Washington, D.C. - Public Transportation - Helpful Information for Visitors

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA):

WMATA runs 2 main public transport services in DC area: Metrorail (Or DC METRO) and Metrobus.

DC METRO quick Info:

DC METRO also called as Metrorail is the subway/light rail which serves 91 stations and has 117 miles of track

The DC METRO/Metrorail system has six color-coded rail lines:

-  Red Line  - Runs between Glenmont and Shady Grove

-  Orange Line  - Runs between New Carrolton and Vienna/Fairfax-GMU

-  Silver Line  - Runs between Wiehle-Reston East and Largo Town Center

-  Blue Line  - runs between Franconia-Springfield and Largo Town Center

-  Yellow Line  - rums between Huntington and Fort Totten

-  Green Line  - runs between Branch Avenue and Greenbelt

Look for tall brown columns with a large "M" identifying the station entrances.

Colored stripes around the column show which lines serve the station.

Use the same farecard you used to enter the Metro station when you exit your new station.

The SmarTrip® card is a permanent, reloadable farecard or smart card for riding DC public transport.

SmarTrip® card users get the lowest fares in DC metro.

Buy SmarTrip® cards online, or at any Metro station, or at many convenient locations.

Detailed info available at DC METRO/Metrorail Website

DC MetroBus quick Info:

Metrobus serves the nation's capital 24 hours a day, seven days a week with 1,500 buses.

Stand at Metrobus stops, which are designated with red, white, and blue signs.

Check the bus destination before you board the Metrobus in DC.

The route number and destination are displayed above the windshield and on the boarding side of the bus.

To get a rail-to-bus or bus-to-rail discount or to transfer free from bus to bus, you must use a SmarTrip® card

Detailed Info available at DC Metrobus Website

The National Mall area is huge and walking can be overwhelming especially with kids so take:

The DC Circulator bus:

The DC Circulator bus (National Mall loop route) goes around the National Mall area.

The DC Circulator bus (National Mall loop route) will drop you in key places around the National Mall. 

This DC Circulator bus is an economical way to get around from one end of the Mall to the other.

More information is available at DC Circulator Bus Website.

Other Hop-on Hop-off bus in DC available are:

- The Big Bus which is a hop on hop off bus and tours. (Big Bus Website)

- The Old Town Trolley which also offers hop on hop off and tours. (The Old Town Trolley Website)