Dulles to DC by Metro: Silver Line Time and Fare
The Silver Line runs from Dulles International straight into downtown Washington. What it costs and how long it takes.
Getting from Washington Dulles International Airport into Washington
Dulles has been on the Metro since the Silver Line was extended in 2022. The station sits on the north side of the main terminal, reached by a covered walkway from the arrivals level – a walk of several minutes, longer than at Reagan National, but entirely under cover.
It is a long ride: Metro Center is about 53 minutes away, and the fare is $6.75 on a weekday. That is the maximum fare on the system, and it is still substantially cheaper than any taxi. After 9:30 pm and at weekends the same trip is capped at $2.50, which makes an evening arrival one of the better transit bargains in the country.
Trains run to Downtown Largo or New Carrollton and call at every station in between, so from Dulles you do not need to change to reach downtown.
Fares and travel times into the city
| To | Time | Weekday to 9:30pm | Late night & weekend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Center | 53 min | $6.75 | $2.50 |
| Gallery Pl-Chinatown | 60 min | $6.75 | $2.50 |
| Union Station | 64 min | $6.75 | $2.50 |
| Smithsonian | 56 min | $6.75 | $2.50 |
| L'Enfant Plaza | 58 min | $6.75 | $2.50 |
| Foggy Bottom-GWU | 49 min | $6.75 | $2.50 |
| Dupont Circle | 62 min | $6.75 | $2.50 |
| Rosslyn | 46 min | $6.75 | $2.50 |
Travel times and fares published by WMATA. Fares valid July 2026.
How long does the Silver Line take from Dulles?
About 53 minutes to Metro Center. Allow extra for the walk from the terminal and for waiting – Silver Line trains run roughly every 12 minutes during the day, and less often in the evening. Realistically, plan on a little over an hour and a half from landing to downtown once you have collected bags.
If you are catching a flight, work backwards generously. The Silver Line is reliable but it is a long line, and a delay early on has plenty of room to grow.
Dulles or Reagan National: which is easier by Metro?
Reagan National, comfortably. It is far closer to the city, the station is right at the terminal, and the trip downtown is about a quarter of the time. Dulles is the better-connected airport for long-haul flights, and now that it is on the Silver Line it is perfectly manageable – just allow more time.
Paying for your trip
You do not need to buy anything before you travel. Tap a contactless credit or debit card, phone or watch at the faregate, and tap the same one again on the way out. The fare is identical to a Smart Trip card.
If you would rather have a Smart Trip card, vending machines in the station take cash and cards. Up to two children under five travel free with each paying adult.
Frequently asked questions
Take the Silver Line. The station is at the main terminal, reached by a covered walkway from arrivals. Metro Center is about 53 minutes away for $6.75 on a weekday.
$6.75 on a weekday until 9:30 pm – the maximum fare on the system. After 9:30 pm and all weekend it is capped at $2.50.
About 53 minutes to Metro Center, plus the walk from the terminal and the wait for a train. Plan for a little over an hour and a half door to door.
No. Silver Line trains run all the way through downtown Washington and out to Downtown Largo or New Carrollton, so anywhere on that route is a single ride.
Substantially. At $6.75 the Metro costs a small fraction of a taxi or ride-share fare into central Washington, which typically runs to many times that.