How to Use the Washington DC Metro Subway | Fares, Passes, Map (2024)

This post covers how to use the Metro subway in Washington, D.C., including tips on SmartTrip Cards, tourist passes, and navigating the public transport system.

While the DC Metro is great for getting you around the city, it can't get you around the National Mall (we recommend the Circulator for that!)

Let DC by Foot be your guide on one of our highly-rated tours.

• Paying for Trips
• DC Metro Rail Map, Lines, and Stations
• How to Ride the DC Metro
• Other Travel Options
• Tips from Locals and Travelers
• Things to Do in DC
• Tourist Passes

For the first eight years of living in DC, I did not own a car and used the Metro and bus system to get around. While I have a car now (thanks to 2 kids), I still prefer the Metro for most of my trips around DC. Almost all DC by Foot tour guides take the Metro to and from tours.

If you're worried about using the Metro for the first time, join our Intro to DC Tour - which takes the Metro with one of our licensed professional tour guides to help you learn how to use the system.

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PAYING FOR TRIPS

You can pay for your trips on the metro in a few ways.

The information below will tell you about each.

SmarTrip Cards

You will need a SmarTrip card to enter and exit the DC Metro system.

A SmarTrip card is required for each rider aged 5 and older. Cards cannot be shared, so each rider needs their own.

Note that up to two children under age five may travel free with each fare-paying adult.

SmarTrip cards with fare loaded on them can be used on the following:

• DC Metro
• DC Circulator bus
• ART (Arlington) bus
• CUE (Fairfax) bus
• DASH (Alexandria) bus
• Fairfax Connector bus
• RideOn (Montgomery County) bus

SmartTrip cardscan beordered online, or you can buy a card at the station. They cost $15 each, with the price covering $2 for the card itself and a preloaded $13 credit.

They can be purchased from SmartTrip card vending machines like the one below at every Metro station.

If you don't want to carry a physical card, add a virtual card to your phone or mobile device using Apple Wallet or Google Pay.

You can also download apps onto your phone to do various things, such as purchasing cards, checking for trains, looking at maps, etc.

We recommend DCMetro Transit andMetroHero; however, all of the apps use the same services, so you only need to download one.

Pay-As-You-Go On The Metro

Another way to travel is by paying as you go.

There is no set fare for all trips, as fares between stations depend on distance, the day, and the time.

Fares are based on the distance you'll be traveling between stations.

Each vending machine shows the cost of moving from one station to another.

The system does charge less at certain times.

From 5:00 am until 9:30 pm on weekdays, the cost will land between $2.25 and $6.

After 9:30 pm on weekdays and over weekends, there will be a flat rate of $2.25.

Important Note:You can only use the same debit/card three times in one day before the machines stop taking it. Metro machines accept bills and coins, so you can always top things up that way.

1-Day and 3-Day Passes

If you don't want to worry about loading your card throughout the day,you can purchase a1-day pass for $13/person or a 3-day pass for $28/person.

There are no travel restrictions so you can use this pass anytime and without additional charges.

While this may seem like a great deal, you'll want to calculate how much you'll travel. The farther out your hotel or accommodations are, the better off this deal will be.

Passes will only work on Metrorail and Metrobus travel. They are not accepted on regional buses, including the popular DC Circulator.

For most people, a one —or three-day pass makes sense only if you plan to make more than two longer-distance round trips daily.

Remember that all Metrorail trips are a flat $2.25 fare on Saturdays and Sundays, so a pass is usually not the best deal if you use Metro mostly on weekends. You are better off paying as you go.

If you're moving to DC or planning to stay there for a while, there are 7-day pass and monthly commuter pass options.

These packages are tailored to you and will give you unlimited rides for a set price. To learn more, click here.

DC METRO RAIL MAP,LINES, AND STATIONS

Metro stations are dotted throughout the city, and some stations have multiple entrances/exits.

You can locate them quickly by looking for the tall brown post with the large letter M at the top.

The station's name will be written on the side, and the color of the lines that service that station will be encircled at the top of the post.

The Metro Lines

There are six lines, each represented by a different color.

• Red: serves the northern part of the city. The main stations are Union Station, Metro Center, Chinatown, and Dupont Circle.

• Blue: runs west-east through the city and then south. The main stations are Capitol South, Smithsonian, McPherson Square (White House), Arlington National Cemetery, and National Airport.

• Silver: runs west-east through the city. You can take this line all the way to Dulles Airport.

• Orange: runs east-west through the city. The orange/silver/blue lines follow the same tracks inside downtown. You will only need to pay attention to which train you're on if you're leaving the central area of the city.

• Green: runs north-south. Take the Green Line to get to Navy-Yard/Nats Park Baseball Stadium.

