DC Metro Silver Line: Dulles Airport, Tysons Corner

DC Metro Silver Line is the newest chapter in DC Metro's story and the most ambitious. Stretching from Ashburn in Loudoun County, Virginia all the way to Largo Town Center in Prince George's County, Maryland, it's both the longest line (approximately 46 miles) and the one with the most stations (35) in the entire WMATA system. Most significantly, it's the line that finally connected Washington Dulles International Airport to Metro rail, something the DC region had waited decades for. Phase 2 of the Silver Line opened in November 2022, adding Dulles and five other stations in Loudoun County.

DC Metro Silver Line Overview

Total Stations	35 (most of any Metro line)
Route Length	~46 miles (longest Metro line)
Termini	Ashburn, VA ↔ Largo Town Center, MD
Phase 2 Opened	November 15, 2022
Airport Served	Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Rush Hour Frequency	Every 10–12 min (Dulles segment)
Shared Track	With Blue and Orange Lines through downtown DC

Silver Line Stations: Ashburn to the Downtown Corridor

Station	Phase	Jurisdiction	Key Area	Parking
Ashburn	2	Loudoun Co., VA	Western terminus; One Loudoun	Yes
Loudoun Gateway	2	Loudoun Co., VA	Loudoun County hub	Yes
Washington Dulles	2	Fairfax/Loudoun, VA	Dulles International Airport	Airport parking
Innovation Center	2	Loudoun Co., VA	Tech corridor, data centers	Yes
Herndon	2	Herndon, VA	Historic Herndon downtown	Yes
Reston Town Center	2	Reston, VA	Shops, dining, offices	No (TC parking)
Wiehle-Reston East	1	Reston, VA	Former Phase 1 terminus	Yes (2,300)
Spring Hill	1	Tysons, VA	Tysons area	No
Greensboro	1	Tysons, VA	Tysons Galleria	No
Tysons	1	Tysons, VA	Tysons Corner Center	No
McLean	1	McLean, VA	McLean suburb	No
East Falls Church	1	Arlington, VA	Junction with Blue/Orange	Yes
West Falls Church	1	Fairfax Co., VA	GMU satellite campus	Yes
Dunn Loring	1	Fairfax Co., VA	Mosaic District	Yes (1,940)
Vienna/Fairfax-GMU	1	Fairfax Co., VA	George Mason University	Yes (5,125)
Shared with Orange & Blue from here eastward
Ballston-MU through Largo Town Center	Shared	Various	See Blue/Orange sections	Various

Getting to Dulles Airport by the DC Metro Silver Line

Dulles is now a genuine Metro destination — not a compromise like taking a bus connection. Here's exactly how it works:

Inside Dulles Airport, follow signs for "Metro" or "Ground Transportation" to the Automated People Mover. This free internal airport shuttle connects all terminals to the Metro station near Terminal A. Once at the station, board a Silver Line train toward Largo Town Center (heading eastbound toward DC).

Buy or tap your fare at the gates. Pricing is distance-based on weekdays before 9:30 PM, and a flat rate on evenings and weekends.

Destination from Dulles	Travel Time	Approx. Fare	vs. Taxi/Rideshare
Reston Town Center	~14 min	$2.25–$3.50	Taxi ~$15–20
Tysons Corner	~25 min	$2.25–$4.00	Taxi ~$25–35
Rosslyn / Georgetown area	~50 min	$5.00–$6.00	Taxi ~$50–70
Metro Center / Downtown DC	~57 min	$5.25–$6.75	Taxi ~$60–90
Union Station (Amtrak)	~60 min	$5.50–$6.75	Taxi ~$65–90

For Red Line destinations like Bethesda or Union Station, transfer at Metro Center. For Green Line destinations like U Street or Columbia Heights, transfer at L'Enfant Plaza.

DC Metro Silver Line Train Frequency

The Silver Line has a more complex schedule than most lines because trains split into different branches east of Stadium-Armory. Always check the destination sign.

Segment	Rush Hour	Midday	Weekends
Ashburn ↔ Downtown (Dulles segment)	Every 10–12 min	Every 12 min	Every 12 min
Silver Line to Stadium-Armory	Every 10 min	Every 12 min	Every 12 min
Silver Line to New Carrollton	Every 20 min	Every 24 min	Every 24 min
Silver Line to Largo Town Center	Every 20 min	Every 24 min	Every 24 min

Tysons Corner Shopping Without a Car

Before the Silver Line, getting to Tysons Corner without a car simply wasn't practical. The Silver Line changed that entirely. Two stations directly serve the area:

Tysons Station — A 5 to 8 minute walk brings you to Tysons Corner Center, one of the largest shopping malls in the US, with over 300 stores including Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Apple, and a solid food hall.
Greensboro station — This one connects directly to Tysons Galleria, the upscale counterpart with Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and a range of luxury brands.

From Metro Center to either station is around 27 minutes. From Rosslyn, it's about 20. No car, no parking headaches.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does Metro go to Dulles Airport?

A. Yes, the Silver Line's Washington Dulles station opened in November 2022. Take the Automated People Mover inside the airport to reach the Metro station, then board a Silver Line train toward DC. Travel time to Metro Center is roughly 57 minutes.

2. How long is the Silver Line?

A. 35 stations and approximately 46 miles, making it the longest line in the system by both measures.

3. How much does Metro from Dulles to downtown DC cost?

A. Weekday daytime fares to Metro Center run $5.25 to $6.75, depending on exact time. Evenings and weekends, the flat rate drops to around $2.25–$2.50. Either way, it's dramatically cheaper than a cab or rideshare from Dulles, which typically runs $60–90.

4. What's the difference between the Silver and Blue Lines?

A. Both share the same downtown DC corridor from Rosslyn through Stadium-Armory. The difference is in their Virginia branches: the Silver Line heads northwest through Tysons, Reston, and all the way to Dulles and Ashburn; the Blue Line branches south through Alexandria to Franconia-Springfield. Eastbound, they rejoin and share the same track to Largo Town Center.