As a child growing up in a tiny town and calling it home for most of my adult life, I found subways and metros to be intimidating. In 2004, on a visit to Washington, I decided that enough was enough. I decided to take on the DC Metro. The DC Metro Guide For Beginners was inspired by the fact that it was so easy to use.
You can also master the DC Metro if I can!
I have been to many metro stations without any fear since my first visit. The DC Metro is a very user-friendly system, and I attribute this to my confidence in using public transportation.
Here are some tips for first-time metro riders (wherever you are).
Let me give you some tips on how to use the Metro before I go into the DC Metro Guide.
- Metro lines only run in one direction. The worst thing that could happen is to ride the wrong line. You can just hop on and off the same train that is going in the opposite direction!
- Ask for help if you are lost or confused. The so-called snobs of France, even in Paris (and these people are not snobs), offered to assist.
- Consider a multi-day or unlimited pass. You can find the rates for all metro systems online, and decide which pass is best. Pay-per-ride is sometimes the best option if you only plan to use it a few times per day. The unlimited pass can be a good deal, especially for longer trips.
- Locals are often the best source of advice. Locals love it when tourists use the metro. This shows that you are interested in culture and not just sites. They are also generous in their restaurant suggestions and activities. They are usually right on the money.
- Book your hotel near a major metro station. If you stay at a hotel close to a metro station, it gives you the option to travel quickly and without having to change trains.
Please consider using the Washington Metro (WMATA) if you’ve never done so before. The DC Metro system is clean, easy and affordable (well, it’s as clean as any other metro system I have ever used).
DC Metro Guide: What it is and how it works
The DC Metro is easy to use if you know the basics.
1. Metro Station Signs to Recognize
You must start somewhere, right?
DC Metro Stations are identified by square posts with station names outside each station (see photo below).
You’ll notice colored stripes at the top of each post indicating the line that goes to the station.
Clarendon Station is an example of a stop with covered escalators leading to the train. The square post is used to mark some stations, but they are located under a building and there is no escalator or cover.
2. Purchase Your DC Metro Card (SmarTrip Card).
You can purchase a DC Metro fare card called SmarTrip at any metro station or online. There are also many retailers in the area.
Buy a $2 rechargeable card and add any fare to it.
You can “recharge” it whenever you want to. Look for these machines in the metro stations and follow the instructions. This is so easy!
PRO TIP: Compare different Washington DC Metro prices before you go. The DC Metro website provides all the information you need about ticket prices and passes.
TIP 2: The price of a ticket varies depending on the time! The peak fares are essentially the rush hour, between opening and 9:30 am.
3. Enter the station.
You’ll likely see an escalator when you enter the DC Metro Station. Rosslyn Station’s escalator is really, very, very long!
Place your SmarTrip on the matching circle at the turnstile. This tells your account that you will be boarding the DC Metro.
Wait for your train. Follow the signs. At major stations (such as Rosslyn), several trains share the same track. Be sure to board the correct train. The platform will have signs indicating which train is on it.
Enjoy the ride. Listen for the announcement of your stop. The LED signs that are onboard the newer trains indicate your next stop.
Understanding the routes:
Six routes are labeled in DC Metro by color: orange, blue, yellow, green and gray.
The last stop of the route you are heading is used to label the routes. Look at the last station on the route that you intend to take, and then head to the platform of the train. Easy, right?
You may need to take multiple routes to reach your destination. You can change trains in any of the stations marked by the bullseye on the map. You can change trains at these stations because multiple trains stop there.
Here is an example of our last trip.
We stayed at an Arlington hotel, near the Rosslyn Station (lower right, where Blue, Orange, and Gray converge). To get to the Pentagon, we caught the Blue line at Rosslyn headed toward Franconia-Springfield, which is the last stop on the line. We got off at the Pentagon, which was the second station on this route. We took the Blue Line back to our hotel. This time we headed towards Largo Town Center.
This is an example of how we use connecting trains:
Ben and I were at Pentagon City (blue train line on the bottom map). We wanted to get to Clarendon. (Orange and Gray trains are on the left side of the map). We took the Blue Train from Pentagon City to Rosslyn, then changed trains to take an Orange train to Clarendon. We didn’t leave the station, we just changed from the blue platform to the orange one. We paid one fare in Clarendon as we left the station.
5. Metro station: Leave
Place your SmarTrip Card on the circle when you reach your destination.
DC Metro calculates and subtracts the fare from your balance. The small LED screen shows you your balance while you pay.
The station attendant is always available to help you if there are any problems.
When my son placed his card in the circle on our last trip, for some reason, it did not read.
The station attendant checked that the fare was sufficient. He guided our son through using a different turntile. We could have just tried it, but didn’t want to use up our entire credit.
Here’s the DC Metro Guide in just five easy steps!
Ben and I found the metro to be easy to use and fast. The metro is a great way to save money in DC, as parking can be expensive. The famous (infamous!) DC gridlock was not an issue.
DC Metro professionals, what tips would you like to add?
Use the DC Metro with your kids
It can be intimidating for parents to take their children on a subway if they are not used to using public transportation.
It is easy to take the DC Metro with children.
The DC Metro is easy to navigate with children because the maps and stations are clearly laid out. When I used the DC Metro for the first time with my kids, they were only 5 and 8 years old. It was my first time using a metro system, and I managed to figure it out. You can, too.
What is the DC Metro Children Fare?
Children pay the same as adults.
One exception applies: up to two children aged under four years old can ride for free when accompanied by an adult.
Check the page on WMATA’s website to see current Washington DC Metro fares.
DC Metro Guide for Visitors and Tourists
It’s a great idea to have the DC Metro available for tourists!
Washington, DC is a frustrating place to drive and park. You can leave driving to WMATA and take the DC Metro.
The DC Metro map is easy to read and the routes are clearly marked. The DC Metro is safe and secure for tourists. Metro stations are well lit, and WMATA staff are on hand at every station to help when necessary.
I have one piece of advice for tourists who plan to use the DC Metro: Take some time to look at where you are staying and how close it is to the DC Metro station. Plan your route beforehand. The WMATA website has a DC Metro Trip Planner that helps tourists use the DC Metro in confidence.
The DC Metro offers a tourist bonus
The first time I flew in to Dulles I had no idea about the DC Metro, so I took an expensive taxi to my hotel.
You can take the DC Metro from Dulles or Reagan National Airports to get into the city.
If you’re wondering whether the DC Metro is safe for tourists, then yes. The majority of issues with the DC Metro are thefts from vehicles parked on long-term parking lots! Metro stations are well lit and patrolled.