Dupont Circle Metro Station

I confess it’s been a couple of months since I was last @ DuPont Circle, but Unilocal is relentlessly «urging» me to review this Metro Station (remember, when you «check-​in, you often get such friendly auto-​reminders), so here goes:
Want to catch the Metro when you’re at or near DuPont Circle? — well then, THIS is your station!
A stone’s through from the heralded DuPont Circle Rat Sanctuary (Now, THERE’S a review for ya’), pedestrians have convenient bi-​directional access to the RED line — and are just two stops away from a Blue/​Orange/​Silver transfer point (Metro Center) and but three stops from a Yellow/​Green transfer point (Gallery Place).
So — yes. In Unilocal Parlance, if you’re seeking rail transit service from this point on the Red line to any other point on the red line, or to any point along any of the other colors, well then „Woohoo! As good as it gets!“ is right!
On a personal note, I really do like the „future as seen through the early mid-​20^th century’s“ feel of this station. For those architecturally inclined, note that there are a total of 11 different styles of station architecture. DuPont Station has one of the most common styles throughout the WMATA. The „Brutalist“ style, as it is known, was pervasive from the 50’s to the ‘70s and prominent architect Harry Weese was who is responsible for DuPont Station and a bunch of other DC metro stop designs. I learned that this particular Brutalist design is sometimes referred to as the „Waffle“, that most of the downtown stops are in the „Waffle“ design» but that DuPont Station was uniquely built with precast panels whereas all the others were constructed using the «pour-​in-​place» method (for cost-​savings, I suspect).
So — anyway — this is a station for folks wanting to get around via Metro, for folks interested in mid-​20^th century brutalist archictecture, or both!

This was our home station for our trip to Washington DC. Clean and efficient. The exit escalators are long and steep. Plan on a little extra time getting into and out of this station.
When we left on a Saturday it was long wait for a train on The Red line. Can be very busy.

This station is cleaner than some I have been too. I am here early on a Sunday and the wait between trains is standard for the weekend, but so slow. I love that there is a Farmer’s Market directly above the station. I saw fresh fruit, plants for sale and a myriad of other booths! I’m excited to go check it out one Sunday. I will say that the escalator entering this station is extremely steep. I’m not afraid of heights usually but it definitely made me alert!

This is a busy metro station that services the Dupont circle area. It has limited access (2 entrances) considering the area if services. The escalators here are super long so be prepared for a good workout if you like to walk up/​down the escalators!
Also, there are 2 side platforms instead of one common platform, which makes crossing over a pain and also allows for less space during rush hour or if a train has to be offloaded (a common occurrence on the Red Line)

Maybe it’s me, Are all these Metro subway stations fashioned after a fallout shelter?
Listen, I am the king of all the finest NYC transportation systems. Here’s what tripped me out using your Metro system.
— You better be good at math! If I want a round trip anywhere on the system, I need to buy a ticket and double the price. Yeah, try adding after a few drinks
— Why can’t I use my train ticket on the bus system? I left a restaurant and saw the bus stop right outside. I gotta pay a fair to ride the bus? NYC for the win!
— Your trains look like an old Disneyworld monorail car from the 70s.
— I can ride the NYC subway ANYWHERE for $ 2 and change. Better count those coins if you want to change your destination on the Metro
I liked the Dupont Circle Metro Station. It was clean and I liked the turnstiles.
(NYC still rules regarding transportation)

Dupont metro stop is one of the busier metro stations especially during rush hour but still not as busy as Metro center, that place is crazy. Anyways, Dupont has super long escalators that can make you dizzy if you aren’t used to them. Always stand on the right side if you are not walking down or up the escalator. Otherwise you are likely to have some angry commuter yell or even walk into you if you are standing on the left. The base of the escalators always has a strong breeze blowing down from up above, this can be pleasant in the summer time, but it is oh so painful in the winter.
There are two exits, the Dupont circle exit that lets you out in Dupont circle by the Krispy Kreme and the Ave Q exit that lets you out away from DP circle. If you are trying to catch the Georgetown University Guts bus or the D2 bus I would recommend taking the Ave Q exits. The D2 bus picks up right outside the escalators and the Guts bus just around the corner, one block to the left leaving the metro station. Make sure you pick the right exit or you will have to go through several cross walks to get where you really want to go. I like this station, because its safe, busy, and a convenient jumping off point for the rest of the metro stops.

