DC Metro Yellow Line Map: Stations & Rider Guide 2026

The DC Metro Yellow Line Map consists of 20 stations, which operate between Huntington in Fairfax County, Virginia,, and downtown Washingt, on DC to Greenbelt in PrinGeorge's Countythe it it ,rge, Maryland. The Yellow Line is, in effect, the express alternative to the Green Line, bypassing U Street, Columbia Heights, Shaw, and the other stops that the Green Line only serves, making it faster on some downtown trips. It also serves the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

DC Metro Yellow Line Overview

The Yellow Line is also a very efficient line in the Metrorail system to traverse across the city. The Yellow Line has the majority of its routes shared with either the Green Line or the Blue Line, but is the quickest route in the downtown area when a rider does not need the U Street or Columbia Heights route.

Yellow Line Route: Huntington to Greenbelt

At Huntington in Fairfax County, the Yellow Line commences, running northeast, crossing the Potomac River,, and runs on the same tracks as the Blue Line through Pentagon, Crystal City,, and Reagan National Airport. To the North of the L'Enfant Plaza, it leaves the Blue Line and enters the Green Line path along downtown and northeast DC to Greenbelt in Maryland.

How Many Stations on the Yellow Line?

The Yellow Line has 20 stations.

Complete Yellow Line Station List

Yellow Line Stations in Virginia (Huntington Branch)

1. Huntington – Southern terminus; Fairfax County; park-and-ride
2. King Street–Old Town – Historic Old Town Alexandria; Amtrak access nearby
3. Braddock Road – Alexandria residential
4. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport – DCA direct terminal access
5. Crystal City – Amazon HQ2; retail corridor
6. Pentagon City – Fashion Centre mall; hotel district
7. Pentagon – Department of Defense; Pentagon Memorial
8. L'Enfant Plaza Transfer: Yellow + Green + Blue + Orange + Silver

Yellow Line Stations Shared with Green Line (DC)

10. Archives–Navy Memorial–Penn Quarter – National Archives; Navy Memorial
11. Gallery Place–Chinatown Transfer: Yellow + Green + Red
12. Mount Vernon Square/7th St–Convention Center Transfer: Yellow + Green – Convention Center
13. Shaw–Howard U – Howard University (Green Line also; Yellow only during rush)
14. U Street / African-Amer Civil War Memorial / Cardozo – (Green Line also; Yellow runs express during some periods)

Yellow Line Stations in DC and Maryland

15. Columbia Heights – (Green Line only; Yellow skips this heading north toward Fort Totten)
16. Georgia Avenue–Petworth – (Green Line only during standard service)
17. Fort Totten Transfer: Yellow + Green + Red
18. West Hyattsville – Maryland suburbs
19. Prince George's Plaza – The Mall at Prince George's
20. College Park–U of Md – University of Maryland; MARC rail connection
21. Greenbelt – Northern terminus; MARC commuter rail; NASA Goddard area

Note: Yellow Line routing north of Mt Vernon Sq/Convention Center varies by time of day. During some peak periods, Yellow Line trains run express, bypassing certain Green Line stations between L'Enfant Plaza and Fort Totten. Always check the train's destination sign.

Yellow Line as an Express Option: How It Compares to the Green Line

The most practical advantage of the Yellow Line is its faster service through the downtown corridor. Here is a direct comparison:

If you are traveling from the Pentagon or Crystal City to Gallery Place or downtown, the Yellow Line is typically faster than any alternative. If you need U Street or Columbia Heights, the Yellow Line will leave you stranded north of L'Enfant Plaza during most service hours.

Key Attractions Near Yellow Line Stations

Pentagon and Pentagon City

Pentagon Station is home to the U.S. Department of Defense headquarters, which is one of the largest office buildings in the world. A short stroll out of the station exit is the Pentagon Memorial, an emotional outdoor memorial to the 184 victims of the September 11 attack on the Pentagon.

The station is next to Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, a big upscale mall with big retailers and restaurants. The Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City is directly linked to the station.

Crystal City and HQ2 in Amazon.

Crystal City Station is catering to one of the fastest-developing urban corridors in Northern Virginia. Amazon chose the second headquarters (HQ2) to be located in Crystal City (since renamed to "National Landing"). The region is undergoing a large-scale mixed-use construction with new restaurants, apartments,, and office buildings being constructed frequently.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The Yellow Line and Blue Line serve directly Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) directly. The station also links to B and C through an elevated pedestrian bridge, due to which one does not have to walk outdoors. The Yellow Line offers the quickest way to get to the airport in central Washington since DCA is the nearest of the three airports in DC to downtown (about 14 minutes by Metro at the L'Enfant Plaza).

Yellow Line Hours and Frequency

FAQ: DC Metro Yellow Line

Q: How many stations does the DC Metro Yellow Line have? 

A: There are 20 stations of the DC Metro Yellow Line that operate between Huntington, Virginia , a and Greenbelt, Maryland.

Q: Does the Yellow Line go to the airport? 

A: Yes. The Yellow Line serves the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station.

Q: What is the difference between the Yellow and Green lines? 

A: That express is the Yellow Line,, which is faster. It skips Green Line-only stations like U Street and Columbia Heights, but serves Pentagon and Reagan Airport stations that the Green Line doesn't serve. The two lines hava e track that is common between L Enfant Plaza and Fort Totten.