Baltimore’s transit runs through one state agency — the Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) — which operates the Metro subway, the Light Rail, nearly every bus, and the MARC commuter trains to D.C. It’s a single fare across all of it, bought through one app, and the Light Rail happens to stop right at BWI’s terminal — one of the more convenient airport connections in the country.
The basics
MDOT MTA runs several layers that all work together:
- Metro SubwayLink — a heavy-rail subway line running Owings Mills to Johns Hopkins Hospital across 14 stations, the fastest way through the city’s northwest corridor.
- Light RailLink — a north–south line connecting BWI Airport, downtown, and the northern suburbs up to Hunt Valley.
- BaltimoreLink buses — organized as color-coded CityLink routes (frequent, some 24-hour, forming a downtown grid), LocalLink routes (crosstown neighborhood service), and Express BusLink (limited-stop suburb-to-suburb and suburb-to-downtown runs).
- MARC Train — MTA’s commuter rail to Washington, D.C. and points north, useful if you’re day-tripping beyond the city.
- MobilityLink — ADA paratransit for riders who can’t use fixed-route service.
Separately, Baltimore City itself (not MTA) runs the Charm City Circulator, a free shuttle network through downtown — see Etiquette below.
How to pay
The current way to pay is the CharmPass app: buy your fare with a credit or debit card, then activate it before you board — once activated, a one-way ticket is good for 120 minutes of free transfers across bus, Metro, and Light Rail. On the Metro, you’ll scan the ticket’s QR code at the faregate; on Light Rail and buses, it’s proof-of-payment, so keep the ticket ready in case an inspector asks to see it.
If you’d rather not use the app, ticket vending machines at Metro and Light Rail stations take cash, debit, and credit for single tickets and passes, and buses accept exact-change cash at the farebox (cash payments don’t come with the free-transfer benefit).
One thing to know if you’ve used Baltimore transit before: the old plastic CharmCard was discontinued on March 1, 2026 and is no longer accepted anywhere on the system — CharmPass is the replacement.
Fares
| Single fare | Day pass | Weekly pass | Monthly pass | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | $2.00 | $4.60 | $22.00 | $77.00 |
| Senior / disability | $1.00 | $2.30 | — | $23.00 |
| Student | $1.50 | — | — | $57.00 (All Access Student Pass) |
| Kids 12 & under | Free | — | — | — |
A single fare gets you 120 minutes of unlimited transfers across local bus, Metro, and Light Rail when bought through CharmPass. CharmPass also sells CharmFlex 3-day and 10-day passes at roughly 15% off the equivalent day-pass rate, valid for up to a year after purchase — worth it if you’re not sure exactly which days you’ll be riding. MobilityLink paratransit fare is $2.20.
Getting from the airport
BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport has a Light RailLink station right outside the terminal’s lower level, near Concourse E — no shuttle bus needed.
- Cost: $2.00 each way, the same flat fare as any other ride.
- Route: Light Rail runs straight downtown and on to Timonium and Hunt Valley. Heading to Penn Station (for Amtrak or MARC)? Get off at Mt. Royal Avenue and transfer to the Penn Station Light Rail branch.
- Hours: first weekday train is around 4:45am, last around 12:40am; Saturdays run 5:05am–12:45am. Sundays and holidays are much more limited — first train around 10:35am, last around 8:40pm — so a Sunday-evening arrival will likely need a cab or rideshare instead.
Apps to download
- CharmPass — the official app, and the only way to buy and activate most fares.
- Transit — MTA has arranged a free premium upgrade for all riders, giving real-time arrivals and trip planning across every MTA mode.
- Google Maps or Apple Maps — fine for basic trip planning with live MTA data.
When it runs
CityLink buses run 24 hours a day — the color-coded routes forming the downtown grid don’t stop overnight, even as frequency thins out late.
Light RailLink runs roughly 4:45am–12:40am on weekdays and 5:05am–12:45am on Saturdays, but Sundays and holidays are much shorter — about 10:35am–8:40pm — so a Sunday-evening or early-Sunday trip needs a backup plan.
MARC’s Penn Line runs weekend service to and from Washington, D.C.; the Camden and Brunswick lines are weekday peak-commute only.
Accessibility
All MTA buses have lifts or kneeling capability plus wheelchair securement. MobilityLink provides ADA complementary paratransit within ¾ mile of any bus route or rail station, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Metro stations are served by elevators between street level and platforms; MTA has ongoing elevator replacement projects at individual stations, so check for outages before you rely on one.
Etiquette & local quirks
- The Charm City Circulator is a separate, free system — five routes (Green, Purple, Orange, Banner, Cherry) looping through downtown, Fells Point, Federal Hill, and Harbor East. It’s run by Baltimore City, not MTA, so your CharmPass fare doesn’t apply to it and vice versa — but you don’t need one anyway, since it’s free. Track it with the TripShot app or the Transit app.
- Tap in, even on the honor-system modes. Light Rail and buses don’t have gates, but inspectors do check, and fare evasion is a real citation in Maryland, not just a fine you can shrug off.
- Metro SubwayLink has actual faregates — scan your CharmPass QR code to get through, more like a traditional subway.
Good to know
- Fare evasion is a misdemeanor under Maryland law (Transportation § 7-705), but MTA typically resolves it with a citation rather than criminal charges — the standard fine is a flat $50.
- CharmCard is dead. If you find an old card or read outdated advice about it, ignore it — CharmPass (the app) is the only current digital option.
- Commuter Bus routes run on their own schedules geared toward weekday commuters into D.C. and the suburbs — don’t expect frequent midday or weekend service on those.