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The bright red DC Circulator busses drive three circular routes to and from many major tourist and dining areas in DC for only $1.00 per trip (half price for seniors and the disabled).  The $3.00 one-day pass is a great deal if you are planning on lots of sightseeing.  Busses stop every couple blocks and you can get on and off at any stop.

Convention Center – SE Waterfront Route – This route runs from the DC Convention Center through The National Mall to the SE Waterfront restaurant district.  Some great restaurants and nightclubs can be found on the SE Waterfront along with Washington’s Fish Market. Runs daily from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Smithsonian – National Gallery of Art Route – This bus route is ideal for the Mall visitor.  It circles the Mall from 4th Street to 17th Street along Constitution and Independence Avenues and gets you close to virtually every monument on the National Mall. The longest walks are (about 4 blocks) to the Capitol building from the furthest west end of the route and (about 7 blocks) to the Lincoln Memorial from the furthest east end of the route. Runs weekends only from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Georgetown – Union Station Route – This bus runs from Union Station down Massachusetts Avenue to K Street and into the heart of Georgetown, ending at Wisconsin Avenue before it turns around and retraces it path.  It also passes the Convention Center and is idea for visiting restaurants in the downtown area, in Chinatown and in Georgetown. Runs daily from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Additional Information and Details
Circulator stop every couple blocks. Look for the red & white Circulator signs. 

Circulators run approximatelty every 5-10 minutes.
$1.00 fare requires exact change or dollar bills.
- Metrobus transfer – free
- Metrorail (subeway) transfer 35¢

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Farecards & MetroRail Passes
The cost to ride the metro is based on the distance you travel and the time of day (rush hour is a bit higher). Costs range from $1.35 for short rides, to a maximum of $3.90 for the longest rides. 

There are a few options from pay-per-ride using a rechargeable MetroRail Farecard to a daily MetroRail Pass ($6.50) or a weekly pass ($22.00-$32.50).  However passes have specific conditions such as limited travel times (not before 9:30 AM weekdays, etc.) so check carefully before purchasing.  The daily pass is ideal if you are planning on riding the Metro more than a couple times a day, especially on weekends.  To determine how much your ride will cost, check the fare chart at your starting station; it will list the cost from that station to any other station.

If you pay per ride, you must buy a rechargeable MetroRail Farecard at any of the vending machines located at the entrance of every station.  Farecards hold between $1.25 and $45.00.  It tracks your starting and ending station and then automatically debits the fare as you exit the station.  You can add value to your card at any time at any station in case your card’s value is less than is needed to pay for your ride.  Farecard vending machines take CASH ONLY and provided limited change ($5 max.), so using smaller bills is advised.  You can however use a credit card to purchase daily and weekly MetroRail Pass cards. 

Up to two kids under 5 years old ride free with a paid adult. Seniors and the disabled ride for half price.  Most stations have escalators or elevators. Everyone else pays full fare. Yet when compared to fighting traffic and finding and paying for parking, the Metro is a safe, logical and easy alternative. 

Metro Hours 
Unlike many large city subway systems, Washington DC’s Metro subway trains do not run 24-hours a day.

Metro’s hours of operation are:
Monday - Thursday 5 a.m. to Midnight
Friday                    5 a.m. to 3 a.m. 
Saturday                7 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Sunday                  7 a.m. to Midnight

Trains run every roughly 5-6 minutes during the rush hour, every 12 minutes midday and every 15-20 minutes during the evening and night.

If traveling close to closing time, check train schedules for the last train of the night as it may leave your station long before stated system closing times. This is especially important if you need to transfer to another line mid-trip.  Once on a last train of the night, it will run to the end of the line so you won’t get stranded mid-system.

Contact Metro at 202-962-1234 or use their handy online trip planner.

Parking at a Metro Parking Lot
Some Metro stations have parking.  On weekdays, it can be difficult to find a spot after 9:00 a.m.  If you plan to park at any of the parking lots at some Metro stations, paying for parking requires a specific prepaid parking card.

Phot credit 1: flickr

Post from: The DC Traveler