Home > Alexandria > Commuter Guide
Alexandria sits right across the Potomac from Washington, DC, and next to Arlington's job centers. With five Metro stations, commuter rail, fare-free local buses, and major highways, it offers more ways to get to work than most of Northern Virginia. See how commuter buyers affect pricing in Alexandria.
Metro
- King Street-Old Town and Braddock Road: Blue and Yellow Lines, serving Old Town and the neighborhoods around it.
- Potomac Yard-VT: Blue and Yellow Lines, opened in 2023. See Potomac Yard.
- Eisenhower Avenue: Yellow Line, serving the Carlyle and Eisenhower area. Browse Carlyle homes.
- Van Dorn Street: Blue Line, serving the West End.
See what a home near Metro is worth in Alexandria.
Rail and bus
- VRE and Amtrak: Alexandria's Union Station near King Street has VRE commuter trains to Crystal City and DC and Amtrak service along the East Coast.
- DASH: Alexandria's local bus system has been fare-free since 2021 and connects neighborhoods to Metro stations.
- Metroway: Bus rapid transit along Route 1 links Alexandria to Crystal City and Pentagon City.
Driving
- I-395: Runs through the West End toward the Pentagon and DC, with 395 Express Lanes (free for HOV-3 with E-ZPass Flex).
- The Capital Beltway (I-495): Crosses the Potomac on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge at Alexandria's southern edge.
- Route 1 and the George Washington Memorial Parkway: Lead north to National Landing, Reagan National Airport, and DC.
Typical commutes
Times are typical ranges, not guarantees. Test your route at your actual hours.
- The Pentagon: About 10 to 25 minutes by Metro, bus, or car from most of the city. See the best commute to the Pentagon from Alexandria and the timeline to buy before reporting to the Pentagon.
- Downtown DC: About 20 to 35 minutes by Metro from King Street or Braddock Road.
- National Landing and the airport: One or two Metro stops from Potomac Yard and Braddock Road.
Military and PCS buyers
If you're relocating on orders, see how a PCS move affects buying in Alexandria and whether to rent or buy on a 2-year assignment. Many Alexandria mailing addresses are in Fairfax County, closer to Fort Belvoir; see City of Alexandria vs. Fairfax County addresses.
For bike commuting, the Mount Vernon Trail runs to DC; see Alexandria's parks and trails. For walkable living near Metro, compare Del Ray and Rosemont, and for schools see Alexandria City Public Schools.
Match your commute to the right neighborhood
Tell me where you work and how you want to get there, and I'll show you the Alexandria neighborhoods that fit. Contact Johnny Quilenderino to map out your buying or selling strategy, or browse all Alexandria homes for sale.
More Alexandria neighborhood guides:
- Old Town Alexandria: historic homes, BAR rules and the waterfront
- Living in Del Ray
- Potomac Yard and the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus
- Alexandria City Public Schools guide
- City of Alexandria vs. Fairfax County Alexandria addresses
- Alexandria parks, trails and waterfront
- Alexandria's West End and the Landmark redevelopment
- Single-family neighborhoods: Rosemont, North Ridge, Seminary Hill
For more Alexandria buyer and seller questions, visit our Alexandria real estate hub.