Washington, DC Area Public Transportation Guide

It’s easy to travel around the Washington, DC area using public transportation. Since Washington, DC traffic is often congested and parking is expensive, taking public transportation can be a convenient way to get around. Sports, entertainment, shopping, museums and sightseeing attractions are all accessible by public transportation. Commuting to work by subway, train or bus can be less stressful and more convenient than driving a car to some areas around the region. Here is a guide to Washington, DC’s public transportation systems.

Metrorail
The Washington Metrorail is the regional subway system, providing clean, safe and reliable transportation around the Washington, DC metropolitan area using five color-coded lines that intersect at various points, making it possible for passengers to change trains and travel anywhere on the system.

Metrobus
Metrobus is the Washington, DC area's regional bus service and connects to all Metrorail stations and feeds into other local bus systems around the region.

MARC Train Service
MARC is a commuter train providing public transportation along four routes to Union Station in Washington, DC. The starting points are Baltimore, Frederick, and Perryville, MD and Martinsburg, WV. MARC service runs Monday through Friday only.

Virginia Railway Express(VRE)
VRE is a commuter train providing public transportation from Fredericksburg and Broad Run Airport in Bristow, VA to Union Station in Washington, DC. VRE service runs Monday through Friday only.

ART-Arlington Transit
ART is a bus system that operates within Arlington County, Virginia and provides access to the Crystal City Metro station and VRE.

City of Fairfax CUE
The CUE bus system provides public transportation within the City of Fairfax, to George Mason University, and to the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail Station.

DASH (Alexandria)
The DASH bus system provides service within the City of Alexandria, and connects with Metrobus, Metrorail, and VRE.

DC Circulator
The DC Circulator, provides inexpensive, frequent service around the National Mall, between Union Station and Georgetown, and between the Convention Center and the National Mall.

Fairfax Connector
The Fairfax Connector is the local bus system for Fairfax County, Virginia connecting to Metrorail.

GEORGE (Falls Church)
GEORGE is the City of Falls Church, Virginia’s bus service providing connections to Metrorail.

Georgetown Metro Connection
The Georgetown Metro Connection serves all Metrobus stops in Georgetown, and provides public transportation between Georgetown and Foggy Bottom-GWU, Rosslyn and Dupont Circle Metro stations.

Loudoun County Commuter Bus
The Loudoun County Connector is a commuter bus service providing transportation to park and ride lots during rush hour, Monday through Friday. Destinations include West Falls Church Metro, Rosslyn, the Pentagon, and Washington, DC. Loudoun County Connector also provides transportation from West Falls Church Metro to Eastern Loudoun County.

OmniRide (Northern Virginia)
OmniRide is a commuter bus service providing transportation Monday through Friday from locations throughout Prince William County to Northern Virginia and downtown Washington, DC. OmniRide connects to the Franconia-Springfield and West Falls Church Metro stations.

Ride On (Montgomery County)
Ride On buses serve Montgomery County and connect to the Metro’s red line.

The Bus (Prince George’s County)
The Bus provides public transportation in Prince George’s County.