Metro trains do not typically follow a fixed schedule.  In general expect:

• A train every 4-8 minutes on each line during peak hours
• A train every 8-12 minutes on each line midday and evenings on weekdays
• A train every 12-20 minutes on each line weekends

Pay attention to advisories which may impact service.  These are posted online and are announced throughout stations.

Some holidays have different hours.  Expect additional hours on Independence day, and limited weekend hours Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Fees

Metro fares are higher during peak times, on weekdays from opening to 9:30 am, and 3pm to 7pm, as well as weekends from midnight to closing.

For exact fares use WMATA’s TripPlanner or see fare tables for a specific station.

Photo by flickr user Mr.TinDC

SmarTrip

Fares are paid using a reusable SmarTrip card.  These can be purchased at stations from kiosks, which are also used to recharge SmarTrip cards.  SmarTrip cards use RFID, and can be “touched” to sensors at station fare gates, on busses, or on fare kiosks to scan the card and pay.  On the DC Metro system, scan the same SmarTrip card when you both enter and exist the system to complete a trip.

SmarTrip cards work on many local bus systems, including MetroBus.  They are also used to pay for parking at Metro station parking facilities.  (More about parking from WMATA here)

Policies

• It is unlawful to eat, drink, or smoke on the Metro system.
• With the exception of service animals, pets are only allowed on Metro if they are in a secured container from which they cannot escape.
• Bicycles are also allowed on Metro, except during rush hours of 7-10 am and 4-7 pm on weekdays, and the 4th of July or during other special events with large crowds. Bicycle riders must use elevators, and should use the end doors (as opposed to the center doors) of any cars. Up to two bicycles are allowed in each car on weekdays, and up to 4 on weekends. (See the full bike policy here)

Links

• Rail service information from WMATA
• Timetables and schedule from WMATA
• WMATA’s TripPlan
• WMATA Station Directory
• WMATA Metro facility parking information
• WMATA Rules and Manners guide

1. The WMATA stylized system map

WMATA map. Full size PDF

This is the classic map is found throughout the Metro system.  Click here for the full pdf version from WMATA.com.  It depicts the six metro lines, parks, attractions, major roads and boundaries.  Items are not drawn to scale.  This is especially noticeable for stations further from downtown DC, where stations can be a mile or more apart!

Major transfer points are denoted by two concentric circles.  Note that in sections the orange, silver, and blue lines run on the same track, as do the green and yellow lines.  Transfer is possible at any of these locations, however only the first and last shared stations are indicated as transfer points on this map.

2. WMATA’s interactive online system map

WMATA online map

Another map from WMATA is this online interactive version (find it here and click “Rail”).  Since you’ll be viewing this online you can zoom in on specific stations and click for more detail, including station information and alerts.  This map shows accurate location and scale, so it can be a great way to identify attractions and plan your trip.  Note that you may not always have internet connectivity in tunnels during your ride, so it’s best not to be familiar with the stylized paper version as well!

3. WMATA’s live train map

WMATA live train map.

Similar to the previous map, this offering shows current train locations.  Click on stations to see “next train” information.  While this doesn’t have quick links to get additional station details, it’s a great way to visualize how long you may be waiting before, which could save you a few minutes in the station (or could encourage you to hurry on up!).

4. Other stylized maps

Here’s another example of a system map.  This one isn’t to scale, but provides another nice visualization of the general system.

See the map full size here.

5. Google maps, transit mode

Google maps allows you to see DC’s metro transit lines natively if you use transit mode.  The program’s directions include both Metro and bus schedules and routes, making it extremely handy when comparing different transportation modes!

Photo by flickr user Karl Haase

Tip 1: Stand to the Right

During weekday mornings, Metro’s main use is for commuters who are late for work. During the late afternoon, the system becomes crowded with riders eager to get home after a long days work. Many of your fellow travelers, during these times, are in a rush to get from point A to point B, and standing on an escalator is just too darn slow.

To accommodate the daily migration of riders anxious to get through the system, an unwritten, but well known rule has emerged: stand on the right, walk on the left. Metro’s escalators are wide enough for two lanes of traffic, and in DC, locals know that the left side is for moving traffic, and steady flow. Many riders’ biggest pet peeve is the group of tourists, large of small, who are innocently ignorant of this essential law of the land.

While you aren’t likely to get honked at or see rude gestures, as you may on the Capitol Beltway, the natives are likely to feel their skin crawl if their way is obstructed. If you are visiting Washington DC and riding on the Metro, you can make everybody’s day a little bit brighter by following Tip 1, and standing to the right, leaving the left lane for those who wish to hike up Metro’s endless escalators.

