History of the Orange Line
The Orange Line opened on November 20, 1978, with an initial segment connecting Ballston and Cheverly. The line was extended westward to Vienna by 1986 and east to New Carrollton by 1978. It remains one of the most heavily used lines in the system, running parallel to the Blue and Silver lines through the downtown DC core.
The Rosslyn-Ballston corridor in Arlington became a national model for transit-oriented development — 11 stops in Virginia helped transform Arlington from a suburban backwater into one of the most walkable, vibrant communities on the East Coast.
Schedule & Frequency
| Day | First Train | Last Train | Peak Freq. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday–Friday | 5:00 AM | 11:30 PM | Every 6–10 min |
| Saturday | 7:00 AM | 1:00 AM | Every 8–12 min |
| Sunday | 8:00 AM | 11:00 PM | Every 12–15 min |
Visiting the National Mall
The Smithsonian station is the most convenient stop for the National Mall's central museums. From here, the Natural History Museum, American History Museum, and the Hirshhorn Gallery are all within a 5-minute walk. The Federal Triangle station is better for the National Archives and the east end of the Mall.
Parking Along the Orange Line
- Vienna — the system's largest Park & Ride, fills before 7:00 AM weekdays ($6.00/day)
- Dunn Loring — mid-sized lot, slower to fill ($5.00/day)
- West Falls Church — structured garage ($6.00/day)
- Landover — surface lot ($4.95/day)
- New Carrollton — large terminus lot with MARC/Amtrak connection ($6.00/day)