The streets in Washington, DC can be difficult for anyone to navigate whether driving or on foot, but understanding the layout of the streets can be helpful if you get lost. Washington, DC is 67 square miles and is divided into four quadrants. The quadrants are Northwest (NW), Northeast (NE), Southwest (SW), and Southeast (SE). The quadrants do not meet at the White House, but rather at the U.S. Capitol.
The streets in DC are either numbered, lettered or Avenues named after U.S. states. Numbered streets run north and south. Lettered streets are alphabetical and run east to west. The only letters of the alphabet not used in naming DC streets are J, X, Y and Z. Once the alphabet is exhausted, the east to west streets take "second alphabet" names and have two syllables. Once those are exhausted, the names become "third alphabet" names, consisting of three syllables. Avenues named for states run diagonally.
If you are brave enough to drive the District streets during your visit, the important thing to do is look at the quadrant that you are in. If you pay attention to the NE, NW, SW and SE you will be less likely to get lost.
DC Streets