DC Metro Red Line: Every Station, Schedule

DC Metro Red Line holds a special place in DC Metro history; it was the very first line to open, back on March 27, 1976. Today,y it's both the oldest and one of the most heavily ridden lines in the system, cutting an inverted U-shape through the northwest and northeast sections of Washington before extending into Montgomery County, Maryla, MarylandMarylandnd in both directions. The line runs between Shady Grove to the west and Glenmont to the northeast, passing through 27 stations across roughly 31 miles. Whether you're a daily commuter or visiting the city for the first time, the Red Line will almost certainly be part of your trip.

DC Metro Red Line Overview


Total Stations	27
Route Length	~31 miles
Termini	Shady Grove (west) ↔ Glenmont (northeast)
Branch Split	Fort Totten
First Opened	March 27, 1976
Rush Hour Frequency	Every 4–5 minutes
Transfers	Blue/Orange/Silver at Metro Center; Green/Yellow at Gallery Place and Fort Totten

How the Route Lays Out: DC Metro Red Line

The Red Line is the only Metro line that doesn't cross into Virginia — it stays entirely within DC and Maryland. The western branch comes in from Shady Grove, passing through suburban Bethesda and Chevy Chase before entering the District. The eastern branch arrives from Glenmont via Silver Spring and Takoma. Both branches merge at Friendship Heights and travel together through downtown. They split again at Fort Totten in northeast DC, where trains alternate between the Glenmont and Shady Grove directions. When you're boarding, always check the destination sign at the front of the train.

DC Metro Red Line All 27 Stations

Station	Jurisdiction	Notable Features	Transfers	Parking
Shady Grove	Montgomery Co., MD	Western terminus	—	Yes (4,109)
Rockville	Montgomery Co., MD	Historic Rockville Town Center	—	Yes (1,600)
Twinbrook	Montgomery Co., MD	Twinbrook community	—	Yes
White Flint	Montgomery Co., MD	Pike & Rose development	—	Yes
Grosvenor-Strathmore	Montgomery Co., MD	Strathmore Music Center	—	Yes
Medical Center	Montgomery Co., MD	NIH, Walter Reed, Suburban Hospital	—	No
Bethesda	Montgomery Co., MD	Downtown Bethesda, restaurants	—	Limited
Friendship Heights	DC	Chevy Chase Pavilion, upscale shopping	—	No
Tenleytown-AU	DC	American University	—	No
Van Ness-UDC	DC	University of the District of Columbia	—	No
Cleveland Park	DC	Cleveland Park neighborhood	—	No
Woodley Park-Zoo	DC	National Zoo, Adams Morgan nearby	—	No
Dupont Circle	DC	Embassy Row, galleries, nightlife	—	No
Farragut North	DC	K Street business district	—	No
Metro Center	DC	Downtown hub	Blue/Orange/Silver	No
Gallery Place-Chinatown	DC	Capital One Arena, Chinatown	Green/Yellow	No
Judiciary Square	DC	DC Courts, National Building Museum	—	No
Union Station	DC	Amtrak, MARC, VRE	Amtrak/MARC	No
NoMa-Gallaudet U	DC	NoMa neighborhood, Gallaudet Univ.	—	No
Rhode Island Ave	DC	Edgewood and Woodridge neighborhoods	—	Yes
Brookland-CUA	DC	Catholic University, National Shrine	—	No
Fort Totten	DC	Branch point; Green/Yellow transfer	Green/Yellow	Yes
Takoma	DC/MD border	Takoma neighborhood, farmers market	—	No
Silver Spring	Montgomery Co., MD	Downtown Silver Spring	—	Yes (1,152)
Forest Glen	Montgomery Co., MD	Residential area	—	Yes
Wheaton	Montgomery Co., MD	Westfield Wheaton mall	—	Yes
Glenmont	Montgomery Co., MD	Eastern terminus	—	Yes (2,230)

