ℹAbout Innovation Center Station

Innovation Center is one of the six stations added in Silver Line Phase 2, opening on November 15, 2022. Situated between Washington Dulles International Airport and Herndon, the station anchors the heart of the Dulles technology corridor — one of the most concentrated tech employment zones in the country.

The MITRE Corporation, a major nonprofit federal research and development center, has its primary campus within reach of the station. Dozens of defense contractors, cybersecurity firms, and cloud computing companies operate along this stretch of the Dulles Toll Road, many of which hold classified contracts with the federal government.

💡 Innovation Center station was named to reflect the high-tech nature of the surrounding employment corridor — one of the densest concentrations of cleared defense contractors and government technology research organizations in the United States.

The station provides a surface Park & Ride lot and Fairfax Connector bus connections to surrounding employers who are within a short distance but not walkable directly from the platform.

🚇Lines & Schedule

Silver Line
Ashburn ← → Largo Town Center
Both directions
Every 10–15 min

Peak service (Mon–Fri 5–9:30am, 3–7pm): every 10 min. Off-peak and weekends: every 15–20 min. First train ~5:00am weekdays. Last train from DC ~11:00pm weekdays.

🗺Nearby Attractions

🔬
MITRE Corporation
Federally-funded R&D center nearby
💼
Tech Corridor Employers
Defense contractors & cloud companies
✈
Dulles Airport (IAD)
~6 min west on Silver Line
🏢
Loudoun County Gov. Offices
County administrative facilities nearby
🍽
Dulles Corridor Dining
Various restaurants along Rt. 28 & Toll Rd
🌿
Ellanor C. Lawrence Park
~3 miles — Fairfax County nature preserve

🚪Station Exits

Main Exit
Innovation Center Drive
Street-level exit with bus bay access and rideshare drop-off. Connects to the surrounding office campus area.
Park & Ride
Surface Parking Lot
Surface commuter lot (~$4.95/day). Generally less crowded than garage stations, with good midday availability.

💡Rider Tips

  • 🅿
    Innovation Center's surface lot tends to be less crowded than the structured garages at Ashburn and Loudoun Gateway — a reliable fallback if those fill early during peak hours.
  • 🚌
    Fairfax Connector buses connect the station to employer campuses that aren't within walking distance. Check schedules at the bus bays before planning your route.
  • ✈
    If you work near Innovation Center and need to catch a flight at Dulles, it's just one stop — the fastest Metro option to IAD from this part of the Dulles corridor.
  • 💳
    Check your fare zone carefully — Innovation Center can fall in Zone 5 or Zone 6 depending on system configuration. Load your SmarTrip with a buffer to avoid exit gate issues.

🔗Adjacent Stations on the Silver Line

← Washington Dulles Airport ✈ Herndon →

❓Frequently Asked Questions

What companies are near Innovation Center Metro?

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The MITRE Corporation has a large campus near Innovation Center. The broader Dulles tech corridor surrounding the station includes defense contractors, cybersecurity firms, satellite operators, and cloud computing companies — many holding federal government contracts. It is one of the densest concentrations of national security-oriented tech employment in the country.

Does Innovation Center Metro have parking?

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Yes. Innovation Center has a surface Park & Ride lot with daily rates around $4.95. It is typically one of the less-crowded parking options along the Phase 2 corridor, making it a reliable choice even for later arrivals.

When did Innovation Center Metro open?

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Innovation Center opened on November 15, 2022 as part of Silver Line Phase 2. It is one of six new stations that extended the Silver Line from Wiehle–Reston East westward to the Dulles Airport and Ashburn, completing the long-planned rail connection through the Dulles corridor.