HOV Routes and Hours

Between Prince William County, Virginia and Washington, D.C., there is a 30-mile long, 2-lane HOV facility in the highway median. The direction of the lanes is changed, and HOV restrictions imposed and lifted, at set times as the volume of traffic in each direction changes. During weekday rush hours, the lanes are restricted to vehicles with three or more people (HOV-3), northbound (toward D.C.) in the morning, southbound in the evening. The lanes are also available on the weekends, without the HOV restriction. See below for times and directions for the facility.

6:00-9:00 a.m.

HOV-3 northbound

9:00-11:00 a.m.

northbound, no HOV restriction

11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

closed while lanes are reversed

1:00-3:30 p.m.

southbound, no HOV restriction

3:30-6:00 p.m.

HOV-3 southbound

6:00-9:00 p.m.

southbound, no HOV restriction
(may be extended during summer)

9:00-11:00 p.m.

closed while lanes are reversed

11:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.

northbound, no HOV restriction
(may be reduced during summer)

6:00 p.m. Fri.-2 p.m. Sat.

southbound, no HOV restriction

2:00-4:00 p.m. Sat.

closed while lanes are reversed

4:00 p.m. Sat.-6 a.m. Mon.

northbound, no HOV restriction

I-270 has one HOV lane in each direction from the the Beltway (I-495) through Montgomery County, MD. The southbound HOV lane extends from I-370 to I-495 (Capital Beltway). The northbound HOV lane extends from I-495 to MD 121 (Clarksburg). The lanes are marked with painted diamonds. Motorcyles may use the HOV lanes, hybrid vehicles may not.

6:00-9:00 a.m.

HOV-2 southbound

3:30-6:30 p.m.

HOV-2 northbound

Open to all traffic.

Inside the Beltway (I-495), all lanes of I-66 are restricted to vehicles with two or more people (HOV-2) on weekdays, eastbound (toward D.C.) in the morning and westbound in the evening. Outside the Beltway, there is one lane in each direction marked with diamonds; these lanes are also restricted to HOV-2 eastbound in the morning and westbound in the evening.

6:30-9:00 a.m.

HOV-2 eastbound

4:00-6:30 p.m.

HOV-2 westbound

5:30-9:30 a.m.

HOV-2 eastbound

3:00-7:00 p.m.

HOV-2 westbound

Open to all traffic.

From Rt. 28 to the Beltway (I-495) The Dulles Toll Road has one lane in each direction restricted to vehicles with two or more people (HOV-2) on weekdays, eastbound (toward D.C.) in the morning and westbound in the evening. The lanes are marked with diamonds.

6:30-9:00 a.m.

HOV-2 eastbound

4:00-6:30 p.m.

HOV-2 westbound

Open to all traffic.

Route 50 has one HOV lane in each direction from Route 301 to the Beltway (I-495). The lanes are restricted to HOV-2 traffic at all times. MDOT State Highway Administration HOV page.