Tip 2: Know when to ride

If you are riding Metro to catch a plane or make an important appointment at work, your options for when to ride may be limited. If you have a little bit more leisure, however, some planning can be helpful in making your experience as pleasant as possible. There are several factors to take into account, such as cost of the trip, when the train will be arriving at your station, and how packed the train cars are likely to be.

Metro charges two different rates for any given trip, depending on the time of day. “Peak Fares” are charged on weekdays from opening to 9:30am, from 3:00-7:00pm, and on weekends from midnight until closing, and range from $2.25 to $6.00. All other times a lower rate is charged, ranging from$2.00 to $3.85.

Metro trains do not typically follow a fixed schedule.  In general expect:

• A train every 4-8 minutes on each line during peak hours
• A train every 8-12 minutes on each line midday and evenings on weekdays
• A train every 12-20 minutes on each line weekends

WMATA posts additional scheduling details here.

Tip 3: Know where your train is

It would be nice if a train were always at the station waiting for you to arrive, but this is rarely the case. During nights and weekends, and especially during construction or track maintenance, trains can run over 20 minutes apart. To avoid the wait at the station, it can be useful to use tools, such as WMATA’s “next arrival” or their live train map to see when trains will be arriving in real time. Timing your trip to the station can give you more time to relax, or get in those last few minutes of work before leaving the office.

Tip 4: Find a seat near the front

During the busiest commuting hours and busy events in Washington DC, such as the 4th of July, Metro can become absolutely packed, with almost no hope of finding a seat or a comfortable place to stand. Most of the time, however, you can find a place to sit, even on a train that looks pretty full.

Most people wait for the train somewhere around the middle of the station platform. This is convenient, but unfortunately that tends to be the same strategy that everybody used at previous stations as well, and cars near the center of the train will generally be the most crowed. You can often give yourself a more comfortable ride by walking to the end of the platform and getting one of the first couple cars.

Once you get to a platform, take a second to figure out which direction you need to go, and which way the train will be moving. Where two tracks run side by side, trains typically act like cars on the road, running in the right lane. If you have a few minutes to leisurely walk to the front of the train, you will likely find a much less packed car, and, except for the busiest of hours, a free seat.

Tip 5: Just catch the next one

Sometimes a train comes by is absolutely packed. You roll your eyes and consider how best to squeeze yourself in. Even though you walked to the front of the train, space is at a premium, and you just don’t feel like dealing with so many people. Sometimes this is inevitable and unavoidable; there is a big event going on, or trains are spread too far apart.

On some occasions, however, you look up at the board and see that the next train is only 2 minutes away! It might just be worth the wait, for the chance that this next train will have some empty space. Your prospects will vary considerable depending on the cause of the crowd, but it often doesn’t hurt to take the extra time to check.

Tip 6: Take your bike

Much of the Washington DC Metro area is biker friendly, and Metro is no exception. If you ventured a little bit too far, ran into a summer storm, or just want to cover a little bit more ground, this can be an excellent option.

Bikes are not allowed during Metro’s busiest hours. This includes weekdays from 7-10 a.m. and 4-7 p.m., as well as the 4th of July and other particularly busy occasions. You are also asked to limit bicycles to four per car, and enter cars using the first and last door of each car.

Tip 7: Study the maps

Knowing where you are going ahead of time is always a good idea, and riding Metro is no exception. Know where you are starting, where you are exiting, and what lines and transfers you’ll need before you start your trip. Most directional labels in the Metro system refer to the last station on a line in a given direction. If you are planning to ride the Orange Line, Blue Line, or Silver Line from Rosslyn Station to Smithsonian Station, for example, you are headed in the direction of New Carrollton Station (the eastern most station of the Orange Line) and Largo Town Center Station (the eastern most station of the Blue and Silver Lines).

The traditional metro map is a depiction of relative location, but it does not always show accurate distances. While it probably will not change your travel route, it is worth considering if you are trying to get a sense of how long a trip will take. Often, stations around the National Mall have more separation others in the nearby DC area, but this is not apparent by looking at the DC Metro map.

Tip 8: Keep it clean

The Washington DC Metro system is cleaner than many subway systems due to the WMATA’s policies and responsible riders. Let’s keep it clean! You may have food or drinks with you on your trip, but there is no eating or drinking allowed on the trains or in the stations. Also, please do not leave trash or papers lying around metro cars. These do get cleaned up at the end of the day, but it is unfortunate to see cars collect unnecessary garbage throughout the day.

Tip 9: Watch those doors

You may hear the warning while standing in a station waiting for your train, telling you that Metro car doors do not operate like the elevator doors you may be used to. They do not re-open when they are blocked, and when they close, they close fairly hard. Take the warning bells seriously and get yourself and your bags away from the doors. The train will not move with a jammed door, but it will not be a pleasant experience either.

