If you want to live in a city setting but don’t have a car, Washington DC is a perfect place. Practically everything is available through an amazing transportation network. Many older cities on the East Coast are plagued with antiquated infrastructure that presents transportation nightmares – not DC. You’re likely to find yourself enjoying the trip as you move with ease in-and-out of the city and all around town.
Movoto is a real estate company that’s dedicated to helping you find your dream home. We know that as you nestle into your new surroundings, you’ll want to feel confident that your neighborhood has the right transportation options for you and your family. That’s why our real estate experts take that extra step to know what transportation choices are available so they can help you find the perfect balance.
Wondering
where to live in DC without a car? Let’s look at transportation choices and a few samples of prime neighborhoods that provide them.
Washington DC is a Walker’s Heaven
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DC is only 68.25 square miles in size. It’s easy to see why many residents like to walk. Most areas in the District are close, safe and filled with scenic views, iconic buildings and historical treasures.
WalkScore rates Washington DC with a rating of 74, which is defined as “Very Walkable.” DC is also ranked as the 7th most walkable large cities in the U.S. WorkScore determines their ratings based on a community’s distance to nearby places, pedestrian friendliness and if you don’t need a car for daily errands.
DC individual neighborhoods are also ranked. Scores from 90-100 are dubbed “Walker’s Paradise.” DC has nine neighborhoods with this title. Dupont Circle scored 97, which also ranked #17 in the country. U-Street and Downtown-Penn Quarter, also a 97. Mount Vernon Square is 96, while Adams Morgan and Logan Circle are 94. Foggy Bottom/GWU/West End, H Street-NoMa and Columbia Heights came in at 93. Another eight neighborhoods ranked between 80-90 and are “Very Walkable.”
If you plan on going most places by foot, one these treasured neighborhoods would be ideal.
DC METRO Rail System is a Fast Comfortable Way to Travel
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Not everyone has the time or desire to walk, especially in inclement weather or when traveling outside the city. A great alternative is the DC METRO. This well-kept, immaculately groomed subway is usually the fastest way to get around. It has 6 lines and 91 stations in Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland. It makes over 700,000 trips each weekday (with special weekend hours). There are multiple transfer hubs. DC’s METRO goes outside the National Beltway and beyond, into Alexandria, Arlington and Bethesda. It’s also a connector to other transportation options.
Tip: When deciding where to live in Washington DC, analyze your daily transportation needs and consider homes in neighborhoods near the best METRO line for an easy commute.
DC’s Metrobus Provides Great Alternatives and Connections to Corridors
The DC Metrobus is the 6th busiest bus agency in the United States. The Metrobus service makes over 400,000 trips each weekday serving 11,500 stops in DC, Maryland and Virginia. There’s also the DC Circulator that runs every 10 minutes between 12-13 hours a day.
Choosing a place near the Circular can save you time and money. It’s a great source for the college campus crowd, especially in Georgetown, where there’s no METRO subway access.
Capital Bikeshare is a Great Way to Travel – Move Fast and Stay Out of Traffic Jams
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Washington DC is very bicycle friendly. There are bike lanes, some biker traffic lights and high scores in several neighborhoods. A bike share program lets you pick up bicycle rentals throughout the area and swap them around to different stations during your rental. It’s an automated checkout system with membership options. There’s over 3,000 bicycles and about 350 stations across Washington DC, Arlington VA and Montgomery County MD. You can choose a day, three day, month or yearly rental option. Best part – you don’t have to worry that somebody will steal your bike!
Adams Morgan, Capitol Hill/Barracks Row or Foggy Bottom is a few of the best neighborhoods for bikers.
DC Taxis
Just a few years ago, using a DC cab was the worst. Former DC Mayor Vincent Grey reinvented the DC cab and now they can be a great choice. Old vehicles are being replaced with new, non-smoking cars with red exterior design (easier to see). Lighted signs on the roof let you know if they’re available. Best of all, you can pay with credit cards. It’s a great new system. Still a few bugs, but it’s improving. All-in-all, the new red cabs are a great ride.
Uber and Lyft are also popular.
If you Travel, You’ll Love Living in Washington DC
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Whether you decide to go by train, plane or bus, you’ll have great accessibility with competitive pricing.
Union Station
Union Station, with its regal architecture and European-style shops and services, provides a major hub to all other transportation. It’s the 2nd busiest train station in the U.S. and a major corridor for travel in the U.S. and abroad. Union’s a major pathway to the three airports in the region. The METRO Red Line is available at Union Station.
Tip: If you travel by train or plane often, consider a home in Capitol Hill or a neighborhood with easy access to the red line.
Airports
From downtown DC, you can easily reach the three major international airports: Reagan Washington National Airport, Dulles International Airport and Baltimore Washington International Airport.
Tip: When traveling, you may be able to save big bucks by checking options at all three airports. Sometimes they are very competitive, which may translate into savings for you.
As you can see, there are many avenues to explore. We’d love to help. Call our friendly customer care center at (888) 766-8686 and we’ll connect you to a Movoto Partner Agent who knows the different neighborhoods, the transportation and can help you to find the best neighbor with the home you’ll love and the transportation you’ll need.
