DASH buses and the King Street Trolley in Alexandria are free. Metrorail, Amtrak and VRE stop in the city, and Old Town meters are $2.75 an hour in most spots.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Facts on this page come from DASH, the City of Alexandria’s parking, Old Town parking, parking restrictions and transit pages, and Reagan National Airport’s Metrorail page.

Alexandria is one of the easiest places in the Washington region to get around without a car. City buses run by DASH have been free since September 2021, the King Street Trolley is free, and Metrorail, Metrobus, Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express trains all stop in the city. Reagan National Airport is a short Metro ride north. If you do drive, Old Town parking is metered and limited while City Hall and Market Square are renovated. Bus questions go to DASH at 703-746-3274.

Who to call

  • DASH buses and the trolley: 703-746-3274, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays; trip planner and arrivals
  • Parking enforcement, meters and city garages: Alex311, 311 or 703-746-4311
  • Road conditions on I-395 and I-495: 511 Virginia, dial 511
  • Car parked 72 hours or more: Police non-emergency, 703-746-4444

Buses and the trolley

  • DASH, the Alexandria Transit Company, runs the city’s bus network. It eliminated fares on all buses in September 2021 with the City Council’s support. Routes are on the DASH system map, and live arrivals on the real-time tracker.
  • King Street Trolley: free, every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., 365 days a year, between the King Street-Old Town Metro station and City Hall and Market Square, with stops every couple of blocks. Riders pull the cord to request a stop; the trolleys have wheelchair ramps and bike racks.
  • Metrobus routes also serve the city; schedules are on wmata.com.

Metro, Amtrak and VRE

The city runs three transit centers:

  • King Street Metrorail Station and Union Station: Metrorail, DASH, the trolley, Metrobus, Amtrak and VRE commuter rail. The city’s Old Town page points visitors to the Yellow and Blue lines to King Street-Old Town.
  • Braddock Road Metrorail Station: Metrorail, DASH, Metrobus and the Metroway bus rapid transit line.
  • Mark Center Station: a bus transit center.

Metrorail also stops at Potomac Yard and Eisenhower Avenue. Plan any regional trip with WMATA’s trip planner.

Alexandria Union Station, 110 Callahan Drive, built in 1905, serves Amtrak and VRE trains to Washington and the Virginia suburbs. The Amtrak station is staffed from 6 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. daily. There are only about 30 public parking spaces, so the city recommends arriving by transit.

The airport

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is just north of the city. Its Metrorail station is elevated and connects to the concourse level of Terminal 2 by two enclosed pedestrian bridges. For Terminal 1, exit to the curb and take any “Airport Shuttle” bus. From Old Town, ride Metrorail north from King Street-Old Town or Braddock Road.

Roads

Interstate 395, the Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway, runs through the West End with an exit at Seminary Road (Exit 4), and the Capital Beltway (I-95 and I-495) crosses the Potomac on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge above Jones Point. In Old Town, Washington Street carries the George Washington Memorial Parkway, whose Mount Vernon Memorial Highway section is on the National Register. The busiest city streets include King Street, Duke Street, Seminary Road and Mount Vernon Avenue.

The city maintains its own streets; VDOT runs the interstates. Current lane closures and repaving are on our weekly road construction page, and live conditions on 511 Virginia.

Bikes and trails

  • Capital Bikeshare has more than 600 stations across Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County and the rest of the region; pick up a bike in one place and return it anywhere. Station map.
  • The Mount Vernon Trail follows the waterfront; see our parks and trails guide.
  • The city’s GO Alex team helps residents and visitors try transit, biking and scooters.

Parking in Old Town

On the street: meters along King Street and the side blocks usually allow two or three hours, Monday through Saturday, and most charge $2.75 an hour, paid at the meter or by phone app. Some residential blocks near the business district charge non-permit holders to park, including on Sundays, often at higher rates and for longer hours. Read every sign, or check a block on the city’s Parking Viewer.

City garages and lots:

  • Courthouse Garage, 111 S. Pitt St.
  • North Union Street Garage, 220 N. Union St.
  • Thompson’s Alley Garage, 10 Thompson’s Alley
  • Cameron and St. Asaph streets lot, 517 Cameron St.
  • South Henry lot, 116 S. Henry St.
  • Union Station lot, 110 Callahan Drive

The Market Square Garage is closed during the City Hall renovation. On Saturdays from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., parking is free for farmers market visitors in the Tavern Square garage, 418 Cameron St., and the Courthouse garage.

Rules to know:

  • 72-hour rule: no vehicle may stay in one space on a public street for more than 72 hours, not counting weekends and holidays. Residents can apply for a temporary exemption of up to 14 days.
  • Residential permit districts: many neighborhoods limit non-permit parking to two or three hours; hours are posted on each block. Guests can get visitor permits online.
  • District 12 blocks ban parking from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays for vehicles not registered with the city or carrying a permit, to keep out commuters.
  • Overnight: some blocks ban parking from midnight to 6 a.m. without a city registration or permit.
  • Disability parking: free for up to four hours on metered blocks.

What this means for you

  • Visiting Old Town? Take Metro to King Street-Old Town and ride the free trolley.
  • Driving in? Use a city garage; the Market Square Garage is closed.
  • New resident? Register your car with the city, or permit-zone signs will apply to you as a visitor.

Related guides: road construction and closures, moving to Alexandria and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

Are DASH buses free in Alexandria?

Yes. DASH stopped collecting fares on all its buses in September 2021, and the King Street Trolley is free too.

What are the King Street Trolley hours?

The free trolley runs every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., 365 days a year, between the King Street-Old Town Metro station and City Hall and Market Square.

How much is parking in Old Town Alexandria?

Most on-street meters charge $2.75 an hour, usually with a two- or three-hour limit Monday through Saturday. The city also runs garages, including the Courthouse, North Union Street and Thompson’s Alley garages.

How do I get from Alexandria to Reagan National Airport?

Take Metrorail from King Street-Old Town or Braddock Road. The airport’s Metrorail station connects by enclosed pedestrian bridges to Terminal 2; a shuttle bus serves Terminal 1.

How long can I park on an Alexandria street?

No more than 72 hours in one space, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, under city code, plus any limits posted on the block.