Schedule

Metro Hours & Schedule

Operating hours, train frequency, first and last trains, holiday schedules, and everything you need to plan your trip.

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Operating Hours

Metro operates 5:00 AM to midnight Monday through Thursday, 5:00 AM to 2:00 AM on Friday, 6:00 AM to 2:00 AM on Saturday, and 6:00 AM to midnight on Sunday.

Day Opens Closes
Monday – Thursday 5:00 AM Midnight
Friday 5:00 AM 2:00 AM ✦
Saturday 6:00 AM 2:00 AM ✦
Sunday 6:00 AM Midnight

✦ Closes 2:00 AM the following day

Good to know

  • Each station opens 10 minutes before the first train arrives
  • First and last train times vary by station — check your station
  • Last trains leave terminal stations around the closing time listed above; mid-line stations see last trains earlier

Train Frequency

How often trains arrive depends on the time of day and which line you're riding.

Weekday Frequency

Line Rush Hour Midday Evening Late Night
Red Line 4–5 min 6 min 6 min 10 min
Orange Line 10 min 12 min 12 min 15 min
Blue Line 10 min 12 min 12 min 15 min
Silver Line 10 min 12 min 12 min 15 min
Yellow Line 6 min 6 min 6 min 7–8 min
Green Line 6 min 6 min 6 min 7–8 min
Rush Hour: 7–9 AM and 4–6 PM weekdays Midday: 9 AM – 4 PM weekdays Evening: 6 – 9:30 PM Late Night: 9:30 PM – close

Weekend Frequency

Line Daytime Late Night
Red Line 6 min 10 min
Orange Line 12 min 15 min
Blue Line 12 min 15 min
Silver Line 12 min 15 min
Yellow Line 8 min 8 min
Green Line 8 min 8 min
Daytime: 6 AM – 9:30 PM Late Night: 9:30 PM – close

Published frequency is the scheduled interval. Actual wait times may vary due to service conditions. For real-time arrivals, check live times.

Fare Periods

Metro fares depend on when you ride and how far you travel.

Weekday Fares (5:00 AM – 9:30 PM)

Fares are distance-based, ranging from $2.25 to $6.75 depending on how far you travel. The farther you go, the more you pay.

Late Night & Weekend Fares

After 9:30 PM on weekdays and all day on weekends, fares are a flat rate between $2.25 and $2.50 regardless of distance.

The 9:30 PM cutoff applies to when you tap in, not when you tap out. If you enter before 9:30 PM, weekday distance-based fares apply to your entire trip.

Calculate your fare →

Note: WMATA eliminated traditional "peak" and "off-peak" fare pricing in June 2023. All weekday rides before 9:30 PM now use the same distance-based fare. If you see references to "peak hours" affecting fares on other sites, that information is outdated.

First & Last Trains by Line

First and last train times vary by station. Below are departure times from each line's terminal stations.

Red Line

Shady Grove → Glenmont

First Train Last Train
Mon–Thu5:02 AM11:37 PM
Friday5:02 AM1:37 AM
Saturday6:02 AM1:37 AM
Sunday6:02 AM11:37 PM

Glenmont → Shady Grove

First Train Last Train
Mon–Thu4:55 AM11:30 PM
Friday4:55 AM1:30 AM
Saturday5:55 AM1:30 AM
Sunday5:55 AM11:30 PM

See all Red Line stations →

Orange Line

Vienna → New Carrollton

First Train Last Train
Mon–Thu4:50 AM11:21 PM
Friday4:50 AM1:21 AM
Saturday5:50 AM1:21 AM
Sunday5:50 AM11:21 PM

New Carrollton → Vienna

First Train Last Train
Mon–Thu5:04 AM11:32 PM
Friday5:04 AM1:32 AM
Saturday6:04 AM1:32 AM
Sunday6:04 AM11:32 PM

See all Orange Line stations →

Blue Line

Franconia-Springfield → Downtown Largo

First Train Last Train
Mon–Thu4:50 AM11:20 PM
Friday4:50 AM1:20 AM
Saturday5:50 AM1:20 AM
Sunday5:50 AM11:20 PM