DC Metro Red Line Train Frequency by Time of Day

Time Period	Days	Frequency
Early morning (5:00–7:00 AM)	Mon–Fri	Every 6 min
AM rush (7:00–9:00 AM)	Mon–Fri	Every 4–5 min
Midday (9:00 AM–4:00 PM)	Mon–Fri	Every 6 min
PM rush (4:00–6:00 PM)	Mon–Fri	Every 4–5 min
Evening (6:00–9:30 PM)	Mon–Fri	Every 6 min
Late night (9:30 PM–close)	Mon–Thu	Every 10 min
Late night (9:30 PM–2 AM)	Friday	Every 10 min
Daytime (6:00 AM–9:30 PM)	Sat–Sun	Every 6 min
Late night	Sat–Sun	Every 10 min

DC Metro Red Line Operating Hours

Monday–Thursday: 5:00 AM – Midnight
Friday: 5:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Saturday: 6:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Sunday: 6:00 AM – Midnight

Individual stations typically open about ten minutes before the first train. Last train times vary by station — WMATA's Trip Planner gives exact departure times.

DC Metro Red Line Best Stops for Tourists

The Red Line serves more DC tourist landmarks than any other line, which is why it tends to get crowded. A few standouts:

Woodley Park-Zoo — It's a five-minute walk from the station to the entrance of the National Zoo. Free to enter, open daily, and best visited early in the morning before the crowds arrive. The Adams Morgan restaurant strip is also reachable on foot in about fifteen minutes if you're up for a walk.
Dupont Circle — The neighborhood around this station is genuinely one of DC's best. The Phillips Collection is about ten minutes away on foot, and Embassy Row makes for a fascinating walk. The nightlife scene here is among the liveliest in the city.
Farragut North — This puts you squarely in the K Street corridor, the heart of DC's business and lobbying world. The White House is a fifteen-minute walk from here.
Gallery Place-Chinatown — Capital One Arena sits right at the station exit. Also close by: DC's International Spy Museum (three minutes away on foot), the National Portrait Gallery, and what remains of DC's Chinatown.
Union Station — People underestimate this one. Beyond being an Amtrak hub, the building itself is a landmark worth seeing. Capitol Hill is about a ten-minute walk, and the National Mall is about twenty.
Brookland-CUA — The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception — the largest Catholic church in North America — is a five-minute walk from the station exit.

DC Metro Red Line Transfers to Other Lines

No additional fare is charged when you transfer between Metro lines:

Metro Center — transfers to Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines. The busiest transfer point in the system; leave extra time during rush hour.
Gallery Place-Chinatown — transfers to Green and Yellow Lines. If you're heading to U Street, Columbia Heights, or Reagan Airport, this is your spot.
Fort Totten — also connects to Green and Yellow, but far less hectic than Gallery Place. A smart alternative if you're not in a hurry.
Union Station — not a Metro-to-Metro transfer, but connects to Amtrak, MARC, and VRE for Baltimore, Northern Virginia, and beyond.

DC Metro Red Line Park & Ride Options

The Red Line's suburban endpoints offer the best park-and-ride setups on the system:

Shady Grove — 4,109 spaces at $5/day. The go-to for Montgomery County commuters. Get there before 9:00 AM on weekdays, or you'll be circling.
Glenmont — 2,230 spaces at $5/day. Typically less crowded than Shady Grove.
Rockville — 1,600 spaces at $6.50/day. A reasonable midpoint option with slightly more breathing room later in the morning.
Silver Spring — 1,152 spaces at $6.50/day. Convenient for eastern Montgomery County residents, but it fills up quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many stops does the Red Line have?

A. 27 stations, running from Shady Grove in the northwest to Glenmont in the northeast, covering roughly 31 miles.

2. Where does the Red Line start and end?

A. Both termini are in Montgomery County, Maryland — Shady Grove to the west and Glenmont to the northeast. The line passes through Bethesda, Dupont Circle, downtown DC, and Silver Spring in between.

3. Does the Red Line go to Reagan National Airport?

A. No. For Reagan Airport, take either the Blue or Yellow Line. From a Red Line station, transfer at Metro Center (Blue Line) or Gallery Place (Yellow Line).

4. What are the busiest stations?

A. Metro Center, Farragut North, Union Station, Gallery Place-Chinatown, and Dupont Circle see the heaviest ridership. During peak hours, plan on some crowding at all of them.

5. What time does the first Red Line train run on weekdays?

A. The first trains depart from Shady Grove and Glenmont at approximately 5:00 AM, Monday through Friday.