Union Station to U.S. Capitol: A 15-Minute Walk or Quick Metro Ride

Washington Union Station and the United States Capitol are separated by just 0.7 miles (1.1 km)—a 12–15 minute walk or a 2-minute Metro ride plus station access time.

Walking Route (Recommended)

1. Exit Union Station onto **Massachusetts Avenue NE** (main entrance)
2. Head **southwest** on Massachusetts Ave (wide sidewalk, street trees)
3. Cross **Louisiana Avenue** (light)
4. Pass **Columbus Circle** (Union Station Plaza) on right
5. Continue on **1st Street NE** (Capitol grounds begin)
6. Arrive at **Capitol Visitor Center** entrance (underground, East Front)

Flat, well-lit, heavily pedestrian. Supreme Court and Library of Congress (Jefferson Building) en route.

Metro Option

• Red Line: Union Station → **Judiciary Square** (1 stop, 2 min ride)
• Exit Judiciary Square → 3-min walk to Capitol Visitor Center
• Total: 10–12 min (including elevator/escalator time)
• Fare: $2.25 off-peak / $2.50 peak (SmarTrip/contactless)

Not faster door-to-door but useful in rain, heat, or mobility constraints.

Other Options

• Capitol Hill Circulator Bus (Navy Yard–Union Station route): $1, 5-min ride, 10-min frequency
• Bikeshare (Capital Bikeshare): Docks at both; 3-min ride
• Taxi/Rideshare: $8–$12, 5 min (not faster than walking with wait)

Context

Union Station (1908, Daniel Burnham) and the Capitol (1793–1866) were deliberately aligned—L'Enfant Plan placed the railroad station on the same axis as the Capitol, one mile north. The walk connects two of America's great civic spaces.