Getting in and out of DC is easy to do, complicated only by the choices available.

Once arrived, how do you get around town to all those great things you’ve heard about? You’ll find walking often works best. Because of traffic congestion, limited parking, and confusing streets, cars are often the least useful means of travel.

You are fortunate to have so many transportation options:

• Three area airports, with attending connections to town
• National train service by Amtrak, north, south, and west
• Interstate bus service by Greyhound
• Two state commuter rail systems: Maryland and Virginia
• Metropolitan subway
• Metropolitan bus service
• Taxicab service
• Rental cars
• Many other services: car, limousine, bus, trolley, boat

Maps and Directions can provide the best options for driving routes, especially to Ithaca and New York.

Airports and Transport Connections

Washington’s three area airports are: National, Dulles, and BWI. The Airport websites are the best source for up to the minute info and details, including ground transport.

Washington National Airport (DCA) is by far the closest, cheapest, and most convenient in terms of connecting transport. Metrorail Blue and Yellow Lines run directly to the main terminal, about 45 minutes all told from CIW to terminal; taxi’s cost is approximately $19 for the 15 minute trip to the Cornell University Wolpe Center.

Dulles International (IAD) is considerably farther away. Taxi service is about $51 for the 50 minute trip. Super Shuttle minivan service with pickup is available 5:30 AM until 12:30 AM for $27 first person / $10 each additional, with 24 hour advanced reservations required. Washington Flyer ($10) provides bus service between West Falls Church on the Orange Line Metro and Dulles Airport.

Baltimore-Washington International (BWI), though not especially convenient, has a number of options. Taxi’s take about an hour and cost about $79. Super Shuttle minivan service with pickup is available 24 hours a day for $35 first person / $12 each additional. A free shuttle bus also connects the airport to nearby 30 minute rail service from Amtrak ($20) or MARC ($6.00); Amtrak runs daily from 5:00 AM until variously 10:45/11:30 PM; MARC runs only on weekdays from 5:30 AM until 10:30 PM; from either train, connect at Union Station to Metro Red Line. Metro also runs a BWI Express Metrobus from Greenbelt Station on the Green Line from 6AM weekdays and 8:40 AM Weekends until 10:00 PM; the cost is only $4.55, less with a Metro transfer.

Amtrak provides interstate rail service from Union Station.

Greyhound provides less expensive but more time consuming bus service from their terminal at 1005 1st Street, NE; the walk from Union Station could be dicey after dusk. Both Amtrak and Greyhound have multiple connections to New York City, and decent networks elsewhere.

There are two commuter rail services also out of Union Station: MARC, for Maryland, especially Baltimore (about 1 hour, $10.50 round trip), and Virginia Rail. Prices are quite reasonable.

GETTING AROUND TOWN

City Layout

Many CIW students walk to work, to stores, and to entertainment. When driving, the city streets seem complicated, but on foot, they seem more rational. Certain rules should be kept in mind:

• The city has four directional quadrants - NW, NE, SE, SW – with numbered and lettered streets radiating consecutively out from the Capitol.
• Traffic flows north and south on numbered streets.
• Traffic flows east and west on lettered streets.
• When letters run out, 2 and then 3 syllable words run alphabetically.
• There are many exceptions: small streets, no J Street, big diagonal Avenues, etc.
• Addresses increase by 100’s every block: 2148 O Street is between 21st and 22nd Streets; 1400 22nd Street lies at the intersection with O Street, 14 up from A.

For the foot weary or rushed, there’s a large variety of public transport within the metropolitan area. For planning, whether a regular route to work or a new adventure, try the Ride Guide or the Metro website.

The Washington Metro Transit Authority runs the subway and bus system for the metropolitan area. You can find hours, fares, best routes, local maps, etc. at the Metro website or at each Metro station.

The subway is safe, clean, comfortable, efficient, and cool, in more ways than one, and it reaches most central locations. The system uses electronic fare cards (minimum fare $1.65), needed for both entry and exit; take care, change is only in coins, no matter how much. Special deals may be worth your while. The subway hours are essentially 6 AM to Midnight, though the system stays open later on Friday and Saturday nights and opens later on Saturday, Sunday, and Holiday mornings.

The two Metro stops closest to the Center are: Dupont Circle, on the Red Line, with exits at Dupont Circle and 19th Street and at Q and 20th Streets, about five minutes walk; and Foggy Bottom, on the Blue and Orange Lines, at 23rd and I Streets, about ten minutes walk. The Red Line is most convenient for getting to Metro Center, Union Station, or the Maryland suburbs; its connection to the Yellow Line can get you to National Airport. The Foggy Bottom stop is convenient mostly for trips to Virginia or to avoid transfers from another line.