The DC bus system is the part of the city’s transit network that most visitors ignore and most residents eventually can’t live without. Metrobus runs 325 routes across DC, Maryland, and Virginia — covering neighborhoods, corridors, and connections that the Metro’s fixed rail lines simply don’t reach. The DC Circulator adds six dedicated tourist and commuter routes at a flat $1 fare. Together they fill in everything the Metro leaves out. Here’s what you actually need to know before you get on.
Metrobus: The Basics
Metrobus is operated by WMATA — the same authority that runs the Metro. It’s the primary bus system for the DC area, running routes across all three jurisdictions (DC, Maryland, Virginia) with over 1,500 buses on 325 routes.
Fare: $2.00 flat fare on Metrobus, paid with SmarTrip card. Cash is accepted but you won’t get change — use a SmarTrip card.
SmarTrip card: The rechargeable fare card that works on both Metrobus and Metro rail. Get one at any Metro station, online at wmata.com, or at select retail locations. Load it with cash or link it to a credit card for auto-reload. If you transfer between Metrobus and Metro within 2 hours, you get a discount on the second fare.
Free transfers: Transfer between Metrobus routes within 2 hours at no additional charge with SmarTrip. Transfer from Metro rail to Metrobus within 2 hours for a reduced fare.
How to pay: Tap your SmarTrip card on the yellow reader as you board at the front door. The fare deducts automatically.
DC Circulator: The Tourist-Friendly Option
The DC Circulator is a separate bus system from Metrobus — operated by DC government rather than WMATA — with six dedicated routes covering high-traffic tourist and commuter corridors. Flat $1 fare, SmarTrip accepted, buses every 10 minutes on most routes during peak hours.
The six Circulator routes:
Georgetown–Union Station: Runs from Georgetown (M Street) through downtown to Union Station. Covers the K Street corridor and connects two of DC’s most-visited destinations without requiring Metro or a car.
Georgetown–Dupont Circle: Connects Georgetown to the Red Line at Dupont Circle. This is the Georgetown transit solution — use it instead of driving.
National Mall: Runs along the Mall from Union Station to Lincoln Memorial. Stops at major museum and monument entrances. Ideal for visitors who want to cover the Mall without walking the full 1.9 miles end to end.
Woodley Park–Adams Morgan–McPherson Square: Connects Adams Morgan — another neighborhood without direct Metro access — to the Red Line at Woodley Park and the Blue/Orange/Silver at McPherson Square.
Union Station–Navy Yard: Connects Capitol Hill and Navy Yard to Union Station.
Rosslyn–Dupont Circle: Connects Virginia’s Rosslyn Metro hub to Dupont Circle via the Georgetown waterfront.
Key Metrobus Routes Worth Knowing
The 30s series (Pennsylvania Avenue): Routes 30, 32, 33, 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 northwest residents.
The 90s series (U Street/Shaw): Routes 90, 92, 96 connect U Street, Shaw, and Columbia Heights to downtown. Essential for anyone living in the U Street corridor who wants a direct downtown connection without Metro.
The X2 (H Street/Benning Road): One of DC’s busiest bus routes — running from Union Station along H Street NE (DC’s most active nightlife corridor) and continuing east. Essential for H Street residents and visitors.
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.
The 5A (Dulles Airport Express): Runs from Dulles Airport to L’Enfant Plaza via Rosslyn. $7.50 fare. The transit option for Dulles that most people don’t know about.
Bus vs. Metro: When to Use Which
Take the Metro when: You’re going across the city and speed matters. Any trip where a direct Metro line exists and you need to be somewhere on time. Commuting during rush hour on a route the Metro covers directly.
Take the bus when: Your destination isn’t near a Metro station. You’re going neighborhood-to-neighborhood within a smaller area. You’re heading to 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.
Take the Circulator when: You’re visiting tourist corridors — the Mall, Georgetown, Adams Morgan — and want frequent, cheap, predictable service without navigating the full Metrobus system.
Buses and Accessibility
All Metrobus vehicles are ADA compliant — low-floor buses with ramps, designated accessible seating, and audio announcements at every stop. Unlike Metro elevators — which go out of service frequently — bus accessibility is generally more reliable for wheelchair users and mobility-limited riders.
For visitors with mobility limitations, buses are often a better option than Metro for short to medium trips within DC. The DC Circulator’s low-floor buses are particularly easy to board. For door-to-door paratransit service, MetroAccess is available for registered riders — see wmata.com/accessibility for registration.
Read our full Accessible DC Travel Guide for the complete picture of navigating DC with mobility limitations or hidden disabilities.
🏨 Staying in DC Near Transit?
Hotels near Metro stations and major bus corridors give you the most flexibility for getting around DC without a car. Downtown, Capitol Hill, and Dupont Circle put you within easy reach of both Metro and bus networks.
Practical Tips Before You Board
Get a SmarTrip card before you need it. Available at every Metro station and online. Don’t rely on cash — exact change only on Metrobus and you won’t get change back.
Download Transit app. Real-time arrivals, route planning, and alerts. Better interface than the official WMATA app for daily use.
Board at the front, exit at the rear. Standard DC bus etiquette. Tap your SmarTrip at the front reader as you board.
Request your stop. Pull the yellow cord or press the strip near the windows to signal your stop. The driver announces major stops but not all of them.
Buses run late at night when Metro doesn’t. Metro closes between midnight and 1am (3am on weekends). Metrobus runs 24 hours on select routes — the Owl routes marked with an owl symbol on WMATA maps. If you’re out late, check which Owl routes serve your neighborhood.
Rush hour buses are crowded. The 30s series on Pennsylvania Avenue and Georgia Avenue routes fill completely during morning and evening rush. Build extra time into bus commutes during 7-9am and 4-7pm weekdays.
Quick Reference: DC Bus System
- Metrobus fare: $2.00 flat, SmarTrip card required for transfers
- DC Circulator fare: $1.00 flat, SmarTrip accepted
- SmarTrip card: Get at any Metro station or wmata.com
- Real-time arrivals: Transit app or text stop number to 202-637-7000
- Georgetown transit: DC Circulator Georgetown-Dupont or Georgetown-Union Station
- Adams Morgan transit: DC Circulator Woodley Park-Adams Morgan
- Mall transit: DC Circulator National Mall route — $1, stops at every museum
- Dulles Airport bus: Metrobus 5A — $7.50, runs to L’Enfant Plaza
- Late night: Owl routes run 24hrs — check wmata.com for routes
- Accessibility: All buses ADA compliant — more reliable than Metro elevators
📘 The Full DC Transportation Picture
Buses are one piece of getting around DC. The DC Parking & Towing Survival Guide covers what happens when you drive instead — every zone, every rule, every tow risk.