best metro line from Union Station to Washington Monument???

Question

Hello.....our hotel is right by union station..... heading to the holocust museum and Washington Monument...... which metro line would get us there?? Would it just be the red line??

(sorry if i don't know my terms..... I'm a newbie folks)

Answer

You’re very close to the National Mall from Union Station, and the Metro can get you most of the way—but the Red Line alone will NOT take you directly to the Washington Monument or the Holocaust Museum. Those sites are on the Blue / Orange / Silver lines.

Here is the easiest way to do it, step-by-step.

Getting from Union Station to the Washington Monument

The Washington Monument does not have a dedicated Metro stop, but two nearby stations work well. From Union Station, you’ll need to transfer once.

Take the Red Line from Union Station heading toward Shady Grove.
Ride 2 stops to Metro Center.
Transfer at Metro Center to the Blue, Orange, or Silver Line toward Franconia–Springfield / Vienna / Largo / Ashburn (any direction heading southwest).
Get off at Smithsonian Station.

From Smithsonian Station: Exit using the “National Mall” exit. You’ll come up right near the Monument—only a few minutes’ walk.

Getting from Union Station to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

The Holocaust Museum is best accessed from Smithsonian Station or L’Enfant Plaza Station.

Follow the same route as above: Red Line → Metro Center → transfer → Blue/Orange/Silver Line → Smithsonian Station.
From the Smithsonian Station Mall exit, it’s about a 10-minute walk.

Alternative (slightly closer):

Red Line from Union Station → Metro Center → transfer to Blue/Orange/Silver Line → ride one more stop past Smithsonian to L’Enfant Plaza.
From L’Enfant Plaza, the Holocaust Museum is about a 7–8 minute walk.

Which option is simplest for a Metro newbie?

Simplest overall: Union Station → Metro Center → Smithsonian (one easy transfer, short walk).
Closest walk to the Holocaust Museum: Union Station → Metro Center → L’Enfant Plaza.
If you prefer not to transfer: Walk from Union Station down to the Mall (25–30 minutes), then continue walking to both attractions.

The Metro system is very beginner-friendly, and the transfer at Metro Center is easy. You’ll be right in the heart of the Mall within minutes.