Getting Around DC · Bus Guide
The DC Circulator ended December 31, 2024. Here’s how the bus system actually works now — Georgetown, Adams Morgan, H Street NE, and 325 Metrobus routes explained.
The DC Circulator is gone. Any guide still showing Circulator routes is outdated. WMATA has adjusted Metrobus to fill the gaps — here’s how it actually works now.
Staying Near DC Transit?
Hotels near Metro stations and major bus corridors give you the most flexibility for getting around DC without a car.
The Dupont Circle Hotel
Red Line directly beneath — D6 bus to Georgetown around the corner. Best transit-connected boutique hotel.
Check RatesThe LINE DC
Adams Morgan boutique hotel — Route 54 bus on the block, Green Line Metro nearby.
Check RatesHampton Inn Convention Center
Shaw location — Green Line Metro plus easy bus access to Penn Quarter and downtown.
Check RatesHyatt Regency Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill — 30-series bus on Pennsylvania Avenue, Blue/Orange/Silver Metro nearby.
Check RatesThe DC Circulator ended permanently on December 31, 2024. Any guide, app, or map still showing Circulator routes is outdated. WMATA has adjusted Metrobus routes to fill the gaps — the D80, D6, and Route 54 cover the most important former Circulator corridors. Here’s how the bus system actually works now.
Metrobus: The Basics
Metrobus is operated by WMATA — the same authority that runs the Metro. Over 1,500 buses on 325 routes across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Fare: $2.00 flat fare, paid with SmarTrip card. Cash accepted but no change given. Free transfers: Between Metrobus routes within 2 hours with SmarTrip. Reduced fare transfer from Metro rail to Metrobus within 2 hours.
Key Routes Worth Knowing
Georgetown — No Metro, These Buses Instead
Georgetown has no Metro station and never will. Your bus options:
D80 — Georgetown to Union Station via Wisconsin Avenue NW and K Street NW. Best option for connecting Georgetown to downtown and the Red Line. Extended and enhanced by WMATA when the DC Circulator ended.
D6 — Georgetown to Dupont Circle Metro via Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Direct Red Line connection from Georgetown. This is the Georgetown transit solution. If you’re driving instead, see our Georgetown parking guide.
Adams Morgan — Also Without Direct Metro
Adams Morgan has no Metro station. Route 54 covers the Woodley Park–Adams Morgan–McPherson Square corridor. Route 96 connects Adams Morgan to Dupont Circle Metro.
The 30s Series — Pennsylvania Avenue
Routes 30, 32, 36 run along Pennsylvania Avenue SE and NW — connecting Capitol Hill through downtown and out to Friendship Heights. One of DC’s most useful bus corridors for east-west travel.
The 90s Series — U Street and Shaw
Routes 90, 92, 96 connect U Street, Shaw, and Columbia Heights to downtown. Essential for the U Street corridor without Metro.
The X2 — H Street NE
One of DC’s busiest bus routes — from Union Station along H Street NE east toward Benning Road. Essential for H Street’s restaurants, bars, and the Atlas Performing Arts Center.
The 70s Series — Georgia Avenue
Routes 70, 74, 79 run along Georgia Avenue through Petworth, Columbia Heights, and downtown — the main bus corridor for Northwest DC residents north of the Metro grid.
The 5A — Dulles Airport Express
Runs from Dulles Airport to L’Enfant Plaza via Rosslyn. $7.50 fare. The transit option for Dulles most people don’t know about — significantly cheaper than rideshare for solo travelers. See our full DC airports guide.
Bus vs Metro: When to Use Which
Take Metro when: You’re going across the city and speed matters. Any trip where a direct Metro line exists. See our complete DC Metro guide.
Take the bus when: Your destination isn’t near a Metro station — Georgetown, Adams Morgan, H Street NE, or other neighborhoods without Metro access. You have a SmarTrip transfer that makes the bus effectively free after a Metro ride. Also see our DC rideshare guide for when Uber or Lyft beats both.
Practical Tips Before You Board
- Get a SmarTrip card before you need it. Available at every Metro station and online at wmata.com. Don’t rely on cash.
- Download the Transit app. Real-time arrivals, route planning, alerts. Better than the official WMATA app.
- Board at the front, exit at the rear. Tap your SmarTrip at the front reader as you board. Pull the yellow cord or press the strip to signal your stop.
- Buses run late at night when Metro doesn’t. Metro closes around midnight–1am. Metrobus runs 24 hours on select Owl routes. Check wmata.com for Owl routes in your neighborhood.
- All Metrobuses are wheelchair accessible — every bus has a ramp or lift.
DC Bus Guide Quick Reference
- Metrobus fare $2.00 flat — SmarTrip required for transfers
- SmarTrip card Any Metro station or wmata.com
- Real-time arrivals Transit app or text stop number to 202-637-7000
- Georgetown D80 to Union Station · D6 to Dupont Circle Metro
- Adams Morgan Route 54 (Woodley Park–McPherson Square) · Route 96
- H Street NE X2 from Union Station
- Pennsylvania Ave corridor 30s series (30, 32, 36)
- U Street / Shaw 90s series (90, 92, 96)
- Georgia Ave / Petworth 70s series (70, 74, 79)
- Dulles Airport Metrobus 5A — $7.50, runs to L’Enfant Plaza
- Late night Owl routes run 24hrs — check wmata.com
- DC Circulator Ended December 31, 2024 — no longer operating
Bottom Line
The bus is how you get to Georgetown, Adams Morgan, and H Street NE without a car or rideshare. Get a SmarTrip card, download the Transit app, and the DC bus system goes from confusing to genuinely useful within a week. The DC Circulator is gone — the D80, D6, and Route 54 are your replacements.
For Metro: DC Metro Guide. For rideshare: DC Rideshare Guide. For biking: Biking in DC. For living car-free: Do You Need a Car in DC?
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