Downtown Largo → Franconia-Springfield

First Train Last Train
Mon–Thu5:09 AM11:33 PM
Friday5:09 AM1:33 AM
Saturday6:09 AM1:33 AM
Sunday6:09 AM11:33 PM

See all Blue Line stations →

Yellow Line

Huntington → Mt Vernon Sq (every other train continues to Greenbelt)

First Train Last Train
Mon–Thu4:56 AM11:22 PM
Friday4:56 AM1:22 AM
Saturday5:56 AM1:22 AM
Sunday5:56 AM11:22 PM

See all Yellow Line stations →

Green Line

Branch Ave → Greenbelt

First Train Last Train
Mon–Thu4:47 AM11:19 PM
Friday4:47 AM1:19 AM
Saturday5:47 AM1:19 AM
Sunday5:47 AM11:19 PM

Greenbelt → Branch Ave

First Train Last Train
Mon–Thu5:00 AM11:30 PM
Friday5:00 AM1:30 AM
Saturday6:00 AM1:30 AM
Sunday6:00 AM11:30 PM

See all Green Line stations →

Silver Line

The Silver Line splits at Stadium-Armory, with trains alternating between Downtown Largo and New Carrollton.

Ashburn → Downtown Largo / New Carrollton

First Train Last Train
Mon–Thu4:55 AM11:25 PM
Friday4:55 AM1:25 AM
Saturday5:55 AM1:25 AM
Sunday5:55 AM11:25 PM

Pay attention to train destination signs — not all Silver Line trains go to the same end station.

See all Silver Line stations →

Late Night Service

Metro runs later on Friday and Saturday nights, with service until 2:00 AM.

Tips for late-night riders

  • Last trains leave terminal stations around 1:30 AM — allow travel time to reach your destination
  • Frequency drops significantly after 9:30 PM (trains every 10–30 minutes depending on line)
  • Check real-time arrivals before heading to the station — view live times
  • Transfers may not connect — verify your connection is still running if changing lines late at night

Holiday Schedule

Metro runs on modified hours for federal holidays, typically using weekend service patterns.

2026 Holidays

Date Holiday Hours Frequency
Thu, Jan 1 New Year's Day 6 AM – Midnight Weekend
Mon, Jan 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Day 6 AM – Midnight Weekend
Mon, Feb 16 Presidents' Day 6 AM – Midnight Weekend
Mon, May 25 Memorial Day 6 AM – Midnight Weekend
Fri, Jun 19 Juneteenth 5 AM – 2 AM Weekend
Fri, Jul 3 Independence Day (observed) 6 AM – 2 AM Weekend
Sat, Jul 4 Independence Day 6 AM – 2 AM Special
Mon, Sep 7 Labor Day 6 AM – Midnight Weekend
Mon, Oct 12 Columbus Day 5 AM – Midnight Weekend
Wed, Nov 11 Veterans Day 5 AM – Midnight Weekend
Thu, Nov 26 Thanksgiving 6 AM – Midnight Late Night (all day)
Fri, Nov 27 Post-Thanksgiving 5 AM – 2 AM Weekday
Thu, Dec 24 Christmas Eve 5 AM – Midnight Weekday
Fri, Dec 25 Christmas Day 6 AM – TBD Late Night (all day)
Thu, Dec 31 New Year's Eve 5 AM – TBD Weekday
Fri, Jan 1, 2027 New Year's Day 6 AM – TBD Weekend

TBD = Extended hours typically announced closer to the date

On holidays

  • Weekend/holiday fares apply all day ($2.25–$2.50 flat rate)
  • Parking is free at Metro-owned garages and lots
  • Weekend frequency means trains arrive every 6–15 minutes depending on line

Check current service alerts →

Special Event Service

Metro often extends hours or increases service for major events.

Events with extended service (historically)

  • July 4th fireworks — Extended hours, increased frequency, often free fares after 5 PM
  • New Year's Eve — Extended to 2 AM, often free fares after 8 PM
  • Inauguration Day — Early opening (as early as 4 AM), extended hours, modified service
  • Cherry Blossom Festival — Normal hours, but WMATA suspends major track work during the festival (late March – early April)
  • Nationals games — Extra service to Navy Yard station
  • Capitals/Wizards games — Extra service to Gallery Place
  • Major concerts at Capital One Arena — Extra service to Gallery Place

Extended hours and free fares for special events are announced per-event. Check alerts for current event service.