• Yellow: runs north-south. The yellow line shares a track with Green for most of downtown. Both lines visit L'Enfant Plaza but Yellow continues south into Virginia to the Pentagon, National Airport, and King Street for Old Town Alexandria.

Washington DC Metro Map

HOW TO RIDE THE DC METRO

The D.C. Metro system is a reliable and safe way to get around the nation's capital city.

Below is information that will help you plan and make your trip.

DC Metro Hours of Operation

In the table below, you'll find Metro's normal operating hours.

Please note that the schedules can be different on holidays.

You can find a full Metro schedule here.

Savings With the SmarTrip Card

Metrobus charges $2.25 per trip, regardless of time or distance, but using a SmarTrip card saves .20 cents a ride.

Also note that if you use a SmarTrip card, you have a two-hour window during which you can take as many bus rides as you want without being charged again.

If you use the SmartTrip during a transfer from a train to a bus (and vice versa), Metro will credit you back the fare you paid when you entered the system.

How Much To Put On Your SmarTrip Card

Metro’s Trip Planner will help you find the best way between destinations.

You enter the address or location at the end of each trip.

For example, you might want to enter "White House" and "Capitol Hill" as the locations you'd like to travel between.

The system also allows you to enter advanced options such as the time, date, the distance you're willing to walk, and more.

It then provides you with a few itineraries to choose from. Each itinerary includes the length of the trip, walking and riding directions, and the cost of the trip.

Note that if you parked at a Metro parking lot, you can use your SmartTrip card to pay for that.

You may want to figure that into your calculations.

How To Use Your SmarTrip Card

If you're riding a bus, you'll tap your card on the bus farebox near the driver as you enter.

For a metro ride, look for a fare gate with a green light inside a station. These are the gates in use.

They will have a circular target on the top where you'll touch your SmarTrip card. This opens the gate and allows you to go further into the station.

Note that at the end of your trip, you must tap the fare gate on the way out of the station. Don't forget to tap out, or it will charge you extra!

When exiting, if you take a look at the small digital display on the fare gate. It will tell you how much money you still have left on your card.

Getting To Your Platform

Depending on the station, you'll usually have to go to the lower level to get to the train platform.

If the platform is in the center, there will be an escalator in the center as well.

Once at the bottom, you can check the signs for which side of the platform you need to stand on to access your train.

Center Platform

If the train tracks are in the center and the platforms are on the sides, you must take either the right or left escalator to reach that platform.

Again, check the signs to find which one you want to go down.

See below for more information on reading those signs correctly.

vs Center Tracks

Where to Stand To Catch the Correct Train

To decide which platform to stand on, you need to look for the name of the end-of-line.

There are maps in the stations to help you figure out the end of the line closest to your stop.

Then, find the platform that lists the corresponding final stop and head to it.

For stations with platforms on the sides, signs are usually listed at the top of the escalators so you know which side to go down to.

You'll find signs at the bottom of the escalator for stations with center platforms.

Trains will also arrive with the end-of-the-line station they're heading towards listed electronically on the front of them.

For example, as the picture above shows, the end of the line for that half of the red line is Shady Grove.

You may want to get off at the Rockville stop, but you'll still need to know the name of the last stop to ensure you're heading in the correct direction on that line.

If you took the Red Line train to Glenmont instead of Shady Grove, you would be going in the wrong direction and wouldn't find your stop.

Trust us, it'll make sense once you're in the system!

Note: Sometimes trains don't go to the end of the line, but they will announce their last station stop.

You'll be fine if you're going in the right direction and your stop is before that particular station!

Reading the Signs On the Platform

On the platform, signs list the following three or four trains arriving.

The information tells you four things:

• LN (Line) - which color line that train is on.

This matters if there are multiple lines of color running through a station.

For example, Arlington National Cemetery is only on the Blue Line, but you may see Orange Line trains coming through on the same tracks. You'll want to be sure you are getting on a Blue Line train.

• CAR - how many cars are on that particular train?

If you stand at the very end of the platform, a shorter 6-car train may stop a distance from you. You'll then have to run to it to get on before the doors close.

Tip: If you check the platform's floor, there are sometimes decals showing where those shorter 6-car trains end.

• DEST (Destination) - the last stop for this particular train.

Check this to ensure you're going in the right direction and on the correct line.

• MIN (Minutes) - how long until the train arrives.

During peak hours trains will come more frequently, and in the evening they will come less often.

Keep this in mind if you're staying out late, as you might have to wait up to 20 minutes for the next train.

Getting on Your Train and Finding Your Stop

When a train is approaching, the circular lights at the edge of the platform flash, letting you know it will be arriving soon.

