DC Metro Blue Line: Stations, Schedule & Airport Access

DC Metro Blue Line has been part of DC's transit backbone since July 1977, and it covers a lot of ground, 27 stations stretching roughly 30 miles from Franconia-Springfield in Fairfax County, Virginia, all the way to Largo Town Center in Prince George's County, Maryland. More than any other line, the Blue Line is associated with two things: the Pentagon and Reagan National Airport, both of which it serves directly. It shares a long stretch of downtown track with the Orange and Silver lines, so if you're riding through the core of DC, you'll notice plenty of overlap.

DC Metro Blue Line Overview


Total Stations	27
Route Length	~30 miles
Termini	Franconia-Springfield, VA ↔ Largo Town Center, MD
First Opened	July 1, 1977
Airport Served	Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Rush Hour Frequency	Every 10 minutes
Shared Track	Downtown DC corridor with Orange and Silver Lines

How the Route Works

Starting from Franconia-Springfield in the south, the Blue Line moves northeast through Alexandria and Arlington — passing through the Pentagon complex and Crystal City — before crossing the Potomac River into Washington at Rosslyn. It then runs through downtown DC and heads east through Capitol Hill and into Maryland, ending at Largo Town Center. The long shared corridor between Rosslyn and Stadium-Armory means riders on Blue, Orange, and Silver trains all stop at the same downtown stations, which effectively triples frequency on that central stretch during peak hours.

DC Metro Blue Line All 27 Stations

Station	Jurisdiction	Key Area	Transfers	Parking
Franconia-Springfield	Fairfax Co., VA	Southern terminus: Fort Belvoir bus connections	—	Yes (3,346)
Van Dorn Street	Alexandria, VA	Residential West End	—	Yes
King St-Old Town	Alexandria, VA	Old Town Alexandria, waterfront	Yellow	Yes
Braddock Road	Alexandria, VA	Del Ray neighborhood	Yellow	No
Reagan National Airport	Arlington/Alexandria	Terminals B/C; direct airport access	Yellow	No
Crystal City	Arlington, VA	Amazon HQ2, offices, shops	Yellow	No
Pentagon City	Arlington, VA	Fashion Centre Mall	Yellow	No
Pentagon	Arlington, VA	US Department of Defense	Yellow	No
Arlington Cemetery	Arlington, VA	Arlington National Cemetery	—	No
Rosslyn	Arlington, VA	Rosslyn business district	Orange/Silver	No
Foggy Bottom-GWU	DC	George Washington University, Kennedy Center	Orange/Silver	No
Farragut West	DC	White House area, K Street	Orange/Silver	No
McPherson Square	DC	Downtown DC	Orange/Silver	No
Metro Center	DC	System hub	Red/Orange/Silver	No
Federal Triangle	DC	National Archives, DOJ, IRS	Orange/Silver	No
Smithsonian	DC	National Mall museums	Orange/Silver	No
L'Enfant Plaza	DC	Major transfer hub	Green/Yellow/Orange/Silver	No
Federal Center SW	DC	Capitol Hill South	Orange/Silver	No
Capitol South	DC	US Capitol, Library of Congress	Orange/Silver	No
Eastern Market	DC	Eastern Market, Capitol Hill	Orange/Silver	No
Potomac Ave	DC	Barracks Row	Orange/Silver	No
Stadium-Armory	DC	RFK Stadium	Orange/Silver	No
Benning Road	DC	Capitol View	—	No
Capitol Heights	PG Co., MD	Maryland border area	—	No
Addison Rd-Seat Pleasant	PG Co., MD	Seat Pleasant, MD	—	Yes
Morgan Boulevard	PG Co., MD	FedEx Field area	—	Yes
Largo Town Center	PG Co., MD	Eastern terminus	—	Yes (2,380)

Getting from the DC Metro Blue Line to Reagan National Airport

DCA is one of the most Metro-accessible airports in the country — the Blue Line drops you right inside Terminal B/C with no shuttle needed.

Board a Blue Line train heading toward Franconia-Springfield (southbound). Get off at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station. A free pedestrian walkway connects Terminal B/C to Terminal A.

Approximate travel times: from Metro Center — 18 to 20 minutes; from Rosslyn — 12 minutes; from Farragut West — 16 minutes.

Fare runs approximately $2.25–$3.85 from most downtown stations,, depending on time of day. Compare that to an Uber or Lyft, which typically costs $20–$40 from downtown depending on traffic.

For anyone making a multi-day trip, parking at Franconia-Springfield ($5/day) and riding Metro to DCA is by far the most cost-effective approach. Daily parking at the airport itself runs $22–$38.

DC Metro Blue Line Train Schedule

Time Period	Days	Frequency
AM rush (7:00–9:00 AM)	Mon–Fri	Every 10 min
Midday	Mon–Fri	Every 12 min
PM rush (4:00–6:00 PM)	Mon–Fri	Every 10 min
Evening	Mon–Fri	Every 12 min
Late night	Mon–Fri	Every 15 min
Daytime	Sat–Sun	Every 12 min
Late night	Sat–Sun	Every 15 min

Keep in mind that between Rosslyn and Stadium-Armory, Orange and Silver trains share the same tracks, which significantly boosts effective frequency on that stretch.

DC Metro Blue Line Top Destinations

Arlington National Cemetery — Five minutes on foot from the station exit. Open daily starting at 8 AM. One of the country's most visited memorials.
Smithsonian museums on the National Mall — The Smithsonian station gives you direct access to the Air & Space Museum, Natural History Museum, and American History Museum. All three are free.
Pentagon — Public tours are available by advance reservation through the Pentagon Tours program. The 9/11 Pentagon Memorial just outside is free and open daily.
Old Town Alexandria — One of the DC area's most charming neighborhoods, with a well-preserved historic waterfront district. It's a fifteen-minute walk from King St-Old Town, or you can catch the free King Street trolley.
Capitol Hill — Capitol South station puts you within easy walking distance of the US Capitol, the Library of Congress, and the Supreme Court.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does the Blue Line go to Reagan Airport?

A. Yes — directly. The station is inside Terminal B/C with a free connection to Terminal A. No shuttle required. The trip from downtown takes roughly 18–20 minutes and costs under $4.

2. How many stops does the Blue Line have?

A. 27 stations, from Franconia-Springfield in Virginia to Largo Town Center in Maryland.

3. How often does the Blue Line run?

A. Every 10 minutes during peak hours, every 12 minutes midday and on weekends, and every 15 minutes late at night. Effective frequency on the shared downtown corridor is much higher since Orange and Silver trains run on the same tracks.

4. Does the Blue Line serve the National Mall?

A. Yes. The Smithsonian station (shared with Orange and Silver) is right on the Mall.