How to Use Public Transport in Washington, DC Like a Local

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DC's Metro and buses connect business hubs and major sights with clean, intuitive service. Skip traffic, save time, and cut your travel footprint with strategic station exits, timing tricks, and payment shortcuts that locals use daily.

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Washington, DC Metro, Bus, and Train Overview

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Metrorail runs six color-coded lines—Red, Blue, Orange, Silver, Green, Yellow—through DC, Northern Virginia, and suburban Maryland. Key transfer hubs: Metro Center, L'Enfant Plaza, Gallery Place, Fort Totten. The Metrorail map is posted on platforms and inside cars.

Hours: Monday–Thursday 5 a.m.–midnight; Friday–Saturday 6 a.m.–2 a.m.; Sunday 6 a.m.–midnight. Trains run every 3-6 minutes peak hours (weekdays 5–9:30 a.m., 3–7 p.m.), 8-12 minutes off-peak.

Last train warning: End-of-line stations like Vienna or Shady Grove may see final departures 10:45-11:15 p.m. even when the system "closes" at midnight. Use the WMATA app's "Last Train" feature for actual departure times from your station.

Yellow Line status: Currently terminates at Mount Vernon Square through 2026. Starting December 31, 2025, half of Yellow trains extend to Greenbelt; the other half still end at Mount Vernon Square. To reach Pentagon City, Crystal City, or Reagan National before the extension, transfer to Blue at Gallery Place or L'Enfant Plaza. Check WMATA service status before weekend travel—single-tracking is common.

Metrobus launched its Better Bus Network June 29, 2025, with new route names and improved frequency. For Georgetown (no Metro station), take Route D80 or D82 from Foggy Bottom/Dupont Circle, or Route D10 (Pennsylvania Avenue). Routes D40, D4X, and D30 run 24/7—see the Late Night Service Map.

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How to Pay for Public Transit in Washington, DC: SmarTrip, Contactless, and Cash

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Contactless credit/debit (Metrorail only)
Launched May 28, 2025. Tap Visa, Mastercard, Amex, or Discover with the contactless symbol directly at fare gates. Also works with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay. Must tap the same card to enter and exit. Full-fare only—no passes, transfers, or parking benefits.

SmarTrip card (rail, bus, parking)
Physical $2 at stations/CVS/Giant; digital free in Apple/Google Wallet. Works on Metrorail, Metrobus, and regional buses (Fairfax Connector, Ride On). Set up Auto Reload at wmata.com/fares/smartrip to skip machines during rush hour.

Cash (buses only): Exact fare required.

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SmarTrip Required For

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• Bus rides (credit cards don't work on buses yet)
  
• Multi-day passes (1-Day $13.50, 3-Day $33.75, 7-Day Unlimited $60.75, 7-Day Short Trip $40.50)
  
• The $2.25 bus-to-rail transfer discount
  
• Parking discounts
  
• SmartBenefits (employer commuter benefits)
  
• Reduced fares (seniors, students, disabled)

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Fares & Transfers: What You’ll Pay and Save

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Rail: Peak (weekdays 5 a.m.–9:30 p.m.) $2.25–$6.75; after 9:30 p.m. weekdays and all day weekends $2.25–$2.50.

Bus: Regular $2.25; express $4.80.

Transfers: Bus-to-bus free within 2 hours; bus-to-rail $2.25 discount within 2 hours; no free rail-to-rail transfers.

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Station Shortcuts: Faster Transfers and Exits

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Farragut Crossing: Farragut North (Red) and Farragut West (Blue/Orange/Silver) sit 400 feet apart across Farragut Square. Use the "virtual tunnel" to transfer above ground without extra fare—30 minutes to complete, enough time to grab coffee. Saves time when Metro Center is packed. Tap out at one, walk around the square, tap in at the other.

K Street business district: Farragut North (Connecticut Avenue exits) and Farragut West (17th & I Street exits) both serve the core. Check WMATA's ridership portal for peak-hour crowd patterns.

Gallery Place transfers: Red runs upper level; Green/Yellow lower level. Platforms offset—Green/Yellow near east end, Red curves southeast toward Judiciary Square. Transferring Red to Green/Yellow? Ride toward the front (Glenmont direction) to minimize your walk.

Georgetown access: No Metro station. Take Metrobus D80/D82 (Wisconsin Avenue) or D10 (Pennsylvania Avenue) from Foggy Bottom or Dupont Circle. GUTS (Georgetown shuttle from Rosslyn) is for Georgetown/MedStar affiliates only.

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From the Airport: DCA, IAD, and BWI to Downtown

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Reagan National (DCA): Blue and Yellow lines serve Terminals B/C directly. Yellow currently truncated, so most riders take Blue or transfer to Blue at Gallery Place/L'Enfant Plaza. DCA to Metro Center: 15-20 minutes.

Dulles (IAD): Silver Line station (opened 2022) attaches to the terminal. Silver to Metro Center: 45-55 minutes. Board toward Largo Town Center, transfer at Metro Center or L'Enfant Plaza if needed. Faster than driving during rush hour.

BWI: No direct Metro. Take a free BWI shuttle bus (10 minutes) to BWI Rail Station, then MARC Penn Line ($8, weekdays only, very limited weekends) or Amtrak ($15-25, daily) to Union Station (35-50 minutes). Hop Red Line from Union Station.

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Safety, Accessibility, and Late-Night Tips

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Metro Transit Police can be reached at 202-962-2121, and assistance is available through station call boxes while the Metro is open. Stations remain staffed during operating hours, and late-night riders can rely on bus routes D40, D4X, and D30, which run 24 hours a day. Before traveling, it’s worth checking WMATA’s service alerts for construction updates and the Elevator and Escalator page for accessibility information to ensure a smooth trip. 

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