Washington, DC/--°
Updating
Subscribe free
DC Answers

How to get around in Washington, DC

Washington, DC is one of the easiest big American cities to navigate without a car. Metrorail's six color-coded lines reach 98 stations across the region, Metrobus covers the gaps, Capital Bikeshare puts 8,000 bikes at 800-plus stations, and most of the National Mall is a straight, flat walk.

Washington, DC is one of the easiest big American cities to navigate without a car. Metrorail's six color-coded lines reach 98 stations across the region, Metrobus covers the gaps, Capital Bikeshare puts 8,000 bikes at 800-plus stations, and most of the National Mall is a straight, flat walk from end to end.

Metrorail: the backbone

The Washington Metro runs six lines and stops at 98 stations, handling about 675,100 trips on a typical weekday. It opened in 1976 and has grown to 129 miles of route.

Hours (as of June 2025): Monday through Thursday, trains run 5 a.m. to midnight. Friday and Saturday service extends to 2 a.m. Sunday trains start at 6 a.m. and run until midnight.

Fares: Metrorail fares are calculated by distance and time of day. During the day they range from $2.25 to $6.75. After 9:30 p.m. and on weekends, fares drop to between $2.25 and $2.50.

How to pay: Metrorail and Metrobus riders can pay by simply tapping a contactless credit or debit card, or a card in a mobile wallet, on the faregates at any Metro station. A reloadable SmarTrip card works the same way and is sold at every station.

Peak frequency: During peak periods, roughly 5 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m., trains run every six minutes on core segments and every 12 minutes at outer terminals.

Metrobus: filling the gaps

Metrobus connects all corners of Washington, DC, with routes that extend into Maryland and Virginia, serving nine major transit centers throughout the region. A ride is $2.25, payable via SmarTrip card, contactless bank card, or exact fare in cash.

A redesigned Metrobus network launched on June 29, 2025, prioritizing frequent and consistent service while making routes and schedules easier to understand. Several high-demand lines run around the clock. The 14th Street Line, for example, operates 24 hours a day between 14th Street and Colorado Avenue NW and L'Enfant Plaza station, connecting the Green, Yellow, Blue, Orange, and Silver lines to the Red Line at Takoma station.

Georgetown has no Metrorail stop. The D80 and D6 Metrobus lines serve it directly, and so do several other routes. Georgetown requires a short bus, bike, or rideshare trip from the nearest station.

Note on the DC Circulator: As of January 1, 2025, the DC Circulator no longer provides bus service. Its red buses ran the city's core corridors for nearly 20 years before the District shut them down. Metrobus now covers those routes.

Capital Bikeshare

Capital Bikeshare has 8,000 bikes and more than 800 stations across eight jurisdictions: Washington, DC; Arlington, VA; Alexandria, VA; Montgomery, MD; Prince George's County, MD; Fairfax County, VA; the City of Fairfax, VA; and the City of Falls Church, VA.

Pricing updated August 1, 2025:

  • Annual membership: $120 a year, which covers unlimited 45-minute rides on classic red bikes.
  • Day pass: $10 for 24 hours of unlimited 45-minute classic-bike rides.
  • Single ride (no membership): $1 to unlock, then $0.15 per minute.
  • E-bike surcharge (members): $0.15 per minute.
  • Capital Bikeshare for All (income-based program): annual membership stays at $5 a year.

The program set a single-day ridership record of 35,569 during the 2025 Cherry Blossom Festival. Good stations for tourists include Eastern Market, the National Mall, and Navy Yard.

Walking

One of the best ways to experience Washington, DC is on foot. Wide sidewalks run past the monuments and museums on the National Mall, as well as the intimate museums, theaters, and gardens scattered through the city's neighborhoods.

The most walkable neighborhoods include Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan, Capitol Hill, Columbia Heights, Shaw, U Street, Georgetown, and Navy Yard. The distance from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol is just over two miles on a flat, shaded path.

Rideshare and taxis

Uber and Lyft both operate widely across the DMV. Rideshare works best for groups, heavy luggage, late nights, and destinations far from the rail network. During rush hours, 7 to 9:30 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays, Metro almost always beats rideshare on price and time.

DC taxis are metered, regulated by the DC Taxicab Commission, and flat rates apply from the three airports to DC zones. Wait times at taxi stands near Union Station and major hotels are reliable; hailing on the street is more variable.

Getting to the airports

Reagan National (DCA) sits directly on the Metro's Yellow and Blue lines, making it the easiest airport to reach by rail. Dulles International (IAD) connects to DC via the Silver Line, with a station at Dulles Airport itself. BWI Marshall Airport is not on the Metro; MARC train from Union Station is the standard transit option, with Amtrak as an alternative.

Sources