The Ultimate Guide to Transportation In and Around Washington DC
Our nation’s capital is beautiful at any time of year, with stunning architecture and a fascinatingly celestial city planning layout. This layout, unfortunately, can make a Washington DC vacation more complex than it might otherwise be, since DC goes beyond the traditional grid you’ll find in many towns.
There’s so much to see in DC. From the Lincoln Memorial and National Mall to the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building, your vacation won’t lack for historical landmarks… and that’s before you account for all the delicious restaurants, charming neighborhoods, tourist attractions, and beautiful walks the city has to offer!
The good news is that, if you understand how DC public transportation works, you don’t have to keep a mental map of the city in your head.
In today’s post, we’re going to take an in-depth look at the many forms of transportation in Washington DC, from public city options to trains, airplanes to private cars, and crowdsourcing!
Public Transport
First, it’s good to know how the DC public transportation system works. You have several choices for your Washington DC vacation:
- Metrorail: Also known as Washington Metro or simply Metro, Metrorail is the go-to choice for people who want to get around town fast. The rail service goes all over the city, serving more than half a million people a day, so you’re guaranteed to find a shortcut to most places in town using Metro.
- Metrobus: Serving nearly 400,000 riders daily, Metrobus is almost as popular as Metrorail. Its routes weave all through the city but also extend into Maryland and Virginia, covering 1,500 square miles overall.
- DC Streetcar: Established in 2009, the DC Streetcar is easily the cutest option for transportation in Washington DC. Running along the H Street NE/Benning Corridor, you’ll pass plenty of shopping destinations, restaurants, and up-and-coming neighborhoods.
While public transportation might not be your first choice if you have a tight schedule to keep and the money to rent a car, it’s a great way to see the city. You’ll go past areas you wouldn’t otherwise have seen and will get a better idea of what daily life is like in our nation’s capital.
If you’re in Washington DC to enjoy yourself, consider buying a pass to save money. You can buy passes for unlimited rides on the Metrorail or Metrobus for a certain number of days, which can result in quite a cost savings if you have multiple family members or will be in town for a while.
Greater DC Area Transportation
If you’ll be traveling outside city limits for your Washington DC vacation, then it pays to know what your options are for the wider metro area.
The main greater DC public transportation options include the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), which brings folks into the city from all over Northern Virginia. If you want to go straight to Arlington, then the Arlington Transit (ART) bus service is for you.
Lastly, if you’re going to have business or pleasure in Loudoun County, Virginia, you’ll want to check out the bus options through Loudoun County Transit, a great way to expand your transportation in Washington DC.
Airports
Naturally, no list of transportation in Washington DC is complete without an airport rundown. The main options for your Washington DC vacation are:
- Washington Dulles International Airport (Dulles International Airport)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Between the three airports, you’ll have plenty of ticket and flight time options. There do exist a number of regional airports in the area as well, but chances are you won’t be going through those unless you live nearby.
Private Drivers or Rental Cars
In the case of both private drivers or rental cars, you forgo DC public transportation and instead use your own car. In the former case, someone will drive you around. You won’t need the car the whole time, which will save you money and the hassle of parking, but you’ll pay more for the privilege.
If you like driving and want a car for the entirety of your Washington DC vacation, then you can rent a car instead. While the price of rentals does range widely (from hundreds to thousands of dollars per week), it’s still a hefty price to pay.
If you’re happy taking public transportation in Washington DC most of the time and just want a dedicated car once or twice, a private driver could be the ticket.
Crowdsourcing
There are two main types of crowdsourced transportation in Washington DC:
- Rideshares: Both Uber and Lyft are available in DC, including to and from the major airports, as well as anywhere in the city.
- Bikeshares: If you prefer pedal power, you can easily rent bikeshares via a number of services, such as Capital Bikeshare, which is the DC public transportation option.
River Cruises
Now, we’re not necessarily saying that you should plan on boat travel when getting from your rental to that Mexican restaurant you’ve heard so much about. We are saying that a river cruise is a delightful thing, and you should add one to your itinerary if you have the time.
Washington DC borders two rivers, the Potomac and the Anacostia. Both are lovely examples of the Southern watershed, lined with verdant vegetation and populated by critters. If you’re planning a Washington DC vacation — whether family-oriented or romantic or solo — you could happily spend a day on the waterway.
Consider Where You’re Staying
Last but not least, make sure to consider where you’re staying before making too many plans vis-à-vis transportation. Your location and lodging may influence the choices you make, so you want to take them into account upfront.
For instance, your lodging might have limited parking, in which case, you might want to skip renting a car and focus on all the DC public transportation options. If your rental has plenty of parking, that changes the math somewhat.
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