Convenient Bus Rides to the National Zoo in DC

This summer, Saturday, May 4 – Monday, September 30, we are launching the Zoo Express Bus, a summer service from the Woodley Park – Zoo / Adams Morgan Metro Station – to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.

Why start your zoo adventure with frustrating traffic, expensive parking, or extensive walking? This service provides a fast and free connection directly to the Zoo’s main entrance and its Panda Plaza bus lot. The Zoo Express Bus closes the half-mile transit gap between the metro station, the Zoo, and its neighboring hotels, businesses, and restaurants. The route makes it easy for residents, families, visitors, and employees to enjoy the Woodley Park area – one of DC’s most popular neighborhoods.

How to Ride

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Service Hours

Buses run every 10-15 minutes from 6 a.m. – 8 p.m., Monday through Friday and  8 a.m. – 8 p.m on weekends.

Route Stops

To the Zoo, board the Zoo Express Bus at the DC Circulator bus stop outside of Woodley Park – Zoo / Adams Morgan Metro Station. Look for our standard bus stop flag and buses with “Zoo Express” on the overhead display.

From the Zoo, board at the intersection of Connecticut Ave. N.W. & 24^th Street N.W. or the Smithsonian’s National Zoo Panda Plaza bus lot. (The stop at Panda Plaza will be marked with a special sign, not a Circulator flag pole.)

DC Transit Connections

• Woodley Park – Zoo/ Adams Morgan Metro Station – connect to the WMATA Red line toward Shady Grove or Glenmont
• Woodley Park – Adams Morgan – McPherson Square Circulator route – travels through Adams Morgan, via 14th St, to McPherson Square Metro’s Orange, Blue and Silver line trains.
• Metrobus – connect to various bus routes including the 90, 92, 93, 96, L1, L2, L4, and X3.
• Capital Bikeshare – access three Capital Bikeshare stations along Calvert St. N.W.