We’ve compiled a list of ten stops that you’ll want to visit to take in all that DC has to offer.

1. Smithsonian

(Orange, Blue, and Silver lines)

Many of the metro stations on this list put you in close proximity to Washington DC’s monuments, but none quite as impressively as Smithsonian Station. Take the northern exit and you will be presented with a breathtaking view of the US Capitol Building and the Washington Monument as you exit directly onto the National Mall.

In addition to the views, this station gives you great access to many of the museums and galleries run by the Smithsonian Institution, including the Freer Gallery of Art, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, National Museum of African Art, and Smithsonian Institute Building (The Castle). Cross the mall for for more nearby options including the National Museum of American History and National Museum of Natural History.

2. Federal Triangle

(Orange, Blue, and Silver lines)

Located at the Reagan Building, and across the street from the Old Post Office Pavilion, the area around the Federal Triangle Station’s surroundings are impressive immediately. The real value in this station, however, is it’s proximity with the north side of the National Mall. Located a block from the National Mall, this station is the closest to the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of Natural History, both of which are free museums, and part of the Smithsonian Institution. The station is also a short walk from The Ellipse, a large park located immediately south of the White House.

3. Gallery Place / Chinatown

(Red, Green, and Yellow lines)

Located near the heart of downtown Washington DC’s Penn Quarter, Gallery Place Station provides access to some of the area’s best restaurants, as well as Capital One Arena (home of the Washington Wizards (NBA), Washington Mystics (WNBA), and Washington Capitals (NHL)). Be sure to make the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum part of your visit, located just across 7th street from this station.

4. Federal Center

(Orange, Blue, and Silver lines)

With Federal Center Station, we’re back to the National Mall. This station, located near the east end of the Mall, is a short distance from the National Air and Space Museum, the United States Botanic Garden and the US Capitol Building. The area is also filled with federal office buildings. While closer to other stations, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and National Gallery of Art are nearby as well. Capitol South Station and Union Station, both of which did not make this list, are within close proximity of the Capitol Building (and the Supreme Court) as well.

5. McPherson Square

(Orange, Blue, and Silver lines)

Few people think of Washington DC without images of the residence of the President of the United States of America at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The White House is as iconic as any other DC landmark, and McPherson Square Station is the easiest way to get a glimpse of this national icon. The Ellipse park, just south of the White House is also near by, and a short walk further once again brings you to the National Mall, near the Washington Monument and the Constitution Gardens.

It’s worth noting that Farragut West Station is also very close to the White House, and Red Line riders may in fact find the slightly longer walk form Farragut North Station most convenient.

6. Archives

(Green and Yellow lines)

Located near the National Archives (home of the Constitution of the United States), Archives Station is conveniently located in Penn Quarter just a couple blocks from the National Mall, and the National Museum of Natural History and National Gallery of Art. It is very easy to get to many downtown DC attractions, including restaurants, and several independent museums, such as the International Spy Museum, the Crime and Punishment Museum, and the Newseum.

7. Arlington National Cemetery

(Blue line)

Located across the Potomac River from Washington DC, the Arlington Cemetery Station places you at the gates of the grounds of the nation’s most famous military cemetery. In addition to honoring those buried in the cemetery, the grounds include the Tomb of the Unknowns, Arlington House (former home of Robert E. Lee), and several memorials. You can also walk to the nearby Iwo Jima Memorial, the war memorial commemorating the Marine Corps, and the Netherlands Carillon.

8. Foggy Bottom

(Orange, Blue, and Silver lines)

Located on the campus of George Washington University, Foggy Bottom Station is the closest to the Lincoln Memorial, and other attractions on the west end of the National Mall (though it is still nearly a mile away). If you are planning to catch a show at the Kennedy Center, this station provides a free shuttle.

9. Woodley Park / Zoo

(Red line)

Aside from Arlington Cemetery Station, Woodley Park Station is the only station on our list that isn’t in the heart of downtown Washington DC, and the National Mall. That’s because most of the attractions you’re visiting DC to see are located in a fairly concentrated, but there’s one location we think that you need to consider. Run by the Smithsonian Institution, a trip to the National Zoo can make for a great event. The zoo, located in Rock Creek Park, is free, and can be tons of fun for young and old alike.

10. L’Enfant Plaza

(Orange, Blue, Silver, Green, and Yellow lines)

The final station on our list is again near the National Mall, and is closest to the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. But L’Enfant Station is also on the list because it is, along with the Smithsonian Station, one of the easiest places from which to get to the Jefferson Memorial and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. While it’s still a bit of a hike, the memorials are beautifully nestled on the Tidal Basin. If you’re up for a fairly long walk, we suggest talking around the basin and visiting each of the memorials on its shores.