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Washington DC taxi fares
A taxi from Adams Morgan to Reagan National Airport (DCA) picked up on Tuesday 10 November, 12:00 costs about $22.46 (6.9 mi, about 24 min). From the official Washington DC taxi tariff in force since 29 April 2026, checked 3 November 2026.
The metered taxi fare set by DC's Department of For-Hire Vehicles for taxis hailed on the street or booked by phone.
Trips into Maryland and Virginia are interstate trips regulated by WMATC; DC taxis keep the meter running. Airport fees and tolls the driver pays are passed on.
The route is the quickest by road (OpenStreetMap data); journey times allow for the city's usual traffic.
Declared snow emergency: $15.00 may be added.
The short version
The meter starts at $4.00 for the first 1/8 mile, then $2.56 per mile, charged $0.32 at a time.
Stopped or crawling in traffic, it charges $25 an hour instead. The rate is the same day and night.
Every trip adds a $0.50 passenger surcharge, and extra passengers add $1.00 in all, however many there are.
Booking by phone adds $2.00. There's no charge for luggage.
Taxis booked through an app set their own fares; this is the fare on the meter.
Tariffs and when they apply
Tariff
Start
Distance
Time, slow traffic
When
Metered rate (street hail and telephone dispatch)
$4.00
$0.32 per 1/8 mile$2.56 per mile
$0.32 per 46.08 s$25.00 per hour
At all times
Below about 10 mph the meter charges by time instead of distance. It moves in $0.32 steps. The tariff in force when the trip starts runs for the whole trip.
Surcharges and extras
$0.50Passenger surcharge
$1.00Emergency fuel surcharge (until 25 December 2026)
$1.00Additional passengers ($1.00 in all)
$2.00Telephone dispatch
Trips booked for now or booked in advance
Up to $15.00Declared snow emergency
May be added in situations we can't detect, so it isn't in quotes.
Airports
Airport trips use the meter. The extras that apply are listed under surcharges.
One rate covers the whole District. Trips into Maryland and Virginia, including to Reagan National and Dulles, stay on the meter; any airport fee or toll the driver pays is passed on. The airports are in Virginia, so taxis picking up there charge Virginia rates, not these.
Example fares
Tuesday 12:00 · 3.5 mi, about 15 min
Dupont Circle to the Capitol
$14.46
$4.00Pick-up charge, Metered rate (street hail and telephone dispatch), includes the first 0.125 mi
$9.37Metered rate (street hail and telephone dispatch): 3.49 mi, 1.1 min in slow traffic
−$0.32Included in the pick-up charge
−$0.09Meter steps of 0.32 (completed steps only)
$0.50Passenger surcharge
$1.00Emergency fuel surcharge (until 25 December 2026)
Tuesday 12:00 · 5.3 mi, about 20 min
The White House to Reagan National
$18.62
$4.00Pick-up charge, Metered rate (street hail and telephone dispatch), includes the first 0.125 mi
$13.60Metered rate (street hail and telephone dispatch): 5.31 mi
−$0.32Included in the pick-up charge
−$0.16Meter steps of 0.32 (completed steps only)
$0.50Passenger surcharge
$1.00Emergency fuel surcharge (until 25 December 2026)
Tuesday 12:00 · 31.3 mi, about 86 min
Union Station to Dulles
$85.18
$4.00Pick-up charge, Metered rate (street hail and telephone dispatch), includes the first 0.125 mi
$80.15Metered rate (street hail and telephone dispatch): 31.31 mi
−$0.32Included in the pick-up charge
−$0.15Meter steps of 0.32 (completed steps only)
$0.50Passenger surcharge
$1.00Emergency fuel surcharge (until 25 December 2026)
Why was my fare higher?
Traffic was slowBelow about 10 mph the meter charges $25 an hour instead of by distance.
There were more of you$1.00 in all for additional passengers.
You booked by phoneTelephone dispatch adds $2.00.
You went to an airportAirport fees and tolls the driver pays are added to the fare.
It was a snow emergencyWhen the District declares a snow emergency, a $15.00 fee applies.
Tariff history
The emergency fuel surcharge ends; the rates from 2 August 2024 continue: $4.00 for the first 1/8 mile, $2.56 per mile, $25 an hour waiting, 50¢ passenger surcharge.
Verified
Emergency fuel surcharge: a flat $1.00 on every metered trip, from 29 April to 25 December 2026.
Verified
Washington DC taxi questions
How much is a taxi from Reagan National Airport to downtown DC?
Taxis at the airport are licensed in Virginia and charge Virginia's rates, which this page doesn't cover. Going the other way, from downtown to Reagan National, the DC meter applies; the airport page lists typical fares.
Do DC taxis charge more at night?
No. The meter rate is the same at all hours.
Is there a charge for luggage or extra passengers?
There's no luggage charge. Additional passengers add $1.00 in total, whatever their number.
Why is the fare in an app different?
Taxis booked through an app can set their own fares, which the app shows before you book. The meter rates here apply to taxis you hail or book by phone.
Sources
Shared Riding
Department of For-Hire Vehicles, Government of the District of Columbia · official · retrieved 1 Nov 2026
Taxicab Fares
Department of For-Hire Vehicles, Government of the District of Columbia · official · retrieved 1 Nov 2026