The DC Circulator bus, also known as the red bus, is a fast and inexpensive transportation system, connecting areas that aren't well served by metro. The buses are clean and comfortable with low floors, big tourist-style windows, European-style seating, and multiple doors for easy on-and-off service.
The DC Circulator bus has five color-coded bus routes. Although each bus route has a different bus schedule, all buses arrive every 10 minutes at every bus stop.
Passengers can get a DC Circulator map when boarding the bus. However, be sure to check the map before your bus trip to identify which bus stop is closest to your destination.
The DC Circulator bus is easily recognized by its red, black and yellow-striped colors. Most of the passengers riding the bus are young professionals, and the occasional tourist savvy enough to have figured out how to get around Washington DC quickly and easily.
DC Circulator bus stops are identified by red, silver and yellow circular tubes with signs that provide information about the bus route. The bus stops often coincide with metrobus stops. So, you might see DC Circulator signs next to the blue, white, and red metrobus signs.
If this is your first time riding the DC Circulator bus, plan your trip using Google Maps within Washington DC. When getting directions from Google Maps, select the "By public transit" option. If there is at least a DC Circulator bus transiting through the area, it will be displayed in the results. The results are often combined with walking directions.
Using the DC Circulator bus is easier than traveling via Metro or Metrobus. However, you might need to know the following when riding the DC Circulator:
Unlike Metrobus, the DC Circulator bus does not have a digital screen or an announcer to let passengers know which bus stop is next. So, pay attention to the roads and know where you are. The bus drivers are friendly and know their routes well, so don't be afraid to ask for help if needed.
Unlike Metrobus, the DC Circulator bus does not have yellow cords to indicate the bus driver that you are getting off at the next bus stop. Instead, the DC Circulator bus has yellow and red buttons located on the arm rails or walls of the bus. Press any of these buttons to indicate the driver that you will be getting off.
DC Circulator Bus Farecards
The DC Circulator bus fare can be paid using cash, a SmarTrip card, or a DC Circulator Pass.
If paying with cash, exact change is required because bus drivers do not carry cash.
SmarTrip Card
: a rechargeable, plastic farecard that can be used to pay fares and transfers on the DC Circulator bus, Metrobus, Metro, and Metro parking. The card costs $5 (not including fare) and is available from SmarTrip vending machines in metro stations where parking is available.
DC Circulator Pass
: ride all you want by purchasing unlimited-trip passes. One-Day passes can be purchased at designated multi-space parking meters along the bus route using coins or credit cards (no dollar bills). One-Day, 3-Day, Weekly and Monthly Passes are also available.DC Circulator Bus Fares
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| Regular | $1.00 |
| Senior/Disabled | $0.50 |
| Children Under 5 | Free with paying adult |
| DC Students (elementary to high school) | Free with DC Student Travel card |
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Transfers
The DC Circulator bus uses a paperless transfer system. Paper transfers are no longer issued or accepted. To receive a transfer, a SmarTrip card must be used to pay the bus fare. Passengers using cash do not get a transfer and must pay the full fare when transferring to Metro or Metrobus.
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| DC Circulator to another DC Circulator | Free within 3 hours |
| DC Circulator to Metrobus | Free within 3 hours |
| DC Circulator to Metro | $0.50 discount of the Metro fare |
| Metro to DC Circulator | $0.50 |
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DC Circulator passengers transferring to Metrobus or another DC Circulator within three hours, ride for free when using a SmarTrip card.
DC Circulator passengers transferring to Metro receive a bus-to-metro discount when using a SmarTrip card. The discount reduces the metro fare by 50 cents.
Metro passengers transferring to a DC Circulator get a 50-cent discount off the regular fare of $1. Senior/Disabled metro passengers transferring to a DC Circulator, ride the bus for free.
DC Circulator Bus Routes
The DC Circulator bus has five routes. All routes cross each other and are designed to make transfers easy. Although buses run every 10 minutes, each route has a different bus schedule.
Gold Line
Georgetown - Union Station
Purple Line
Smithsonian - National Gallery of Art Loop
Red Line
Convention Center - SW Waterfront
Blue Line
Union Station - Navy Yard via Capitol Hill
Green Line
Woodley Park - Adams Morgan - McPherson
The most popular bus route is the Georgetown - Union Station, which connects Georgetown to the metro stations in Union Station and Chinatown. This is a great way to get to Georgetown, as there is no metro station anywhere near there. Another bus connecting Georgetown to the Rosslyn Metro station and Dupont Circle Metro station is the Georgetown Metro Connection.
Where is my Bus?
Wondering when the next DC Circulator bus is going to arrive? "Where is my Bus?" is an application for mobile devices that allows you to have up-to-the-minute location information about DC Circulator buses.
Using any mobile device, go to circulator.dc.gov and select your DC Circulator route and bus stop. "Where's My Bus?" will use real-time GPS data to tell you how close the next few DC Circulator buses are and whether there are any service disruptions you should know about.
How to Use the DC Circulator Bus