Planned Service Changes — 2026

Summer 2026 Red Line Construction (Jul 6 – Sep 6)

  • No trains between North Bethesda and Friendship Heights — Three stations closed: Grosvenor-Strathmore, Medical Center, and Bethesda
  • Red Line splits into two segments: Shady Grove to North Bethesda, and Friendship Heights to Glenmont
  • Free shuttle buses every 5–8 minutes between closed stations (Express: ~26 min, Local: ~48 min)
  • Purpose: New second mezzanine at Bethesda for Purple Line integration, platform rehabilitation at Grosvenor-Strathmore, Rockville Pike bridge replacement

For the latest updates, visit WMATA's Summer 2026 Red Line page.

Weekend Track Work

WMATA performs essential maintenance on weekends, which often affects service.

What to expect

  • Single-tracking — Trains share one track, doubling wait times on affected segments
  • Station bypasses — Some stations may be skipped; shuttle buses provided
  • Reduced frequency — Trains may run every 20–30+ minutes on affected lines

This happens nearly every weekend. Always check for service alerts before weekend travel.

View current alerts →

Severe Weather

Metro can operate in snow up to about six inches. When accumulation exceeds eight inches, above-ground service may be suspended.

During severe weather

  • Above-ground segments (e.g., parts of Red, Orange, Blue, Yellow, Green lines) may close
  • Underground segments typically remain operational
  • Check WMATA alerts for real-time service status

Tips for Riders

Catching the last train?

Last train times listed above are departures from terminal stations. If you're at a mid-line station, the last train passes through earlier. Always check your specific station's last train time.

Riding late night?

Frequency drops significantly after 9:30 PM. Check real-time arrivals before leaving — a 15–20 minute wait is common.

Traveling on weekends?

Expect service disruptions due to track work. Check alerts and plan extra travel time.

New to Metro?

The Red Line runs most frequently (every 4–6 minutes during the day). Other lines run every 10–15 minutes. If you're transferring between lines, check that your connection is available at the time you're traveling.

Official Resources

For the most current information, visit these WMATA resources:

WMATA Transit information provided on this site is subject to change without notice. Schedule information is based on published WMATA data as of March 2026. Metro schedules change periodically — typically in June and December each year. For the most current information, visit wmata.com. NextMetro is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to WMATA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Metro operating hours, schedules, and service.

What time does DC Metro open?

Metro opens at 5:00 AM Monday through Friday, and 6:00 AM on Saturday and Sunday. Each station opens approximately 10 minutes before the first train arrives. The first trains depart from terminal stations (like Shady Grove, Vienna, Branch Ave) — so if you're at a mid-line station, the first train will arrive a few minutes later depending on how far you are from the terminal.

What time does DC Metro close?

Metro closes at midnight Sunday through Thursday, and at 2:00 AM on Friday and Saturday nights (technically early Saturday and Sunday morning). Last trains depart terminal stations about 30 minutes before the system closes. If you're at a mid-line station, the last train passes through earlier — always check your specific station's last train time before heading out.

How often do Metro trains come?

Train frequency varies by line and time of day. During weekday rush hours (7–9 AM, 4–6 PM), the Red Line runs every 4–5 minutes while other lines run every 6–12 minutes. During midday and evenings, most lines run every 6–12 minutes. After 9:30 PM, frequency drops to every 10–15 minutes. On weekends, the Red Line runs about every 6 minutes during the day, other lines every 8–12 minutes.

Does Metro run on holidays?

Yes, Metro operates on all federal holidays, typically using weekend hours and frequency (6 AM – midnight, trains every 6–15 minutes). Weekend/holiday fares ($2.25–$2.50) apply all day, and parking is free at Metro-owned garages and lots. Some holidays like July 4th and New Year's Eve may have extended hours announced closer to the date.

Does Metro run later on weekends?

Metro runs later on Friday and Saturday nights only, with service until 2:00 AM (compared to midnight on other nights). However, keep in mind that train frequency drops significantly after 9:30 PM — you may wait 10–30 minutes between trains depending on which line you're riding. Last trains depart terminal stations around 1:30 AM on extended nights.