Old blog posts still list Metrobus 11Y from DCA
Metrobus 11Y used to run as a peak-hour express linking Northern Virginia suburbs to downtown DC, and some flyers treated it as a cheap run from DCA into the city. Current WMATA timetables show no stop at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in either Terminal 1 or Terminal 2. If you see “11Y from DCA” on a blog, assume that write-up is several years out of date.
The last versions of the 11Y timetable show it restored in truncated form after a suspension, with stops along the Route 1 corridor and into downtown but nothing at the airport. Frequency is roughly every 30 minutes in peak direction only, which already makes it a bad fit for most flight schedules. Add the missing DCA stop, and it effectively drops off the list of usable airport ground transport options.
Some older trip reports still call 11Y a 10–15 minute “express” from DCA to parts of Alexandria, usually quoting a standard Metrobus fare of just a few dollars. That combination of 10–15 minutes and a basic bus fare looks attractive next to a $20–$30 taxi into DC. The problem: those reports predate route changes and suspensions that removed the airport from the map.
Step-by-step: what to do if you see 11Y in your research
- 1. Check the date on the article or blog. If the post is from before 2021, treat any mention of 11Y from DCA as historical, not current advice.
- 2. Confirm on WMATA’s site. Pull up the current Metrobus 11Y timetable and map and look specifically for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Terminal 1, or Terminal 2; you won’t see them listed as stops.
- 3. Plan on using Metrorail instead. The Blue and Yellow lines stop at DCA in both directions, typically every 6–15 minutes depending on time of day, and get you into downtown in around 15–25 minutes.
- 4. If you’re already on a 11Y corridor, transfer smart. Ride 11Y only to reach a Metrorail station like Pentagon or downtown, then take rail to the airport; don’t expect the bus to drop you at the terminals.
- 5. Build a timing buffer. Assume at least 30 minutes for any 11Y leg plus 15–25 minutes for Metrorail to DCA, instead of counting on the old one-seat 10–15 minute ride that no longer exists.
Final tip: when planning DCA transit, start with “DCA Metrorail station” on WMATA’s trip planner and ignore any auto-suggestions or blog mentions of 11Y as an airport bus.