Best option for Metrobus travel

We are a group of 8 traveling to DC on April 1%26amp;2. There are four adults and four seniors. There is a metrobus stop very close to our hotel in Springfield, so we would prefer to travel by metrobus rather than rail. What is our best option for fares: Smartrip or buying a one-week pass that will only cover half the value of our our ride into DC?

I%26#39;m not sure how much we will be riding on the bus once we get into DC. I know we are planning on visiting the Pentagon, Arlington, the Capital and possibly the Smithsonian, and I%26#39;m sure we%26#39;ll have to ride between some or all of those. Any advice will be appreciated.

Best option for Metrobus travel

I would go with a SmarTrip card. If you are going to do bus to rail or rail to bus transfers, you can only get the discounted fare rate using a SmarTrip card.

Suggest reading through the Metro website. http://www.wmata.com/

Best option for Metrobus travel

I%26#39;m not sure if I%26#39;m reading this right, but it sounds like you%26#39;re suggesting not using metrorail just because there is a bus stop near your hotel, is that correct?

If so, I would advise you to re-think that. You will find that rail is much more reliable than buses and is often more frequent as well. (Check out your bus routes - many are extremely infrequent outside of rush hour - some come only once every 30 or 60 minutes.) It%26#39;s not that you shouldn%26#39;t take the bus at all, but for someone staying in Springfield, it makes more sense to use the bus as a way to get to rail.

Also, once you are in DC, you will find it much easier to take rail (or walk) between the sites than to take the bus.

Since you are staying in Springfield, I recommend getting a Smartrip card because that can be used on both rail and bus.