Washington DC metro rail and bus
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I will be travaling to Washington DC for 6 days, and trying to figure out how to best get around in the city. I very much like the idea of not having to worry about buying tickets for each single trip, but to instead to simply "hop on, hop off" while exploring the city.
I found the following website that describes the passes available for the public transport system, and I am looking at the 7-day passes in particular: https://www.wmata.com/fares/farecard-options.cfm
However, I could not figure out if metro rail and metro bus are completely separate systems when it comes to the 7-day pases. If I want to ride metro AND bus, do I need both 7-day passes? Or does the more expensive one (rail) also cover bus trips?
Thanks,
Thomas
public-transport tickets fares washington-dc
edited Sep 22 '17 at 22:26
Nate Eldredge
20k675100
asked Sep 22 '17 at 22:12
Thomas
1262
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
I will be travaling to Washington DC for 6 days, and trying to figure out how to best get around in the city. I very much like the idea of not having to worry about buying tickets for each single trip, but to instead to simply "hop on, hop off" while exploring the city.
I found the following website that describes the passes available for the public transport system, and I am looking at the 7-day passes in particular: https://www.wmata.com/fares/farecard-options.cfm
However, I could not figure out if metro rail and metro bus are completely separate systems when it comes to the 7-day pases. If I want to ride metro AND bus, do I need both 7-day passes? Or does the more expensive one (rail) also cover bus trips?
Thanks,
Thomas
public-transport tickets fares washington-dc
edited Sep 22 '17 at 22:26
Nate Eldredge
20k675100
asked Sep 22 '17 at 22:12
Thomas
1262
2
Note you can also use the SmarTrip cards in a "stored value" mode, where you load some money on the card and each trip deducts from your stored balance. That would also save you from having to buy a new ticket for each individual trip, and it might be cheaper depending on how much you plan to travel.
– Nate Eldredge
Sep 22 '17 at 22:28
Thank you @Nate-Eldredge I appreciate your suggestion. But, to figure out if it might be worth paying individual trips, vs. buying a pass, I would want to know if I would need to buy one of the 7-day passes, or both of them (rail + bus)
– Thomas
Sep 22 '17 at 22:47
1
The page you link includes a description explaining what each pass is good for. Some are Metrorail only, some are Metrobus only, some are Metrorail or Metrobus up to a certain amount, some are both Metrorail and Metrobus up to a certain amount. Generally, I think most tourists are better off with a little planning and regular stored value deduction as opposed to a pass.
– choster
Sep 22 '17 at 23:03
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
I will be travaling to Washington DC for 6 days, and trying to figure out how to best get around in the city. I very much like the idea of not having to worry about buying tickets for each single trip, but to instead to simply "hop on, hop off" while exploring the city.
I found the following website that describes the passes available for the public transport system, and I am looking at the 7-day passes in particular: https://www.wmata.com/fares/farecard-options.cfm
However, I could not figure out if metro rail and metro bus are completely separate systems when it comes to the 7-day pases. If I want to ride metro AND bus, do I need both 7-day passes? Or does the more expensive one (rail) also cover bus trips?
Thanks,
Thomas
public-transport tickets fares washington-dc
edited Sep 22 '17 at 22:26
Nate Eldredge
20k675100
asked Sep 22 '17 at 22:12
Thomas
1262
I will be travaling to Washington DC for 6 days, and trying to figure out how to best get around in the city. I very much like the idea of not having to worry about buying tickets for each single trip, but to instead to simply "hop on, hop off" while exploring the city.
I found the following website that describes the passes available for the public transport system, and I am looking at the 7-day passes in particular: https://www.wmata.com/fares/farecard-options.cfm
However, I could not figure out if metro rail and metro bus are completely separate systems when it comes to the 7-day pases. If I want to ride metro AND bus, do I need both 7-day passes? Or does the more expensive one (rail) also cover bus trips?
Thanks,
Thomas
public-transport tickets fares washington-dc
public-transport tickets fares washington-dc
edited Sep 22 '17 at 22:26
Nate Eldredge
20k675100
asked Sep 22 '17 at 22:12
Thomas
1262
edited Sep 22 '17 at 22:26
Nate Eldredge
20k675100
asked Sep 22 '17 at 22:12
Thomas
1262
edited Sep 22 '17 at 22:26
Nate Eldredge
20k675100
edited Sep 22 '17 at 22:26
Nate Eldredge
20k675100
edited Sep 22 '17 at 22:26
Nate Eldredge
20k675100
20k675100
asked Sep 22 '17 at 22:12
Thomas
1262
asked Sep 22 '17 at 22:12
Thomas
1262
asked Sep 22 '17 at 22:12
Thomas
1262
1262
2
Note you can also use the SmarTrip cards in a "stored value" mode, where you load some money on the card and each trip deducts from your stored balance. That would also save you from having to buy a new ticket for each individual trip, and it might be cheaper depending on how much you plan to travel.
