Fall is an exciting time for sports fans, and living in Northern Virginia means you can get to plenty of professional sporting events without having to drive. Taking Metro allows you to avoid game-day traffic, expensive parking fees, and the hassle of securing a rideshare. While there’s a perception that taking transit to a game takes longer, the travel time is often comparable when you factor in traffic before and after the game.
Here are five popular sports arenas and stadiums you can reach from McLean Metro Station.
1. Northwest Stadium
Home of the Washington Commanders, Northwest Stadium in Landover, MD.
How to get there: Take the Silver Line towards Largo, get off at Morgan Boulevard. Exit to Garrett Morgan Boulevard, and follow the sidewalk for approximately one mile, or a 23-minute walk, to the stadium.
If you’d rather skip the walk, take the Silver Line to New Carrollton, then ride the P61 Metrobus south to Suitland. Get off at Morgan Boulevard and Ring Road.
2. Capital One Arena
The home of the Washington Wizards basketball team and Washington Capitals hockey team, Capital One Arena is located in Northwest Washington, DC.
How to get there: From the McLean Metro station, ride the Silver Line toward Downtown Largo and get off at Metro Center. Take the exit towards 12th & G Street and walk for 10 minutes to the arena.
For less walking, continue on the Silver Line to L’Enfant Plaza and transfer to the Green Line toward Greenbelt. Ride three stops to Gallery Place – Chinatown, and you’ll be right next to the arena.
3. Nationals Park
Nats Park is home to the Washington Nationals baseball team, in Southeast DC.
How to get there: Take the Silver Line towards DC, transfer at L’Enfant Plaza to the Green Line heading towards Branch Avenue. Ride two stops and get off at Navy Yard – Ballpark station. From there, the stadium is a three-minute walk.
4. Audi Field
Fans of the Washington Spirit women’s soccer team, D.C. United men’s soccer team, or the D.C. Defenders United Football League team can attend games at Audi Field, located in Southwest D.C.
How to get there: From the McLean Metro station, take the Silver Line towards DC. Transfer at L’Enfant Plaza to the Green Line towards Branch Avenue. Ride two stops to Navy Yard – Ball Park station. The walk to the stadium is about 16 minutes, but many fans opt to take Capital Bikeshare from the Metro to Audi Field. Using the designated bike lanes, the ride is about four minutes.
Pro tip: Nats Park and Audi Field are both near the Navy Yard – Ball Park Metro stop, so check the Nats home game schedule beforehand, as that might affect how busy the trains are.
5. CareFirst Arena
WNBA fans can watch the Washington Mystics at the CareFirst Arena in Southeast DC.
How to get there: Ride the Silver Line and transfer at L’Enfant Plaza to the Green Line towards Branch Avenue. Ride four stops to Congress Heights. Exit towards Alabama Avenue and 13th St. SE. From there, it’s about a nine-minute walk to the arena.
Make a Game Plan for Your Commute
Heading to a game? Find a route that works for you with our Commute Plan Tool. Whether you’re driving, taking transit, biking, or walking, plan your trip ahead of time and spend less time worrying about the commute — and more time cheering on your team!