ℹAbout Ballston-MU Station

Ballston-MU is one of the busiest and most vibrant stations on the Orange and Silver lines, situated in the heart of Arlington's Ballston neighborhood — a nationally recognized model of transit-oriented development. The station opened on December 1, 1979, as part of the initial Orange Line segment, and has been at the center of Ballston's transformation from a suburban office corridor into a dense, walkable urban neighborhood.

The "MU" in the station name stands for Marymount University, whose Arlington campus is served by a shuttle from the station. The station itself is directly beneath the Ballston Quarter mixed-use complex, featuring a renovated mall with restaurants, shops, fitness centers, and residential towers — all accessible without stepping outside.

Ballston Quarter is built directly above the station — step off the train and walk into the mall concourse, rooftop restaurants, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, and a 24-Hour Fitness, all without going outside.

The Ballston neighborhood features one of the highest concentrations of restaurants and bars in Northern Virginia. Wilson Boulevard stretching from Ballston toward Clarendon has been nicknamed the "Restaurant Row" of Arlington, with dozens of dining options within a 5-minute walk of the station.

🚇Lines & Service

Orange Line
Vienna/Fairfax-GMU → New Carrollton
 Toward Vienna / New Carrollton Every 6–12 min peak
Silver Line
Ashburn/Dulles → Largo Town Center
 Toward Dulles / Largo Every 10–20 min

🗺Nearby Destinations

🛍
Ballston Quarter
Directly above station
🎬
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
In Ballston Quarter
🎓
Marymount University
Shuttle from station
🍺
Arlington Restaurant Row
Wilson Blvd · 5 min walk
🏋
24 Hour Fitness
In Ballston Quarter
🏢
Ballston Office District
0.2 mi walk

💡Rider Tips

  • 🛍
    Ballston Quarter is directly above the station — use the escalators from the platform to reach the mall concourse, restaurants, and cinema without going outside. Great option during bad weather.
  • 🍽
    The Wilson Boulevard corridor from Ballston toward Clarendon has some of Arlington's best restaurants. Ballston is particularly known for rooftop bars and pub-style dining.
  • 🎓
    Marymount University operates a free shuttle from Ballston Metro to their Arlington campus. Check MU's website for current schedules — the shuttle is available to students, faculty, and staff.
  • 🎟
    Ballston is in Fare Zone 1, meaning minimum fare applies for all trips starting here — $2.25 peak, $2.00 off-peak. Very affordable access point to all parts of the Metro system.
  • 🌙
    On weekend nights, Ballston has lively nightlife. Last Orange Line trains from Ballston to DC run around midnight on Friday/Saturday — plan accordingly to avoid missing the last train.

🔗Adjacent Stations

← East Falls Church Virginia Square-GMU → Clarendon Rosslyn (Silver)

❓Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ballston Quarter connected to the Metro?

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Yes — Ballston Quarter is built directly above the Ballston-MU station. The station escalators lead directly to the mall's lower level, where you can access restaurants, shops, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, and a fitness center without going outside.

How far is Ballston from downtown DC?

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Ballston is in Fare Zone 1 and takes approximately 20–25 minutes to reach Metro Center. To Rosslyn it's about 12 minutes. Despite being in Northern Virginia, Ballston is just four stops from the center of the DC Metro system.

Is there parking at Ballston Metro?

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There is no WMATA commuter parking lot at Ballston. The station is in a dense urban area where driving is not the primary access mode. Ballston Quarter has commercial parking in its garage (paid hourly). The nearest Park & Ride options are East Falls Church or West Falls Church to the west.