Washington DC Official Visitors Guide - Washington DC Official Visitors Guide Fall/Winter 2026

Travel Tips & Info to Know

2026-09-16 04:46:25

10-minute drive to DC

• Accessible on Metrorail’s Blue and Yellow Lines

• Terminal 1 serves the A gates, and Terminal 2 serves the B, C, D and E gates

45-minute drive to DC

• Accessible on Metrorail’s Silver Line

45-minute drive to DC

• Shuttles take you to Amtrak and MARC trains bound for DC’s Union Station

• Use rideshare apps like Uber to order an on-demand or prescheduled ride

• Hail a taxi easily on busy streets or near well-trafficked landmarks (DC taxis are red with a gray stripe); pay with cash or credit card

• DC has more than 184 miles of bike lanes and paths

• Capital Bikeshare offers single trip or day passes and has over 800+ stations and 8,000 bikes across the metro area

• Rent a sized bike and a helmet from Unlimited Biking, and go on a guided (or self-guided) ride

• Mount Vernon Trail is paved and spans 18 miles; Georgetown’s C&O Towpath is unpaved and leads to Cumberland, Md.; Rock Creek Trail is centrally located and connects to nearby trails

• Hail a pedicab, weather permitting

• “Metro” not “Subway”

• Don’t be an escaleftor: Walk on the left, stand on the right side of the escalators.

• Let riders off the train before entering.

• If the bell chimes, don’t try to board; the doors close firmly and can separate you from your party.

• SmarTrip cards can be purchased at any Metro station.

• To travel on Metro, you will need a contactless credit/debit card or a SmarTrip card. One card required per rider.

• Free parking at Metro on weekends.

• Use the same SmarTrip card or contactless card/device to enter and exit.

• Visit wmata.com for more info.

For more information about traveling via Metro, visit washington.org.