Not sure why each station has their own Unilocal Review. Metro is a VERY CONVENIENT way to transverse Washington DC. I like the Red Line, it’s easy to navigate, and especially during the day has frequent trains.
I felt very safe in the DuPont circle station, and enjoyed riding the Metro.

There is a Panera Bread and a Krispy Kreme right outside of the station. Station appears to be safe and clean during normal work hours.

First of all I would like to mention that the Metro in DC is a thousand times way better than the NYC Subway. I felt safe, the stations were well lit, and super clean. This one in DuPont Circle was particularly deep, like descending into an urban cavern. It was quite the sight. The one day pass came in handy, especially if you’re touring around town. Overall I love the DC Metro!

Clean. Easy to navigate. But the escalator steps are endless, but it’s a great workout if you choose to walk to the left. Gets my heart rate up everytime.

I guess I don’t get around on the Metro that much. I thought the escalator at the Rosslyn metro was massive … the one at Dupont Circle is another monster! (Incidentally, Wikipedia reports that the longest set of single-​span uninterrupted escalators in the Western Hemisphere is at the Wheaton Metro Stop)
There is a Krispy Kreme next to the entrance. The Hot Doughnut light was on. That’s enough for me to give this Metro stop the 4-​star seal of approval.

Another of Washington’s very deep underground stations, Dupont Circle is on the Metro’s Red Line between Woodley Park and Farragut North stations. Unlike many others, this is a «side platform» station, where the doors open to the side rather than to a shared «island» platform in the center.
While I was there, they were repairing the escalators. Some crazy people actually managed to climb them while they were temporarily down. Maybe the same as four flights of stairs?
From the street level you go down one escalator to the ticketing mezzanine, same as others. Automated ticket vending machines are available as well as a staffed booth. Then another escalator down to either the westbound (towards Shady Grove) or the eastbound (towards Glenmont and downtown DC) platforms.
Enjoy the Walt Whitman poem as you get to street level.

What a wonderful way to get around.
I love the Metro and hope everyone that uses it appreciates what an excellent system they have.
Was so great to let the car set and easily navigate DC. Made the whole experience of visiting the capital way above average.
Wish the system was every where in the US

Aesthetically one of the nicer Metro stations, and one of the most useful. Check out the quotes carved on the northern exit. This stop has two exits that get you access to a shuttle bus to Georgetown University, a boatload of Metro buses, and one of the busiest neighborhoods in DC.

This is a great metro in that it is centrally located to one of the cooler spots of DC. However, the long escalators going out the north (non-​circle) end are often broken. And somehow, they’re often broken in the ‘up’ direction. So, that can suck because the line for the elevator gets really, really long.
The cover they built at the circle end is helpful for keeping escalators dryer and keeping them in more working condition.

I just want to add that the station managers or whatever they’re called seem to hate their jobs, but more sadly, loathe people. Asking for any assistance or just making eye contact with them will garner you ignorance or the one index finger up in the air and looking away stating («stop, wait, my text message is more important than you»). Seriously, what exactly is in the job description for these guys here at this particular station?
Anyway, I’ve only encountered cordial and accommodating station managers at other locations. But this one, on two separate occasions could definitely go down as a crappy experience.

Mice infested. Urine smell from both human and probably animal. Weird crowd congregate here in the wee hours of Saturday morning. Vertigo escalators.

Dupont is my final transportation destination on my way to work from Baltimore each morning and home each afternoon. The farecard machines and the stalls often malfunction and the escalators are long and slow. Despite recent upgrades completed in October of 2012 the escalators do still break down on occasion. I enjoy my morning exercise walking up the escalators though, whenever tourists can remember to stand on the right and allow me to walk up the left.

Steepest escalators around. Be prepared before you look up/​down! It’s also quite a workout to run up and down those escalators! I swear mutant mole people lie in wait.

This is an okay metro station. The escalators are slower and longer than the other station’s. I didn’t mind though since I was paying more attention to the Walt Whitman quote engraved on the wall. I’m surprised on the depth of the metro station compared to the street level.
The station could use some maintenance; walls were visibly cracked around the entrance. It’s also not the cleanest station out there, but it is definitely convenient for all those Dupont restaurants and hotels. I’d take the bustling metro over getting stuck in traffic with a taxi!