Getting Around Washington, D.C.: Metro, Bikes, Feet & Wheels

D.C.'s transit ecosystem is a rare U.S. success—comprehensive, clean, and (mostly) reliable. Here's how locals and visitors move.

1. Metrorail (WMATA)

• 6 lines, 98 stations, 128 mi.
• Peak: 4–8 min headways; off-peak 12–20 min.
• Fare: $2.25–$6.75 (distance/time). SmarTrip card essential.
• Hours: 5 AM–12 AM (Fri/Sat 1 AM).

2. Metrobus

• 300+ routes, 24/7 on key corridors.
• Same SmarTrip; free transfers rail↔bus (2 hr).
• Circulator ($1): tourist-friendly loops (National Mall, Georgetown, Rosslyn).

3. Capital Bikeshare

• 6,000+ e-bikes/classic, 700+ stations.
• Single ride $2, day pass $8, annual $95.
• Protected lanes expanding (15th St, Pennsylvania Ave, Maine Ave).

4. Walking

Mall, monuments, Smithsonian cluster—all flat, <1 mi apart. Best way to see the city.

5. Driving & Parking

• Grid + circles (L'Enfant plan) = confusing but logical.
• Street parking: zone permits, meters (ParkMobile app).
• Garages: $15–$30/day downtown.
• Congestion: I-66, I-395, Beltway rush hours brutal.

6. Ride-Hail & Taxis

• Uber/Lyft/Via ubiquitous.
• DC Yellow Cab, Royal Taxi—app or street hail.
• DCA airport: flat rates to zones.

Visitor Strategy

• Stay near Metro (Red/Orange/Blue/Silver lines).
• Buy 1-Day ($13) or 3-Day ($28) unlimited pass.
• Walk the Mall; bike the neighborhoods; Metro the distances.

D.C. rewards the car-free. Leave the keys at the hotel.