– Nate Eldredge
Sep 22 '17 at 22:28
Thank you @Nate-Eldredge I appreciate your suggestion. But, to figure out if it might be worth paying individual trips, vs. buying a pass, I would want to know if I would need to buy one of the 7-day passes, or both of them (rail + bus)
– Thomas
Sep 22 '17 at 22:47
1
The page you link includes a description explaining what each pass is good for. Some are Metrorail only, some are Metrobus only, some are Metrorail or Metrobus up to a certain amount, some are both Metrorail and Metrobus up to a certain amount. Generally, I think most tourists are better off with a little planning and regular stored value deduction as opposed to a pass.
– choster
Sep 22 '17 at 23:03
add a comment |Â
2
Note you can also use the SmarTrip cards in a "stored value" mode, where you load some money on the card and each trip deducts from your stored balance. That would also save you from having to buy a new ticket for each individual trip, and it might be cheaper depending on how much you plan to travel.
– Nate Eldredge
Sep 22 '17 at 22:28
Thank you @Nate-Eldredge I appreciate your suggestion. But, to figure out if it might be worth paying individual trips, vs. buying a pass, I would want to know if I would need to buy one of the 7-day passes, or both of them (rail + bus)
– Thomas
Sep 22 '17 at 22:47
1
The page you link includes a description explaining what each pass is good for. Some are Metrorail only, some are Metrobus only, some are Metrorail or Metrobus up to a certain amount, some are both Metrorail and Metrobus up to a certain amount. Generally, I think most tourists are better off with a little planning and regular stored value deduction as opposed to a pass.
– choster
Sep 22 '17 at 23:03
2
2
Note you can also use the SmarTrip cards in a "stored value" mode, where you load some money on the card and each trip deducts from your stored balance. That would also save you from having to buy a new ticket for each individual trip, and it might be cheaper depending on how much you plan to travel.
– Nate Eldredge
Sep 22 '17 at 22:28
Note you can also use the SmarTrip cards in a "stored value" mode, where you load some money on the card and each trip deducts from your stored balance. That would also save you from having to buy a new ticket for each individual trip, and it might be cheaper depending on how much you plan to travel.
– Nate Eldredge
Sep 22 '17 at 22:28
Thank you @Nate-Eldredge I appreciate your suggestion. But, to figure out if it might be worth paying individual trips, vs. buying a pass, I would want to know if I would need to buy one of the 7-day passes, or both of them (rail + bus)
– Thomas
Sep 22 '17 at 22:47
Thank you @Nate-Eldredge I appreciate your suggestion. But, to figure out if it might be worth paying individual trips, vs. buying a pass, I would want to know if I would need to buy one of the 7-day passes, or both of them (rail + bus)
– Thomas
Sep 22 '17 at 22:47
1
1
The page you link includes a description explaining what each pass is good for. Some are Metrorail only, some are Metrobus only, some are Metrorail or Metrobus up to a certain amount, some are both Metrorail and Metrobus up to a certain amount. Generally, I think most tourists are better off with a little planning and regular stored value deduction as opposed to a pass.
– choster
Sep 22 '17 at 23:03
The page you link includes a description explaining what each pass is good for. Some are Metrorail only, some are Metrobus only, some are Metrorail or Metrobus up to a certain amount, some are both Metrorail and Metrobus up to a certain amount. Generally, I think most tourists are better off with a little planning and regular stored value deduction as opposed to a pass.
– choster
Sep 22 '17 at 23:03
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
Metro is expensive if you're paying full-fare for each trip. If you are taking multiple trips per day for six days, it would definitely make sense to get a pass.
According to the page you linked, the "7-Day Fast Pass" and the "7-Day Short Trip Pass" are both valid on Metrorail only. Metro offers a "7-Day Regional Bus Pass" that you could conceivably add on to your Fast Pass.
