SmarTrip vending at DCA?
 

Hey all -- anyone know if I can buy a SmarTrip card upon arrival in DCA in July? I've been going to the city increasingly often, so I think it's time to make the $5 investment, but I don't want to tie up $25 on the card by ordering online if I don't have to.

Don't think there's a place to buy the card at DCA, but they can be purchased online and at numerous locations, including many CVSes.

If you're willing to take a long walk, there's a CVS at 2400 Jefferson Davis Hwy as well as a Metro Commuter Store somewhere in the CC Underground (1615-B Crystal Square Arcade). The CVS is closer to the southern/Viaduct side of the airport whereas Crystal Square Arcade is more accessible from the northern end via the Mount Vernon Trail (which has an underpass between 15th and 18th St. S).

You could order one online and get it mailed to you.

OP indicated a lack of interest in ordering online due to the $25 minimum value that must be added.

why bother? just get a regular farecard. you can easily add money to it (trading it in), and you don't have to worry as much about losing it. and unlike some stations, the lines at the vending machines at DCA never seem to be long.

Thanks, everyone, for the information. I didn't get the answer I wanted, but that's an issue I'll have to take up with WMATA when I get into the city.

I did want to specifically thank Annandaler for his kindness. He PMed me offering to buy me a Smartrip card during his commute and to mail it to me before my trip. As cliché as it sounds, it renewed my faith in the kindness of people (and FTers, in particular.) :)

You can buy SmarTrip cards from vending machines at any Metro station with parking: http://www.wmata.com/rail/parking/ Not DCA, though.

Hahahaha...WMATA could care less. I agree with others - there's no point to a Smartrip card unless you're going to do a lot of bus transfers or parking at certain WMATA parking lots (the lots at the end of the lines actually do take credit card).

If you want a SparTrip card try buying it off craigs list or ebay. A lot of times you can get a card and pay less then the amount stored on it.

If you are still looking for one, please PM me. I think I have an extra one I can send you.

maybe the OP would like to be able to get the discounted rail-to-bus transfer or the free bus-to-bus transfer