Northern Virginia is served by two airports: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), minutes from Arlington by Metro, handles domestic and short-haul flights; Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), in the far west of the region, handles international routes and is connected to Washington DC by the Silver Line Metro.
By Metro, the region is well covered. The Blue, Yellow, and Silver lines cross into Virginia from Washington, serving Arlington, Alexandria, and the Dulles corridor. A SmarTrip card is the easiest way to pay.
By Amtrak, Union Station in Washington DC connects to Virginia via multiple services, including to Manassas and beyond. Virginia Railway Express (VRE) operates commuter rail service from Union Station to Manassas and Fredericksburg.
By car, I-66, I-395, and I-95 are the main arteries from Washington. Traffic is severe during rush hours (roughly 7–9 am and 4–7 pm weekdays). For Mount Vernon and sites in Fairfax County, a car is useful; for Alexandria and Arlington, the Metro is better.