But do you even need to take a bus? The subway system is pretty extensive (if sometimes undependable), and services most of the downtown and tourist areas. It also goes pretty far out to the suburbs. The bus network is mostly for commuters, and fills in the places that Metrorail doesn't service. You didn't say where you'll be staying, nor where you're planning on going, so it's hard to answer definitively.
Also, be aware that if you park your car in a Metro parking lot, you will also need either a SmarTrip card or a credit card to pay for parking. Check Metro's site for your particular station to see if credit cards are accepted at the lot.
answered Sep 23 '17 at 18:28
Mike Harris
1,144617
1
"Also, be aware that if you park your car in a Metro parking lot, you will also need your SmarTrip card to pay for parking." that is no longer true, mostly. WMATA added credit card readers to most stations on exit. See their site for details on which stations have credit card reading at exit. The is useful for passes as passes cannot be used to exit garage.
– vcsjones
Oct 17 '17 at 22:18
Thanks, @vcsjones, I've updated my answer to indicate that credit cards are also accepted.
– Mike Harris
Oct 18 '17 at 13:30
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
Metro is expensive if you're paying full-fare for each trip. If you are taking multiple trips per day for six days, it would definitely make sense to get a pass.
According to the page you linked, the "7-Day Fast Pass" and the "7-Day Short Trip Pass" are both valid on Metrorail only. Metro offers a "7-Day Regional Bus Pass" that you could conceivably add on to your Fast Pass.
But do you even need to take a bus? The subway system is pretty extensive (if sometimes undependable), and services most of the downtown and tourist areas. It also goes pretty far out to the suburbs. The bus network is mostly for commuters, and fills in the places that Metrorail doesn't service. You didn't say where you'll be staying, nor where you're planning on going, so it's hard to answer definitively.
Also, be aware that if you park your car in a Metro parking lot, you will also need either a SmarTrip card or a credit card to pay for parking. Check Metro's site for your particular station to see if credit cards are accepted at the lot.
answered Sep 23 '17 at 18:28
Mike Harris
1,144617
1
"Also, be aware that if you park your car in a Metro parking lot, you will also need your SmarTrip card to pay for parking." that is no longer true, mostly. WMATA added credit card readers to most stations on exit. See their site for details on which stations have credit card reading at exit. The is useful for passes as passes cannot be used to exit garage.
– vcsjones
Oct 17 '17 at 22:18
Thanks, @vcsjones, I've updated my answer to indicate that credit cards are also accepted.
– Mike Harris
Oct 18 '17 at 13:30
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
Metro is expensive if you're paying full-fare for each trip. If you are taking multiple trips per day for six days, it would definitely make sense to get a pass.
According to the page you linked, the "7-Day Fast Pass" and the "7-Day Short Trip Pass" are both valid on Metrorail only. Metro offers a "7-Day Regional Bus Pass" that you could conceivably add on to your Fast Pass.
But do you even need to take a bus? The subway system is pretty extensive (if sometimes undependable), and services most of the downtown and tourist areas. It also goes pretty far out to the suburbs. The bus network is mostly for commuters, and fills in the places that Metrorail doesn't service. You didn't say where you'll be staying, nor where you're planning on going, so it's hard to answer definitively.
Also, be aware that if you park your car in a Metro parking lot, you will also need either a SmarTrip card or a credit card to pay for parking. Check Metro's site for your particular station to see if credit cards are accepted at the lot.
answered Sep 23 '17 at 18:28
Mike Harris
1,144617
1
"Also, be aware that if you park your car in a Metro parking lot, you will also need your SmarTrip card to pay for parking." that is no longer true, mostly. WMATA added credit card readers to most stations on exit. See their site for details on which stations have credit card reading at exit. The is useful for passes as passes cannot be used to exit garage.
– vcsjones
Oct 17 '17 at 22:18
Thanks, @vcsjones, I've updated my answer to indicate that credit cards are also accepted.
– Mike Harris
Oct 18 '17 at 13:30
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
Metro is expensive if you're paying full-fare for each trip. If you are taking multiple trips per day for six days, it would definitely make sense to get a pass.
According to the page you linked, the "7-Day Fast Pass" and the "7-Day Short Trip Pass" are both valid on Metrorail only. Metro offers a "7-Day Regional Bus Pass" that you could conceivably add on to your Fast Pass.
But do you even need to take a bus? The subway system is pretty extensive (if sometimes undependable), and services most of the downtown and tourist areas. It also goes pretty far out to the suburbs. The bus network is mostly for commuters, and fills in the places that Metrorail doesn't service. You didn't say where you'll be staying, nor where you're planning on going, so it's hard to answer definitively.
