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Arlington is one of the easiest places in the region to commute from. It sits directly across the Potomac from Washington, DC, with Metro stations on four lines inside the county. For many residents, the commute is the main reason they chose Arlington.
Still, the right part of Arlington depends on where you work. Here's how the main options compare.
Metro: four lines through the county
- Orange and Silver Lines: Run through the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor and into downtown DC. The Silver Line also connects west to Tysons, Reston, and Dulles Airport. See living in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor.
- Blue Line: Connects Rosslyn, Arlington Cemetery, the Pentagon, Pentagon City, Crystal City, and Reagan National Airport. See living in National Landing.
- Yellow Line: Runs from Pentagon City and the Pentagon across the Potomac into DC.
Driving
- I-66: Inside the Beltway, I-66 charges dynamic tolls for solo drivers in the peak direction during rush hours. Carpools of two or more with an E-ZPass Flex in HOV mode ride free. Neighborhoods along I-66 include much of North Arlington.
- I-395: The 395 Express Lanes run through South Arlington toward the Pentagon and DC, with free travel for HOV-3 vehicles with E-ZPass Flex. Fairlington and Shirlington sit right on I-395.
- Route 50 and the George Washington Memorial Parkway: Common routes into DC and along the river, with the Key, Roosevelt, Memorial, and 14th Street bridges crossing into the city.
Typical commutes
Ranges are typical, not guaranteed. Test your route at the hours you'll actually travel.
- The Pentagon: From most of Arlington, 10 to 25 minutes by car, bus, or Metro. Pentagon City and Crystal City residents can walk or take one stop, and Columbia Pike has frequent buses to the Pentagon. See the best commute to the Pentagon from Arlington and the timeline to buy before reporting to the Pentagon.
- Downtown DC: From Rosslyn, Courthouse, or Clarendon, Metro reaches downtown in about 10 to 20 minutes.
- Tysons: Silver Line from Ballston or a 15 to 30 minute drive via I-66 or Route 7.
- National Landing: Blue and Yellow Lines, Metroway bus rapid transit, and the VRE station in Crystal City. Browse homes for sale in 22202.
Biking and walking
Arlington has nearly 49 miles of paved multi-use trails, and the Custis, Mount Vernon, and W&OD trails are real commuter routes into DC and the Pentagon. See Arlington's parks and trails.
Military and PCS buyers
If you're relocating on orders, the commute often drives the whole search. See how a PCS move affects buying in Arlington and whether to rent or buy on a 2-year assignment.
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 Arlington neighborhoods that fit. Contact Johnny Quilenderino to map out your buying or selling strategy, or browse all Arlington homes for sale.
More Arlington neighborhood guides:
- Living in the Rosslyn-Ballston Metro corridor
- School pyramids: Yorktown, Washington-Liberty and Wakefield
- North Arlington single-family homes and new construction
- Missing Middle housing (EHO) in Arlington
- Living in National Landing: Crystal City and Pentagon City
- Arlington parks, trails and green spaces
- Columbia Pike and South Arlington neighborhoods
- Fairlington and Shirlington condos and townhomes
For more Arlington buyer and seller questions, visit our Arlington real estate hub.