DC Metro Yellow & Orange Lines: Routes & Differences Guide

DC Metro Yellow & Orange Line - If there's one question that trips up new DC Metro riders more than any other, it's probably this: "What's the difference between the Yellow and the Orange line?" The two share a significant portion of the downtown DC track and even several suburban stations, which makes the confusion completely understandable. Here's everything you need to know about both lines — where they go, where they part ways, and when to choose one over the other.

DC Metro Yellow vs. Orange Line Overview

The simplest way to remember the key difference: Yellow goes to Reagan Airport; Orange goes to Vienna and Fairfax. If you're catching a domestic flight and you're starting downtown, Yellow is the line you want.

DC Metro Orange Line: All 26 Stations (Vienna to New Carrollton)

DC Metro Yellow Line: All 21 Stations (Huntington to Greenbelt)

Heads-up on short-turn trains: Some Yellow Line trains terminate at Mt. Vernon Square rather than continuing to Greenbelt. Before boarding, check the destination sign on the front of the train. A train showing "Greenbelt" will continue through Shaw, Columbia Heights, Petworth, and all the way north.

Taking the Yellow Line to Reagan Airport

From any downtown Yellow Line station, board a southbound train toward Huntington. Get off at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport — the station is inside Terminal B/C, with a pedestrian connection to Terminal A.

Travel times: L'Enfant Plaza to the airport is roughly 6 minutes. From Gallery Place, around 10 minutes. From Metro Center (transfer to Yellow at L'Enfant Plaza), about 12 minutes total.

Fares run approximately $2.25–$3.00 from downtown DC during weekday daytime hours, dropping to a flat $2.25–$2.50 in the evenings and on weekends.

Top Stops on Yellow and Orange

1. National Mall museums (Smithsonian station, Orange/Blue/Silver) — Air & Space, Natural History, American History. All free, all within easy walking distance.
2. Reagan National Airport (Reagan Airport, Yellow/Blue) — The fastest airport from downtown DC by Metro.
3. Pentagon and Pentagon Memorial (Pentagon station, Yellow/Blue) — Pentagon tours require advance reservation. The outdoor 9/11 Memorial is open every day at no charge.
4. Old Town Alexandria (King St-Old Town, Yellow/Blue) — A genuinely charming waterfront historic district with good restaurants and independent shops. Take the free King Street trolley from the station to the waterfront.
5. National Archives (Archives station, Yellow/Green) — The original US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights are on permanent display here. Not to be missed.
6. Ballston and Clarendon (Orange/Silver) — Arlington's most dynamic stretch for dining, drinking, and shopping. A solid evening destination that doesn't require crossing into DC.
7. Vienna/Fairfax (Vienna, Orange) — George Mason University anchor,, plus the largest park-and-ride lot in the entire WMATA system at 5,125 spaces.
8. Mosaic District (Dunn Loring, Orange/Silver) — An outdoor lifestyle shopping center with a diverse food scene, five minutes on foot from the station.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What's the difference between the Yellow and Orange Metro lines?

A. The Orange Line runs from Vienna, Virginia,rginia to New Carrollton, Maryland, cutting through the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor and downtown DC. The Yellow Line runs from Huntington, V,,irginia to Greenbelt, Maryland, serving Reagan National Airport directly and sharing the downtown core with the Orange. Both use the same stations from L'Enfant Plaza through Gallery Place, but branch off at their Virginia and Maryland ends.

2. Does the Yellow Line go to Reagan Airport?

A. Yes. The Yellow Line's Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station is inside Terminal B/C with a connection to Terminal A. From downtown DC, you're looking at 6 to 12 minutes depending on your starting point.

3. How far does the Orange Line go?

A. 26 stations covering roughly 28 miles between Vienna, Virginia, and New Carrollton, Maryland.

4. Does the Orange Line go to Dulles?

A. No. Dulles is exclusively served by the Silver Line via the Washington Dulles station. From the Orange Line, transfer at East Falls Church or Rosslyn to the Silver Line.

5. How often does the Yellow Line run?

A. Every 6 minutes during weekday rush hours — more frequently than the Orange Line. On weekends and evenings, service is every 8 minutes, with late-night service running every 7 to 8 minutes. On the shared segment with the Green Line between L'Enfant Plaza and Gallery Place, the ce, effective frequency is roughly every 3 minutes during peak hours.

6. Where do the Yellow and Orange lines split from each other?

A. In Virginia, they diverge south of the Pentagon. Yellow trains originate from Huntington and Alexandria, Virginia,dria while Orange trains come from Vienna via the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor. North of downtown DC, Yellow trains head toward Greenbelt on Green Line tracks while Orange trains branch toward New Carrollton on a separate Maryland corridor.