Also, be aware that if you park your car in a Metro parking lot, you will also need either a SmarTrip card or a credit card to pay for parking. Check Metro's site for your particular station to see if credit cards are accepted at the lot.
answered Sep 23 '17 at 18:28
Mike Harris
1,144617
Metro is expensive if you're paying full-fare for each trip. If you are taking multiple trips per day for six days, it would definitely make sense to get a pass.
According to the page you linked, the "7-Day Fast Pass" and the "7-Day Short Trip Pass" are both valid on Metrorail only. Metro offers a "7-Day Regional Bus Pass" that you could conceivably add on to your Fast Pass.
But do you even need to take a bus? The subway system is pretty extensive (if sometimes undependable), and services most of the downtown and tourist areas. It also goes pretty far out to the suburbs. The bus network is mostly for commuters, and fills in the places that Metrorail doesn't service. You didn't say where you'll be staying, nor where you're planning on going, so it's hard to answer definitively.
Also, be aware that if you park your car in a Metro parking lot, you will also need either a SmarTrip card or a credit card to pay for parking. Check Metro's site for your particular station to see if credit cards are accepted at the lot.
answered Sep 23 '17 at 18:28
Mike Harris
1,144617
edited Oct 18 '17 at 13:29
answered Sep 23 '17 at 18:28
Mike Harris
1,144617
answered Sep 23 '17 at 18:28
Mike Harris
1,144617
answered Sep 23 '17 at 18:28
Mike Harris
1,144617
1,144617
1
"Also, be aware that if you park your car in a Metro parking lot, you will also need your SmarTrip card to pay for parking." that is no longer true, mostly. WMATA added credit card readers to most stations on exit. See their site for details on which stations have credit card reading at exit. The is useful for passes as passes cannot be used to exit garage.
– vcsjones
Oct 17 '17 at 22:18
Thanks, @vcsjones, I've updated my answer to indicate that credit cards are also accepted.
– Mike Harris
Oct 18 '17 at 13:30
add a comment |Â
1
"Also, be aware that if you park your car in a Metro parking lot, you will also need your SmarTrip card to pay for parking." that is no longer true, mostly. WMATA added credit card readers to most stations on exit. See their site for details on which stations have credit card reading at exit. The is useful for passes as passes cannot be used to exit garage.
– vcsjones
Oct 17 '17 at 22:18
Thanks, @vcsjones, I've updated my answer to indicate that credit cards are also accepted.
– Mike Harris
Oct 18 '17 at 13:30
1
1
"Also, be aware that if you park your car in a Metro parking lot, you will also need your SmarTrip card to pay for parking." that is no longer true, mostly. WMATA added credit card readers to most stations on exit. See their site for details on which stations have credit card reading at exit. The is useful for passes as passes cannot be used to exit garage.
– vcsjones
Oct 17 '17 at 22:18
"Also, be aware that if you park your car in a Metro parking lot, you will also need your SmarTrip card to pay for parking." that is no longer true, mostly. WMATA added credit card readers to most stations on exit. See their site for details on which stations have credit card reading at exit. The is useful for passes as passes cannot be used to exit garage.
– vcsjones
Oct 17 '17 at 22:18
Thanks, @vcsjones, I've updated my answer to indicate that credit cards are also accepted.
– Mike Harris
Oct 18 '17 at 13:30
Thanks, @vcsjones, I've updated my answer to indicate that credit cards are also accepted.
– Mike Harris
Oct 18 '17 at 13:30
add a comment |Â
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Note you can also use the SmarTrip cards in a "stored value" mode, where you load some money on the card and each trip deducts from your stored balance. That would also save you from having to buy a new ticket for each individual trip, and it might be cheaper depending on how much you plan to travel.
– Nate Eldredge
Sep 22 '17 at 22:28
Thank you @Nate-Eldredge I appreciate your suggestion. But, to figure out if it might be worth paying individual trips, vs. buying a pass, I would want to know if I would need to buy one of the 7-day passes, or both of them (rail + bus)
– Thomas
Sep 22 '17 at 22:47
1
The page you link includes a description explaining what each pass is good for. Some are Metrorail only, some are Metrobus only, some are Metrorail or Metrobus up to a certain amount, some are both Metrorail and Metrobus up to a certain amount. Generally, I think most tourists are better off with a little planning and regular stored value deduction as opposed to a pass.
– choster
Sep 22 '17 at 23:03