Arlington
Introduction
Arlington sits in Tarrant County, Texas, within the Mid-Cities region of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area. It is one of the principal cities of that metropolis, positioned between Dallas and Fort Worth.
It is the largest city in Texas that is not a county seat, and it ranks behind only Fort Worth in Tarrant County and behind Dallas and Fort Worth in the wider metropolitan area.
Getting around
< p > Arlington sits directly across the Potomac from Washington, D.C., and its compact, transit-rich layout makes it easy to get around without a car. Metrorail is the backbone of the network, with several lines serving the county and four of them running into D.C., so crossing the river is straightforward. Fares are distance-based and you tap in with a SmarTrip card, which is rechargeable and works on both Metrorail and Metrobus; you can buy one at any Metrorail station, at Metro sales offices, or at The Commuter Store locations, and it can also be added to a mobile phone. Contactless credit and debit cards are accepted at faregates, and a Metro Trip Planner helps you map routes in advance. Buses fill in where rail service is limited: Metrobus runs numerous routes across the county, Arlington Transit (ART) connects within Arlington and to neighboring areas including D.C., and the DC Circulator offers another option. Pay with cash or a SmarTrip card, and use the card for free or discounted transfers to other buses or to Metrorail. You can also buy SmarTrip cards at many hotels, Metro stations, and select CVS and Giant stores. Tap your card on the farebox reader when boarding; drivers can add fare and answer route questions. Note that eating and drinking are not allowed on buses or Metrorail. < p > For short trips, walking and biking are practical. Arlington has wide sidewalks, trails, and public art, with many attractions near hotels, and areas like Ballston-Virginia Square are especially walkable, with restaurants, shops, and parks reachable on foot. WalkArlington provides walking resources, including self-guided Walkabouts. Several major sites are an easy walk from transit: the Marine Corps War Memorial is under a mile from Rosslyn Metro station, Arlington National Cemetery is about a mile from the Lincoln Memorial across Memorial Bridge, and the Pentagon Memorial is a short walk from Pentagon station. Cycling is comfortable thanks to predominantly flat terrain and an extensive network of bike lanes, trails, and protected or buffered lanes; a Bicycle Comfort Map shows low-traffic routes, and BikeArlington offers local maps and routes. Capital Bikeshare stations are spread across the region, including Arlington, with the first 30 minutes free and fees thereafter; use the app to find available bikes and empty docks. Stations sit near major attractions, including 12th and S Hayes Street and S Joyce and Army Navy Drive for the Pentagon Memorial, Columbia Pike and S Orme Street for the US Air Force Memorial, N Fort Meyer Drive and Wilson Boulevard for the Marine Corps War Memorial, and N Meade and 14th Street N near Iwo Jima for Arlington National Cemetery. Four bridges connect Arlington and D.C. — Francis Scott Key Bridge, Theodore Roosevelt Bridge, Arlington Memorial Bridge, and 14th Street Bridge — and all four are walkable and bikeable, though buses do not cross all of them. Key Bridge from Rosslyn is the main crossing into Georgetown, while the 14th Street Bridge is closest from Crystal City and southern Arlington. If you do drive, I-66, I-395, U.S. Routes 1, 29, and 50 serve the county, parking is plentiful, and many hotels have onsite parking; tools include an Interactive Meter Rate Map and a Performance Parking Pilot page for metered spaces. Car rental desks are available at locations including Crystal Gateway Marriott, Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, Comfort Inn Arlington/Ballston and its North Arlington location, and Ballston and Shirlington. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is located in Arlington, making it the most convenient airport, with car rental locations there and Metrorail and bus connections readily available; public transportation is recommended for large groups, and the Arlington Convention and Visitors Service can assist with tour bus parking. For transit information and assistance, visit one of the four Commuter Store locations in Ballston, Crystal City, Rosslyn, and Shirlington.Three days in Arlington
Day one: Start in Arlington, Texas, in Tarrant County, and get your bearings in the Mid-Cities area between Dallas and Fort Worth. Because the source material for this Arlington is thin, treat the day as a simple orientation rather than a checklist of sights.
Day two: If you are instead in the Arlington across the Potomac from Washington, use Metrorail, Metrobus, or the Arlington Transit ART buses to get around. Fares can be paid with SmarTrip or contactless payment, and the Commuter Store and Metro Trip Planner can help you sort out routes. You can also tap a card at CVS or Giant. Note that the DC Circulator and Metrobus serve different parts of the area, so check which one fits your trip.
Day three: In this Arlington, walk the neighbourhoods of Ballston and Virginia Square, and look into WalkArlington and Walkabouts for guided walking routes. Several memorials and landmarks are within reach: the Marine Corps War Memorial, Rosslyn Metro, Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial via Memorial Bridge, and the Pentagon Memorial.