Union Station Metro – 1st Street Exit — Attraction in Washington

I recently used the 1st Street exit of Union Station Metro, and overall I had a solid experience. Here’s what stood out:

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

What worked well:

The station is clean and well-maintained. Floors, seating areas, and signage were all in good shape, which made navigating much easier.

Signage is excellent — clear directions helped me find the 1st Street exit without confusion, even during peak hours.

Security presence was adequate; I felt safe waiting on platforms and in the exit corridors at night.

The location is super convenient. Being so close to public transit, Amtrak, commuter rail, buses — it’s a great hub if you're switching between modes of travel.

What could be better:

During rush hour, congestion builds up noticeably. The stairways and escalators get crowded, which slows things down.

Waiting areas (benches or shelter near the exit) could use more seating, especially for seniors or people with mobility issues.

Lighting near some of the stairs/exits could be improved — a few spots felt dim in the evening.

Conclusion: Overall, I’d recommend using the Union Station Metro at the 1st Street exit. It’s a very practical choice for commuting or traveling in DC, with solid amenities and good convenience. Just plan for a few crowds if you’re going during peak times, and allow for a bit of extra time...

Has a garage we pay $21 for 5 hours. Took Metro to the foggy bottom we had to transfer three times a total of 7-9 stops. The station was clean and beautiful it had lots of stores and food restaurants. Also you can take Greyhound buses and other buses to other places. It was a little hard finding the metro in that station because it's big, but once you ask people will help you. I bought a cinnamon pecan roll in there. $11 dollars but worth it. The Capitol and memorial Lincoln, the White House, Smithsonian museums are walkable from this station. We took Metro thinking it was far from Lincoln memorial but to our disappointment it wasn't at all. It was a rainy day so at 4-5 hours of walking around we took an Uber to the station from the Natural History Museum and it was like a 5-8 minutes drive. At least I was able to ride the metro as a souvenir. You got to buy a metro card just like a clipper in CA. We're keeping it also...

Decent station. Good food options if you're waiting. I wouldn't suggest catching a taxi outside the union station. Our taxi ride smelled like pure urine. The windows were up the whole time. It was a suffocating and disgusting experience for my children.It was the longest 15-minute ride. Our taxi driver was rude. He was upset because we didn't have cash, and when I asked him why we couldn't pay with credit card, he said that I was starting problems and that I was being watched by his camera. If he has an issue with people paying with a credit card, then the driver needs to inform prior to taking anyone. It was very obvious he did not like women to speak because when my husband spoke, there was no issue. Anyway after that we only ubered. I've never had an issue with an Uber or taxi driver...