Washington, DC Transportation: Getting In and Around

Highways and Main Streets

Highway 495 loops around the area, and Highways 295 and 395 run through the district and will take you where you need to go. Highways 27, 50 and 29 are also main roads that run through the area. When in Washington, DC, Pennsylvania Avenue is home to many of the landmarks and historical sites, and K Street NW runs east/west through the area. Connecticut Ave runs a northwest/southeast course.

Parking

Parking is available at the hotels and public transportation terminals. Walking should be your methods of getting around when possible. If you do decide to drive while in DC, you can try to park at one of the free parking garages if they are available. Private parking garages will charge either by the hour or by the day.

Trolley

A great method of transportation is the Lil Red Trolley Tour Pass. You can view the sights of the Capitol on this motorized trolley car. The tour covers the major sights in a loop that takes approximately two and a half hours. You choose your own stops and decide when and where to get off. When you're done viewing a particular site, wait for the trolley to stop by again and hop back on. The trolley can take you to places like the U.S. Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, Washington Monument, Holocaust Museum, National Mall, National Air and Space Museum, and more.

Airport

The area is served mainly by three airports. These airports are Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI).

Ronald Reagan National Airport

• Ronald Reagan National Airport is located in Virginia, four miles south of downtown Washington DC. On-site car rental is available and taxi, limousine, bus and shuttle service are available to and from the airport.

Dulles International Airport

• Dulles International Airport is located in Sterling Virginia, twenty-six miles west of Washington. The airport offers on-site car rental, or taxi and limo service to and from the airport is available. Bus service and shuttle service are available as well.

Baltimore-Washington International Airport

• Baltimore-Washington International Airport is located in Maryland about 30 miles northeast of Washington. The airport has on-site car rental as well as taxi, limo, bus, and shuttle services.

Taxi

Within the District, taxis are not metered. They work on a zone system. If you are traveling within a single zone, you'll be charged a basic rate is four dollars for the first passenger plus an extra fee for each additional passenger. There may be a surcharge during rush hours and additional charges for bulky suitcases or when you phone for a cab. While Maryland and Virginia cabs charge on a metered basis, they are not allowed to transport passengers between points inside of DC. Ask your cab driver what the fare will be when you get in the cab. And if you ever feel that you are being taken advantage of by a cab driver, you can always consult with the DC Taxicab Commission.

Train

The Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority runs the subway system. During rush hours on the weekdays trains arrive every six minutes and all other times they usually arrive between every 12 to 15 minutes. Fares will vary depending on the time of day and distance you are riding.

Bus

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority also runs buses that run throughout the city and nearby suburbs.