Go up to the door and stand to the side. This will make it easier for people departing the train to get off. Once they are off, you can more easily enter the train.

Once you are on the train, pay attention to the stops.

There are maps in each car, and you can count how many stops there are until you get off.

Note that some older trains won't electronically list the next stop in the route inside the car like the newer cars will.

Although train operators announce stops, it can sometimes be challenging to hear.

However, you can see which station you're arriving at as the train pulls in because the station's name will be on the wall outside.

Getting to and From the Airport

DCA (Reagan National) and IAD (Dulles) airports are accessible by Metro, though you may need to walk a bit to reach your terminal.

Our blog posts below will tell you more about that.

• DCA National Airport
• Dulles (IAD) Airport

While the BWI (Baltimore-Washington) Airport is not accessible directly by metro, click here to see our blog post about getting to and from BWI.

OTHER TRAVEL OPTIONS

Don't fret if you're running late or worried about being stranded due to a Metro breakdown.

Trains are only one piece of the complex transit system of Washington, DC.

Buses serve even more territory than trains; they are cheap, clean (mainly), and frequent.

Most are operated by Metro, though the DC Department of Transportation operates the Circulator routes.

With that said, your SmarTrip card works on all Metrobuses.

Of course, you can always opt for ride-hailing services like Uber, Lyft, or Cabs.

Hop On Hop Off Buses

The Metro is a great way to get around the city, but as visitors, it may not get you everywhere you need to go.

For example, there is only one Metro Station in the entire 5 square miles of the National Mall, and there is no station in the Tidal Basin.

Hop-On-Hop-Off buses can come in handy in this case.

There are many bus companies and ticketing options. Read our post on choosing the best one for you.

They all have stops at the main sites around the city, such as the Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and the US Capitol Building. These four sites are at least a 15-minute walk, if not more, from a Metro station.

Most Hop-On Hop-Off buses are included for free when purchasing a tourist pass.

And don't forget our walking tours!

Our tours start and end within walking distance of a Metro station. Our guides can ensure you know the best way to get to and from any place you want to see in the most direct route.

TIPS FROM LOCALS AND TRAVELERS

While we do our best to provide all the information you'll need to ride the DC Metro, sometimes you need answers to specific questions related to your experience.

DC by Foot has a Washington, DC Travel Trips group on Facebook with over 85,000 members. It's a great place to post a question you'd like an answer to.

Here are a few other exciting and helpful tips and tricks provided by tour guides and travelers, which will make things easier for you and your fellow riders.

• Don't stand on the left side of an escalator! The motto is: Stand on the right, walk on the left. Locals rushing to catch their train will run on the left, and they are likely to be irritated (and vocal) if you block the left side.

• Stand to the side of a bus or train door until everyone gets off. Standing smack in the middle of the door where people will get off the train is the quickest way to signal that you are a tourist. It's also a good way to get knocked around by all the bodies departing the train.

• Don't push your stroller through train doors to hold them open so you or others can get on. Doors have closed with children on one side and parents on the other. If the doors are closing, it's best to wait for the next train.

• If you have wheels, use the metro elevator. This means strollers, bikes, and wheelchairs. You may not want to wait for the elevator but trust us, the escalators are not made for anything with wheels. It's dangerous for all. Note also that all stations have elevators, though it's best to leave them for those who need them.

• Stand back from the side of the track. Yes, it's fun to see the train light coming through the darkness of a tunnel, and people are anxious about quickly getting on the train, but it's dangerous to get too close. You could get jostled and fall onto the track, or your stroller could roll onto the trains due to the strong wind that comes through the station as the train arrives.

• Give up your seat to those who need them. If you see a pregnant person standing on the bus or metro...give them your seat. If you see someone leaning on crutches...give them your seat. If you see an octogenarian struggling against the forces of inertia and gravity...give up your seat!

• On the weekends, transferring to another Metro train isn't always the best option. Weekends are for track work, and that often means delays. Instead of transferring, see if there's a stop on the line you're already traveling on that's within striking distance of your destination. For example, if you're heading to the National Mall on the Red Line, skip the transfer over to the Blue/Orange/Silver lines by getting off at Metro Center. Sure, the Smithsonian Metro stop is in the middle of the Mall, but by the time you make the transfer, wait for a train, and then get back up to the surface, you could have already walked down from Metro Center.

• Check the time of the last train! If you're out late, be sure you remember to check when the trains stop running so you're not waiting on the platform for a train that won't come.

• Load before you go. If you're in town for a busy event, like the Fourth of July, a sporting event, or an inauguration, go ahead and load up the SmarTrip card with enough for the return trip as well. It'll save you from waiting in a massive line after the event.

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