Top 5: Ways To Get Around Washington, D.C.

Although Washington, D.C. isn’t necessarily considered one of the country’s bigger cities, the metro area is well-connected via public transit and is easy to traverse with a bit of preparation and knowledge. Here are the best and easiest ways to travel around and through the nation’s capital.

Bus

The D.C.-area bus system extends from the city center to the outer suburbs in Virginia and Maryland, but the neighboring states also have their own bus systems, providing even more access to riders. Within D.C., there is also the Circulator bus on which a $1 fare takes you to and through D.C.’s most popular spots like Union Station, Georgetown, Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights.

Metro

The Metrorail (or “Metro”) connects 91 stations on six lines across D.C., Maryland and Virginia, making it the second-busiest underground system in the country. Each line is named for its color and riders must swipe their access card when boarding and when exiting as fares are based on the distance traveled.

On Foot

D.C. is a pedestrian’s paradise thanks to its relatively small size and wide sidewalks. Streets are ordered by number from east to west and by letter from south to north, making it easy to find your way around, save for the occasional state-named streets that diagonally cross through the city.

Bicycle

Whether you own your own bike or rent one from the dozens of Capital Bikeshare racks, D.C. is a bike-friendly city. Bike lanes are abundant and trails along the Potomac River and through Rock Creek Park provide opportunities for leisurely cycling.

Carshare or Rideshare

No matter where you are in D.C., a rentable car isn’t too far away. With competing companies like Zipcar, Car2go, Maven and Getaround, Washingtonians can take a daytrip out of the city with ease.