Washington DC Metro
Hours & Schedule

The Metro opens at 5:00 AM Monday through Friday. The first trains depart terminal stations around 5:00–5:05 AM, reaching downtown stations approximately 15–30 minutes later depending on the line.

It depends on the night. The Washington DC Metro closes at midnight Monday to Thursday and on Sunday, and at 2:00 AM on Friday and Saturday nights. The last trains leave the terminal stations roughly 15 minutes before that — around 11:45 PM, or 1:45 AM at weekends — so a station in the middle of a line stops being served earlier than the closing time suggests.

The first trains leave the terminal stations at 5:00 AM Monday to Friday and at 6:00 AM on Saturday and Sunday. Stations in the middle of a line get their first train 15–30 minutes later, so if you are heading to Reagan or Dulles airport for an early flight, work forward from the terminal departure rather than from the opening time.

No — Metro closes at 2:00 AM on Friday and Saturday nights. There is no all-night ("owl") service. If you need to travel after 2 AM, plan to use a rideshare, a taxi or a late-night Metrobus route.

Friday is the longest service day of the week. Metrorail opens at 5:00 AM, the same as any other weekday, and keeps running until 2:00 AM on Saturday morning — two hours later than Monday to Thursday. The last trains leave the terminals around 1:45 AM.

On Saturday the Metro opens at 6:00 AM — an hour later than on weekdays — and runs until 2:00 AM on Sunday morning. Terminal stations send out their last trains around 1:45 AM, so board by about 1:00 AM if you have to cross the system or change lines.

On Sunday the Metro opens at 6:00 AM and closes at midnight, with the last trains leaving terminal stations around 11:45 PM. Sunday is the shortest service day of the week: it starts an hour later than a weekday and ends two hours earlier than a Friday or Saturday night.

Saturday 6:00 AM to 2:00 AM, and Sunday 6:00 AM to midnight. Both weekend days open an hour later than Monday to Friday, and only Friday and Saturday nights run past midnight. Weekend trains are also less frequent, so allow extra time between connections.

Monday to Thursday 5:00 AM to midnight, Friday 5:00 AM to 2:00 AM, Saturday 6:00 AM to 2:00 AM and Sunday 6:00 AM to midnight. Metrorail runs seven days a week and there is no all-night service on any night. The full breakdown, including the last train from the terminals each day, is in the hours by day table above.

Yes, Metro runs on federal holidays but usually on a modified Sunday schedule (8 AM – 11 PM). Always check wmata.com for the specific holiday schedule, as WMATA sometimes adjusts service hours for major holidays.

The longest single-line journey is the Red Line from Shady Grove to Glenmont — about 60 minutes end to end. The Silver Line from Ashburn (Dulles Airport area) to Downtown Largo takes about 80–90 minutes. Most tourist trips between popular downtown stations take 10–25 minutes. See our system map to plan your route.

Yes. WMATA has replaced peak and off-peak pricing with time-of-day windows. On weekdays between 5:00 AM and 9:30 PM fares run from $2.25 to $6.75; after 9:30 PM, and all day at weekends, every trip costs $2.25 to $2.50 however far you travel. Travelling in the evening or at the weekend saves money. See our full DC Metro fares guide for details.

Weekday midday (10 AM–2 PM) and early weekday mornings (before 7:30 AM) are generally the least crowded. Weekends before noon are also comfortable. Avoid the Blue/Orange/Silver corridor (Metro Center, Foggy Bottom, Rosslyn) during weekday rush hour — it's the most congested part of the system.