DC Metro Fares: No Rush-Hour Surcharge (Unlike Many Systems)

Contrary to common assumption, WMATA's Metrorail does not charge peak-period surcharges. The fare you pay depends only on:

• Distance traveled (tiered by mileage bands)
• Time of day — but only for rail: off-peak (weekends, holidays, weekdays 9:30 AM–3 PM & 7 PM–close) is $0.50–$1.00 cheaper than peak
• Payment method: SmarTrip card vs. paper ticket (paper costs $1 extra/trip)

How It Actually Works

Peak fares apply weekdays: opening–9:30 AM and 3–7 PM. Off-peak fares apply all other times. This is a time-based differential, but it's framed as an off-peak discount, not a peak surcharge.

Comparison

• London Underground: Peak/off-peak pricing (higher at peak)
• NYC Subway: Flat fare (no time variation)
• BART (SF Bay Area): Distance-based only
• WMATA: Distance + time-of-day (off-peak cheaper)

So while rush-hour riders pay more, it's structurally a discount for off-peak travel—encouraging load-spreading.