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Not Bored in DCNot Bored in DC Things to do, eat, and know in Washington, DC

Can You Walk Everywhere in DC?

A question we often get is whether or not you can truly get around DC without a vehicle. The answer is YES! And it’s a good thing, because finding parking can be difficult and expensive!

Here’s a quick guide to making sure you can have a car-free trip and still make the most of each day.

Book accommodations near a metro station

This is especially important if you choose to stay outside the city, where hotels are often cheaper.

WMATA system map, with the stylized and simplified routes for each colored lines

The DC metro system (alternatively called Metro or WMATA) has good coverage to the main tourist destinations, and many hotels are located close to a metro station. A good idea is to copy and paste the hotel address into the Trip Planner on WMATA’s website or Google Maps and choose The White House as a sample destination.

When the directions are generated, pay attention to how far it is from the hotel to the nearest metro station on foot. It’s one thing to be ten minutes away by car. It’s another to be ten minutes away by foot, in the heat or snow, and having to use an overpass to cross a heavily trafficked road.

Make sure you book a hotel within easy access (no more than five minutes walking) from a metro station. Alternatively, book a hotel in the center of the city.

See also: DC Metro map and how to read it

Add a metro card to your phone

Riders can still use plastic SmarTrip cards, which can be purchased in metro stations, but it’s much easier to use a digital card on your mobile phone. Not only are you less likely to lose it, but you can also quickly add fare money without standing in line or having to decipher the fare machine instructions.

Quick point of clarification: You can use a metro card on the bus or the metro, not just the metro.

Understand the street grid

Similar to New York and many other major cities, most DC streets are either numbers (3rd Street) or letters (F Street). Numbered streets go north to south; lettered streets go west to east.

After the northernmost lettered street (W Street), the streets have names, but it’s easy to guess how far north you are because the names go in alphabetic and syllabic order.

A one-syllable street with a name beginning with the letter A will precede a one-syllable street with a name beginning with the letter B, etc. until the alphabet begins again with two-syllable names and eventually three-syllable names.

For example, going north up 16th Street NW, W Street is followed by Belmont Street then Crescent Place. At the end of the two-syllable streets, Webster Street NW is followed by Allison Street, Buchanan Street, and Crittenden Street. There are a few breaks in the pattern, but it generally holds true.

Graphic showing the quadrants of Washington, DC, with the US Capitol in the center and the White House shown in the northwest quadrant.

The most important thing to note is that DC has four quadrants (NW, NE, SW, and SE), with the US Capitol being the central point of all four quadrants. North Capitol Street, East Capitol Street, South Capitol Street, and the National Mall serve as the boundaries for each quadrant.

The vast majority of the numbered and lettered streets pass through all four quadrants. For example, there is a C Street NW, a C Street NE, a C Street SW, and a C Street SE. Be sure you look at the full address of your destination before you head off!

Stick to the center of the city

Or at least, be cognizant of the fact that the farther out you go, the farther the distances are between sites.

This isn’t to say that sites beyond the city center aren’t walkable, because you can technically get there by foot, but they aren’t always close together or convenient to a plethora of restaurants, transportation options, and shops.

If you’re looking to make the most of your time, the city’s core is your best bet. If there’s a specific place you’d like to go that’s well outside of the center, don’t take it off your list because it’s outside of the central area, but be aware that it’ll take extra time to get there (you may have to transfer metro lines or take a metro and a bus).

If you are relying on walking and public transportation, it may require some more advance planning. For example, you may want to look up food options ahead of time instead of waiting until you’re starving and finding that you’re close to no food of interest.

Take advantage of bikes and scooters

DC has invested a lot into creating and maintaining lanes for two-wheeled vehicles. Much of the city has protected bike lanes, which can be used with scooters and skateboards as well.

Most mobile map apps have a feature that shows you how to get around using these protected lanes, and the many public bike stations located along these routes make them easily accessible to tourists. Simply download the Capital Bikeshare app to use a bike. (Scooters are managed by various companies with their own apps.)

A helmet is not required, but if you’re thinking about using a bike or scooter, it’s advisable to bring one (There’s nowhere to rent a helmet except if you book a bike or scooter tour.).

Vehicles of any kind are not allowed on the sidewalks, so be sure to use the lanes provided for both your own and pedestrian safety.

Be cautious when appropriate

DC’s a fairly safe city, and especially in areas with a lot of people around, you’re unlikely to run into any unsettling situations.

That said, it’s always a good idea to take precautions, particularly if you’re traveling alone. You can download apps such as Noonlight that track your location and automatically send an alert to the authorities if things go amiss.

You can also put the Metro Transit Police texting number (696873) in your phone so that you have it handy should you need to report something or ask for help discreetly.

Conclusion

Washington DC is a walkable city, with lots of restaurants, shops, activities, parks, homes, and offices within walking distance. With the metro system and buses, you can get even further without stepping foot in a car.

To make the most of your trip without a car or needing taxis or Ubers, plan ahead to optimize your time. Find a hotel within easy walking distance of the metro, plan to visit sights that are close to each other instead of criss-crossing the city, and plan your meals so that they are close to where you will be.

Elizabeth Moore

Elizabeth spends most of her free time going to one of the DC area's many theaters, and she has been to nearly all of them in the 12 years she has lived in the city. She loves talking all things art, sustainable living, Spain, and volunteering.

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