub for American Airlines. But Reagan National’s convenience comes with significant operational challenges.

The airport operates the busiest runway in the United States, a facility designed for 15 million passengers annually, now handling over 25 million. Slot controls limit the number of flights per hour, and a perimeter rule restricts most nonstop flights to destinations within 1,250 miles of Washington. These constraints were designed to protect Dulles and manage congestion, but they’ve created a system operating at its limits.

AirHelp ranked Reagan National the worst U.S. airport for delays and cancellations in February 2025, with 40.2% of flights disrupted. The airport also faced significant delays during the government shutdown, with staffing shortages causing ground delays of 90+ minutes and caps on arrivals of 24 flights per hour.

Washington Area Airport Comparison

Norfolk: Gateway to the Coast

Norfolk International Airport (ORF) served nearly 5 million passengers in 2024, another record, making it Virginia’s third-busiest airport behind Dulles and Reagan National. Skytrax has awarded Norfolk a 4-star rating for two consecutive years and named it the best domestic airport in North America (4th worldwide) in 2025.

Norfolk serves the Hampton Roads metropolitan area and Virginia Beach and increasingly functions as the “aviation gateway to the Outer Banks.” About 59% of arriving passengers visit Virginia Beach at some point during their trip. The airport is undergoing a $1 billion modernization, including a new Customs and Border Protection facility opening in early 2026 that will enable international service. Breeze Airways will launch flights to Cancun in January 2026.

Nine airlines now serve Norfolk with nonstop service to 45 destinations. Military-related travel accounts for 15% of passengers, reflecting the region’s significant naval presence, including Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s most extensive maritime base.

Hampton Roads: America’s Most Vulnerable Coast

The Hampton Roads region, encompassing Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Newport News, and surrounding communities, faces some of the highest coastal flood risk on the East Coast. Water levels have risen 1.5 feet over the past century, and the region is sinking due to land subsidence. This combination makes Hampton Roads exceptionally vulnerable to flooding from nor’easters, hurricanes, and even routine high tides.

Virginia Beach itself remains popular, 19 million visitors in 2017 alone, but the Oceanfront district and bayside areas face regular tidal flooding. Hurricane Isabel in 2003 generated a 4.7-foot storm surge; Hurricane Irene in 2011 produced a 7-foot surge in some locations. Even moderate nor’easters now cause flooding that requires water rescues and road closures.

Shenandoah and the Blue Ridge: Weather-Dependent Beauty

Shenandoah National Park spans 200,000 acres along the Blue Ridge Mountains, just 75 miles from Washington, D.C. Its signature attraction is Skyline Drive, a 105-mile scenic byway running the park’s entire length. The Blue Ridge Parkway begins where Skyline Drive ends, stretching 469 miles to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Both roads are weather-dependent. Skyline Drive closes for inclement weather and at night during deer season (mid-November through January). Winter storms can close sections for extended periods. The speed limit is just 35 mph, and the narrow, winding roads require clear conditions for safe travel.

Fall foliage season (typically mid-to-late October) draws millions of visitors, but peak color timing varies year to year and is difficult to predict. Travelers who book accommodations months in advance for a specific week may miss peak color entirely. Weather in the mountains can change rapidly; snow and 20-degree temperatures in the morning can give way to 80-degree afternoons.

Cancel for Any Reason: Full Access in Virginia

Virginia residents have full access to Cancel for Any Reason coverage from all major providers. CFAR travel insurance is particularly valuable for several Virginia-specific scenarios:

• Reagan National concerns: If DCA is experiencing widespread disruptions or you want to avoid the airport’s ongoing reliability issues, CFAR allows cancellation even if your specific flight is still scheduled.
• Fall foliage timing: Peak color is unpredictable. If you’ve booked a Shenandoah trip for a specific week and conditions suggest you’ll miss the colors, CFAR provides flexibility.
• Coastal weather forecasts: If a nor’easter or tropical system is developing and you want to cancel your Virginia Beach trip before conditions actually deteriorate, CFAR covers that decision.
• Mountain road closures: If weather forecasts suggest Skyline Drive or the Blue Ridge Parkway may be closed during your visit, CFAR lets you cancel proactively.

Trip Delay Coverage Recommendations

Shopping Tips for Virginia Travelers

1. Choose your D.C.-area airport carefully. Dulles offers better reliability and extensive international connections. Reagan National is more convenient but has a higher risk of delays. If Reagan’s troubles make you nervous, Dulles is worth the extra travel time.
2. Use 6-hour delay triggers for Reagan National. DCA’s ongoing problems create moderate delays that 12-hour policies miss. If flying through Reagan National, prioritize shorter trigger times.
3. Buy insurance early for coastal trips. Hurricane season runs from June through November. Nor’easters can form quickly at any time of year. Purchase coverage before storms are named to ensure protection.
4. Consider CFAR for fall foliage trips. Peak color timing is unpredictable. If you’re booking months in advance for a specific Shenandoah or Blue Ridge Parkway week, CFAR provides flexibility if conditions don’t cooperate.
5. Check road conditions before mountain trips. Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway close due to weather and can remain closed indefinitely after major storms. Trip cancellation coverage helps if closures prevent your planned activities.
6. Understand Hampton Roads flood risk. Even moderate storms cause significant flooding in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Trip interruption coverage matters when roads become impassable or attractions close.
7. Take advantage of Norfolk’s growth. Norfolk International offers award-winning service, expanding routes, and functions as a gateway to Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks. The new international facility opening in 2026 will add Caribbean options.

The Bottom Line

Virginia travel insurance needs vary dramatically by destination. For Northern Virginia and D.C.-area travel, airport choice matters: Dulles operates reliably and offers world-class international connections, while Reagan National’s convenience comes with well-documented operational challenges. In Hampton Roads and Virginia Beach, rising seas and frequent nor’easters create a flood risk higher than it was a generation ago. For Shenandoah and the Blue Ridge, weather-dependent road conditions can disrupt planned scenic drives, from winter storms to hurricane remnants.

Virginia’s full CFAR access provides flexibility that neighboring states may lack. Use it for Reagan National flights if you’re concerned about reliability, fall foliage trips where timing is uncertain, or coastal vacations during storm season. Standard coverage with appropriate trip delay provisions handles most scenarios, but consider higher limits for international connections through Dulles or trips to weather-vulnerable destinations. Match your coverage to your specific Virginia destination and travel season.

How we rated travel insurance companies

Here are the rankings and our methodology for ranking the best travel insurance options.