DC's Metro Rail- HELP!

[Iott Family]

Ok, I have read the web site for this AND our Frommer's travel guide but I am still not clear on fares and age break down. Does every person no matter how young or old need fare in order to ride?

Thanks!

 

[golfgal]

The metro website says you can take 2 kids age 4 and under for each paying adult. Kids 5 and older need to pay. As far as fares go, it depends on where you are going as to how much they are. We got a week long unlimited pass when we were there.

 

[Iott Family]

Thanks for the reply golfgal! I just cant figure if that is for metro bus or rail service. Our Frommers guide states that it is bus and the website just has it listed in general under bus/rail.

 

[FireDancer]

I was just there this weekend and traveled solely by metro for all but one trip. There are a couple of ways to go and they are all very simple. I can't speak for the kid issue because the youngest person with us was 23.

There are daily passes available for $8.30. They are not good until 9:30am so if you are getting an early start they might not be beneficial. The one way fares are written right on the ticket machines so it is very easy to figure out the price. Lets say you are at DuPont circle and taking the Metro from that station to the Smithsonian (Blue or Orange line) you would see right on the machine that the rate is $1.65 (or whatever it is). The map is very easy to read and the trains are clearly marked for the line they are and the direction.

The same card you use to enter the station is used to exit so make sure to hold onto it. Also, if you end up having a couple of cents left on a card you can transfer what is left to a new one. For the standard tourist the day pass works really well because it means you don't have to pre-plan your returning station in order to purchase a card with enough on it for both trips.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Also if you get caught in the poring rain and your card gets wet and gross, you can go to metro center and they will replace it with the same amout on it. I remember when I went I bought a weekly pass but bought a single card too (I had $5) just because the panda bears were cute. Metro cards make great souvineers too.

 

[PlutoPony]

Metro has a good info at http://www.wmata.com/getting_around/ . If you go to "Visitor's Kit" you can print a handy dandy guide that gives a lot of helpful info. To get specific fare info, go to "Buying Fares" then "Trip Planning" . You'll need to select starting and ending station to get the specific fare.

Metro isn't hard to use, and you should be able to catch on quickly once there. There's a station manager at each station and they're usually pretty helpful in answering questions, etc.

Have never ever taken MetroBus in the 12 years I've lived here so can't give you any info on that. My guess is you can get by with just the rail system for the things people typically come to DC to see.

Have a good trip! Flowers are starting to bloom and it's starting to look and feel like spring here

 

[DancingBear]

Thanks for the reply golfgal! I just cant figure if that is for metro bus or rail service. Our Frommers guide states that it is bus and the website just has it listed in general under bus/rail.

Free small children includes rail, see this rail-specific page:

http://www.wmata.com/fares/metrorail.cfm

 

[NotUrsula]

Note that the Metro visitor passes for the train system are NOT valid for busses; there is a separate visitor pass for bus service.

 

[PlutoPony]

Just a couple things to keep in mind when riding Metro in DC

*No eating / drinking on the trains or in the station. You will occasionally see someone ignoring that rule but in general this is one that people do follow
*Go to the restroom before you get to the station - there are no public ones at the stations
*When riding the escalator at the stations stay to the right so that people moving quickly may go around you on your left.

 

[DancingBear]

Actually, there are restrooms in most Metro stations, they just don't make it obvious or easy to use.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/20/AR2009122002030.html

 

[mikehn]

Two important things to remember

1) If you park your car at any of the Metro lots, you must have a Smarttrip card with enough money on it in order to exit the lot. These lots have automatic gates that only accept Smarttrip, no cash or credit. So you will be stuck in the lot unless you have a Smarttrip card.

2) When riding the escalator, stand on the right side, walk on the left side.

 

[DancingBear]

1) If you park your car at any of the Metro lots, you must have a Smarttrip card with enough money on it in order to exit the lot. These lots have automatic gates that only accept Smarttrip, no cash or credit. So you will be stuck in the lot unless you have a Smarttrip card.

That is the general rule, but you can pay with credit cards at:

Anacostia, Franconia-Springfield, Largo Town Center, New Carrollton, Shady Grove, and Vienna/Fairfax-GMU