Six color-coded lines covering most of the city and extending into Maryland and Virginia. Fast, clean, and connects directly to most major attractions.

Key rule: Tap in when you enter, tap out when you exit. Forgetting to tap out charges you the maximum fare.

Best for: Cross-city travel, airport trips, commuting, getting to the Mall and monuments.

Covers neighborhoods Metro doesn’t reach and often provides more direct routes for neighborhood-to-neighborhood travel. The network was redesigned in June 2025 to prioritize more frequent, consistent service.

Key routes worth knowing:

• X2 — H Street and Benning Road corridor to downtown
• 16Y/16G — Columbia Pike in Virginia to downtown DC
• 70/79 — Georgia Avenue from Silver Spring through Columbia Heights to downtown
• D6 — Dupont Circle to Eastern Market through Foggy Bottom

Best for: Reaching neighborhoods between Metro stations, short local trips, errands.

A separate bus system from Metrobus — brighter red buses, simpler routes, and easier to understand for visitors. Runs on six routes through the most-visited parts of the city.

Most useful routes:

• National Mall — Union Station to the Lincoln Memorial along the Mall
• Georgetown-Union Station — fills the Metro gap in Georgetown
• Woodley Park-Adams Morgan-McPherson Square — connects these popular neighborhoods

Best for: Tourists navigating the Mall, getting to Georgetown, neighborhood connections.

Over 800 docking stations across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Classic bikes and e-bikes available. The best option for trips under 3 miles where Metro feels like overkill.

Key rule: On the day pass, each individual ride must be under 45 minutes. Dock and re-check out to avoid overage fees — the pass covers unlimited rides, not unlimited time.

Best for: Rock Creek Park rides, Georgetown to Mall route, anywhere you want to avoid parking.

Dockless — pick up anywhere, leave at any bike rack when you’re done. Both offer e-bikes and electric scooters.

Best for: Quick point-to-point trips, anywhere Capital Bikeshare stations aren’t nearby.

Rideshare fills the situations where other options don’t work well — late nights, bad weather, heavy bags, or anywhere you need door-to-door service.

When rideshare makes the most sense:

• After Metro closes (Mon–Thu after midnight, Fri–Sat after 2am)
• Getting to areas buses don’t serve well
• Airport trips when you have luggage
• Occasions where parking would be expensive or stressful

DC’s Northwest quadrant is genuinely walkable. Many residents handle their entire daily routine — work, groceries, coffee, restaurants — entirely on foot.

Before reaching for your phone to book a ride, check the walking distance. You might be surprised.

The Potomac Riverboat Company operates water taxis between Alexandria, Virginia and The Wharf in DC. Some people genuinely use it as a commute option, not just a tourist experience.

Why it works: If you’re near Old Town Alexandria and heading to The Wharf, it’s faster and less stressful than driving across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge or taking Metro with a transfer.

DC is one of the most accessible cities in the country for people with mobility needs. Metro has elevators at every station, wide accessible fare gates, and gap reducers between platform and train. All Metrobuses have ramps or lifts.

• MetroAccess — door-to-door paratransit for eligible customers who cannot use regular Metro. Apply at wmata.com or call (202) 962-2700.
• Lime Assist — free adaptive vehicle program for riders with unique mobility needs.
• Uber WAV — wheelchair accessible vehicles available within the Uber app.

• Reagan National (DCA) — Metro Yellow and Blue lines stop directly at the airport. About 20 minutes from downtown. Easiest airport access in the region.
• Dulles International (IAD) — Metro Silver line now connects to Dulles. About 45–60 minutes from downtown depending on your starting point.
• BWI — No direct Metro connection. Take MARC train from Union Station or rideshare.

DC tows aggressively, meters are digitally enforced, and rush hour restrictions can remove your car without warning.

• Pay via ParkMobile app — set it up before you arrive
• Read signs top to bottom before walking away
• Set a 3:15pm alarm if parked on any major street on a weekday
• Rush hour towing is immediate — no grace period
• Sundays and federal holidays: most meters are free