Driving Directions
How to Find a Metro Station by Car
Below are directions to the most accessible Metro stations from outside of Washington. These stations also have the largest parking lots. Parking is free at Metro-operated lots on weekends and federal holidays. Most weekends, it's easy to find a space at Metro parking lots. On weekdays, they fill up early.
Parking charges can only be paid via a SmarTrip® card. Be sure to purchase one before your trip. Collection hours and rates vary by station.
Credit Card Pilot Program
As part of a credit card pilot program, customers can pay the parking daily fee with a major credit card at six Metrorail stations. The parking facilities at the Anacostia, Franconia-Springfield, Largo Town Center, Vienna/Fairfax-GMU, Shady Grove, and New Carrollton stations have exit lanes where credit cards are accepted. Customers are able to use their Discover, Mastercard, Visa, American Express or Japanese Credit Bank cards at these locations. A credit card reader is installed next to the existing SmarTrip® card target reader on the side of the booth within the appropriate lane.
Arriving from the North (Philadelphia, Baltimore via I-95 or Baltimore-Washington Parkway)
To Greenbelt:
- From north or west of Washington, take I-495 east/south to Exit 24, which takes you directly to Greenbelt station.
- From south or east of Washington, take I-495 west/north to exit 23 (Kenilworth Avenue/Maryland Route 201).
- Take Route 201 north toward Beltsville.
- Turn left onto Cherrywood Lane and look for Metro station signs. The station entrance is on the right off Cherrywood Lane immediately after the bridge crossing I-495.
- From north of Washington via I-95 or Route 29, take I-95 south to I-495/I-95 east/south toward Andrews AFB. Take I-495 east/south to exit 24 (Greenbelt station).
To Branch Ave:
- From the Beltway, use the Branch Avenue exit in the direction of Marlow Heights and Washington. Auth Road is the first traffic light inside the Beltway. (Note: You can only turn one way into Auth Road. The other way is the ramp to the westbound Beltway.)
- From Allentown Road (Andrews Air Force Base area), use Auth Road to Old Soper Road.
Arriving from the Northwest (Frederick via I-270)
To Shady Grove:
- Follow I-270 to the I-370 East exit.
- Proceed east for approximately 3 miles. Look for the Metro logo and station signs for Shady Grove station and parking.
Arriving from the West (Front Royal, Manassas via I-66)
- Take I-66 east to Nutley Street (VA Rte. 243) South.
- Follow signs to Metrorail parking.
Arriving from the South (Fredericksburg via I-95)
- From south of Washington via I-95, take Franconia Road (Rte. 644) east to the second traffic light, Frontier Drive.
- Turn right on Frontier Drive and continue on Frontier Drive, under the Franconia-Springfield Parkway, to Franconia-Springfield station.
To Huntington:
- Proceed north on I-95 to intersection of I-95 and I-495 (Capital Beltway).
- Follow I-95 north (Outer Loop) to Exit 2A-Telegraph Road South.
- At end of exit ramp continue straight onto Huntington Avenue. Station is approximately a half mile on right.
Arriving from Southern Maryland (via Route 210-Indian Head Hwy.)
To Branch Ave:
- From the Beltway, use the Branch Avenue exit in the direction of Marlow Heights and Washington. Auth Road is the first traffic light inside the Beltway. (Note: You can only turn one way into Auth Road. The other way is the ramp to the westbound Beltway.)
- From Allentown Road (Andrews Air Force Base area), use Auth Road to Old Soper Road.
Arriving from the East (Annapolis, Eastern Shore via US 50)
To New Carrollton:
- Follow U.S. Route 50 West to sign marked I-95 North towards Silver Spring.
- Do not enter highway; instead take the exit that says "Local Only - Garden City Drive." Look for Metrorail station signs. Station is approximately 3/4 mile ahead on right.
