High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes

HOV lanes are reserved for carpools, vanpools, buses, and motorcycles during designated time periods. All drivers can use HOV lanes during off-peak traffic hours. They are also known as carpool, commuter, or express lanes. Most of the metropolitan HOV lanes are designated HOV-2, meaning motorists other than motorcyclists must have at least one other person in the vehicle to use the lane during the designated time periods. HOV lanes are indicated in blue on the following map. Please click on the route id for more information.

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Maryland    

HOV Lanes Location

 Occupants Required 

Hours of Operation

I-270 

I-270 

 HOV-2 

 HOV-2 

 Southbound 6:00 am – 9:00 am

Northbound 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm

US 50 

 

 HOV-2 

 

         24 hrs 7 days a week         (between US 301 and the Beltway)

 

For more information on Maryland US 50 HOV lanes click HERE.
 

Virginia
For more information on Virginia HOV lanes including important hybrid rules click HERE.

HOV Lanes Location

 Occupants Required

Hours of Operation

 Dulles Toll Road

 Dulles Toll Road

HOV-2

HOV-2

 Eastbound 6:30 am – 9:00 am

Westbound 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm

I-66 Inside Beltway 

I-66 Inside Beltway 

I-66 Outside Beltway

I-66 Outside Beltway

HOV-2 

HOV-2

HOV-2

HOV-2

 Eastbound 6:30 am – 9:00 am

Westbound 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Eastbound 5:30 am – 9:30 am

Westbound 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

I-95/I-395

I-95/I-395

HOV-3

HOV-3

Northbound 6:00 am – 9:00 am
Southbound 3:30 pm – 6:00 pm

HOV Benefits:

  • HOV lanes can save you up to 30 minutes each way.
  • HOV lanes move more people in fewer vehicles, reducing the demand for new highways.
  • HOV lanes increase the efficiency of existing highways.
  • HOV lanes reduce the use of personal resources such as time, fuel, and money.
  • HOV lanes benefit drivers of single-occupant vehicles by taking carpoolers out of general use lanes.

Calculate how much time you can save by using HOV lanes at HOVCalculator.com