- Alexandria, VA to Washington, DC
- Fairfax, VA to Washington, DC
- Falls Church, VA to Washington, DC
- McLean, VA to Washington, DC
- Vienna, VA to Washington, DC
- Reston, VA to Washington, DC
- BWI to Washington, DC
- Gaithersburg, MD to Washington, DC
- Rockville, MD to Washington, DC
- Bethesda, MD to Washington, DC
Alexandria, VA to Washington, DC
Getting from Alexandria to DC is very quick and easy. Utilize the metro for the most convenient travel because it only takes roughly 15-20 minutes. Cyclist will be happy to know they can get to DC by bike by taking the Mt Vernon Trail. Alexandria is home to Reagan National Airport (DCA), and the metro actually has a station at the airport itself. Many hotels also offer shuttles in Alexandria to the airport and the surrounding area. Getting around in Alexandria itself, utilize the free trolley car that will take you to major points of interest and metro stations from Old Town Alexandria. To get to Georgetown from Alexandria consider taking the water taxi, it’s a fun experience and very convenient.
Alexandria, VA to Washington, DC
Fairfax county has the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU metro station that runs the Blue, Yellow, Orange and Silver lines. Getting to DC from your stay in Fairfax County is best through the metro. The trip by metro can take just under an hour, but is still the more convenient and faster option compared to driving. It’s good to note that there are airport shuttles to all the airports near DC from Fairfax, so travelers flying in will want to consider that as well. Driving is also an option, as I-66 runs through this region, and many hotels in the area offer free parking, but again, the metro is typically faster – especially with much of the traffic on I-66 near the malls.
Falls Church, VA to Washington, DC
Falls Church is about 30-40 minutes away from DC, and has the East Falls Church metro station and West Falls Church metro station. The East Falls Church station runs both the orange and silver lines, whereas the West Falls Church station only runs the orange line. Dulles Airport, although somewhat far, is accessible to the Falls Church region using the bus system from the airport to the Reston metro station, and taking the silver line in. Reagan National Airport is accessible via metro as well, albeit much faster. Although a bike trail to DC is available, it can take an hour. Many people staying in Falls Church find that having a car is preferable, due to the lack of walkability of the area.
McLean, VA to Washington, DC
Traveling from McClean to DC is primarily reliant on the metro system. The McLean metro station runs the silver line, and takes about 35 minutes to DC. If you’re staying far from the metro station, you can utilize the metrobus, which explores outside of the metro station area. Tysons Corner metro station is also nearby. Biking the Capital Crescent Trail to DC takes about an hour.
Vienna, VA to Washington, DC
Traveling from McClean to DC is primarily reliant on the metro system. The McLean metro station runs the silver line, and takes about 35 minutes to DC. If you’re staying far from the metro station, you can utilize the metrobus, which explores outside of the metro station area. Tysons Corner metro station is also nearby. Biking the Capital Crescent Trail to DC takes about an hour.
Reston, VA to Washington, DC
The Vienna area of Virginia is accessible via metro and is situated at the end of the orange line. The commute to DC takes about 45 minutes. Being so far out in the suburbs, other transportation options in Vienna are limited, and the hotels don’t offer shuttles. Avoid taking a cab or rideshare out here, or you’ll be looking at a hefty price. It should be noted that having a car is ideal for this area of Virginia.
BWI to Washington, DC
Reston is located at the end of the silver metro line, and is accessible to Dulles Airport. The commute to DC by metro takes a little under an hour. Travelers should know that Reston hotels typically offer airport shuttles to Dulles, making Reston the most accessible area for people flying in to that airport.
BWI to Washington, DC
BWI, or Baltimore Washington International Airport, is surprisingly accessible to DC even though this airport is the farthest airport from DC compared to Reagan National Airport or Dulles. A popular way to get to DC from BWI is through the MARC train, which only takes about 35 minutes to get to Union Station. This commuter train is also very affordable, so it should be the first option for people flying into BWI.
Another train option is the Amtrak, which takes you straight to Union Station as well. This train is actually faster, but more expensive than its MARC counterpart. From BWI to Union Station, the Amtrak takes between 20-30 minutes.
Another option is the metrobus, which actually does pick ups at the airport and takes you to the Greenbelt metro station. From the Greenbelt metro station, it’s another 30 to 40 minute commute until you reach Downtown DC.
The last option to get from BWI to Washington, DC is the super shuttle. The super shuttle is the best option for groups or families of 5. Van super shuttles for groups has a flat rate, and is actually cheaper than any other option. However, single riders or groups with less will want to avoid this option, as it’s much more expensive for them.
Gaithersburg, MD to Washington, DC
Travelling from Gaithersburg to Washington, DC is primarily done through the metro’s red line. The Shady Grove metro station is the end of the red line, and sits between Gaithersburg and Rockville. The commute from the Shady Grove metro station to DC takes about 45 minutes, and the station offers free parking for those who will have a car. The metrobus is also available for travelers who are too far to walk to the metro station, or a cab/rideshare could be used to get to the metro station. Aside from that, the only other option to get to DC is by driving.
Rockville, MD to Washington, DC
Rockville has two viable options to get to DC. First, the metro from Rockville to Washington, DC is convenient and takes about 40 minutes. This option is the cheapest option, and very convenient. The second option is taking the Amtrak to Union Station, which takes about 45 minutes to commute, but is less likely to experience delays.
Bethesda, MD to Washington, DC
Bethesda is a convenient location to get to DC. Of course, the best way to get to DC is by taking the red line from the Bethesda metro station. The commute into DC is short, at about 20-25 minutes depending how close to the National Mall you are going. The metrobus also runs frequently through the area, but in terms of saving time, I suggest just taking the metro. For those who love biking, the bike trail from Bethesda to DC takes less than an hour.