Transfer Stations

The DC Metro has four in-system transfer stations where passengers can switch between lines without leaving the station: Metro Center (Red, Orange, Blue, Silver), Gallery Place-Chinatown (Red, Green, Yellow), L’Enfant Plaza (Orange, Blue, Silver, Green, Yellow), and Fort Totten (Red, Green, Yellow). There is also a free walking transfer between Farragut North (Red) and Farragut West (Orange, Blue, Silver).

Metro Center has two platforms connected by escalators and elevators. Platform A serves the Red Line (Shady Grove and Glenmont directions), while Platform B serves the Orange, Blue, and Silver Lines. Follow signs for your destination line when transferring. The transfer is free and included in your fare.

No. Transferring between Metrorail lines is free and included in your fare. You do not need to tap out and back in — simply follow the signs to the other platform within the station. Your fare is calculated based on your origin and final destination, regardless of how many lines you use during your trip.

Gallery Place-Chinatown connects the Red Line with the Green and Yellow Lines. The upper platform serves the Red Line, while the lower platform serves the Green and Yellow Lines. The station is located in downtown DC near Capital One Arena.

The Farragut walking transfer allows passengers to exit at Farragut North (Red Line) and walk one block to Farragut West (Orange, Blue, Silver Lines), or vice versa, without paying an additional fare. You must tap out at one station and tap in at the other within 30 minutes for the transfer to be free. This is the only free out-of-station transfer in the Metro system.

You can transfer from the Red Line to the Green or Yellow Line at two stations: Gallery Place-Chinatown (downtown DC, near Capital One Arena) or Fort Totten (northeast DC/Maryland border). At Gallery Place, take the escalators between the upper Red Line platform and the lower Green/Yellow platform. At Fort Totten, the transfer is cross-platform on the same level.

L’Enfant Plaza connects the most Metro lines — five of the six lines stop there: Orange, Blue, Silver, Green, and Yellow. The only line that does not serve L’Enfant Plaza is the Red Line. It is the busiest transfer station in the system and is located near the National Mall, Smithsonian museums, and several federal agencies.

In-station transfers typically take 2 to 5 minutes, depending on the station layout and whether you need to use escalators or elevators. At Metro Center and Gallery Place, you’ll ride escalators between levels. At Fort Totten, the transfer is cross-platform (same level). The Farragut walking transfer takes about 5 to 10 minutes on foot between the two stations.

Metro connects to all three DC-area airports. DCA (Reagan National) is directly on the Blue and Yellow Lines — about 20 minutes from Metro Center with a covered walkway to the terminals. Dulles Airport (IAD) is on the Silver Line, about 55 minutes from Metro Center, with a free shuttle from the station to the terminals.

For BWI Marshall Airport, take the Red Line to Union Station, then catch a MARC Penn Line train (about 35 minutes) or Amtrak (about 25 minutes) to BWI Rail Station. A free shuttle runs between the rail station and airport terminals.

Yes. Union Station (Red Line) is the main intercity bus terminal for Washington, DC. Greyhound, Megabus, FlixBus, and Peter Pan all operate from the bus deck on the upper level of the parking garage. From the Metro station, take escalators up through the main hall to the mezzanine level and follow signs to the bus gates. Carriers serve destinations including New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Baltimore.