Visiting Washington DC : where to park?

[radhak]

Being in Philly for a visit, we are hoping to sight-see DC this friday just for the day : the usual spots - the Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial etc. Since it should be just a 2 hour drive, we want to reach in the morning and get out evening.

That being so - how do we handle it? I am assuming parking in/around the 'visitor circle' would be impossible. Was thinking of parking the car at one of the Metro stations and take the metro to reach one of the 'targets' and then walk.

Is that a good plan, or would I find all parking spots gone? Since I don't care where, I could park at some remote metro-station...right?

Have visited before, so know the long walk from the Capitol to the LM, but that cannot be avoided, methinks. Or is there a better way? Maybe bus?

Any suggestions, comments, advice?

[kwc]

Take the metro! It's by far the simplest means to get around.

We live near DC (southern MD) and usually park at the Branch Avenue metro station (southeast end of green line). Look here (www.wmata.com) for info on using the metro.

Unless you get there early (before 7:30 am) you may have trouble finding parking. BUT: If you time it so you can get there right at 10 am, all of the "reserved" parking spots that are unfilled may be used by the general public. These spots are well marked with signs that confirm this, and I've always found that there are plenty available. But be aware that these will fill up, too, so again--get there right at 10 am.

You WILL need to buy a metro card (cost: $5), though, and load it with at least $3.50 to pay for your exit from the parking lot plus the fare costs you'll need. Your companions can use paper tickets if they wish.

As for getting around downtown, there are lots of metro stops but you can't avoid walking.

Enjoy DC! There's a LOT to see here.

Regards,
kwc

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Metro is easiest and safest way to get around town, particularly tourist areas. Traffic is rough in the city.

From Philly use Greenbelt station.

[LarryG]

From the perspective of a non-resident ... when we visited DC some years ago, we came in by train*** and during the four days we were there we rode the Metro EVERYwhere. It's a wonderful system, clean, safe, and super-easy to use, even for people (like us) who had never been there before.

***Is there Amtrak service from Philly to DC?

[jwaterdawg]

Park at the airport (National). Sure you will pay to park, but it's not that much and you for sure will find a spot to park. There's a metro stop at the airport.

[Greg in Maryland]

Being in Philly for a visit, we are hoping to sight-see DC this friday just for the day : the usual spots - the Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial etc. Since it should be just a 2 hour drive, we want to reach in the morning and get out evening.

Everyone is quite correct in that parking in Washington, DC is a hassle and Metro is great (if you are not a regular commuter). However, if you park at the Greenbelt metro, the closest station from I-95/I-495, you should add another 30-45 minutes to your trip into the city. You would do that if you drove in, but it is something to consider.

Parking at National Airport is great idea, but you'll have to loop around the city to the south. It's all highway, but it could be busy in the morning and evening. If you do park at National Airport, you could also explore Alexandria, which is a nice town.

Here is a nice map of the metro system overlayed on a Google map: http://www.wmata.com/maps/metrorail_street_map.cfm and a map of the entire metro system: http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm

If you do drive into the city, park in a garage. It will be expensive, but you will not get an even more expensive ticket, towed or worse. There is often parking restrictions on some streets (Constitution and Independence Avenues for example) during rush hour so read the signs.

If you decide to take metro from Greenbelt or National Airport, you will want either the Navy Memorial/National Archives stop or the L'Enfant Plaza stop.

As someone suggested, you might have a better trip if you take Amtrak. They do have service between Philly and DC, with the main terminal in Union Station -- a few minutes walk to the capital.

Lastly, bring your walking shoes. The sites you want to see -- the Capital, the Memorials, the Cherry Trees, the White House and the Smithsonian are all spread out over a fairly large distance. There are no hills in this area.

Good luck with your trip!

Greg

[radhak]

All good info already! Shall mark these metro stations on my map. And the suggestion about the airport might be very useful! I have seen the traffic there, and have no intention of fighting it

Aren't there any paid parking garages there? (okay - I take that back - most probably in DC it'd cost me as much to buy a car ! )

edit : Greg, you added a ton of info. Thanks. Lemme look up Amtrak too.

[jwaterdawg]

2nd vote to visit Alexandria old town and/or Delray area. Lived there 5 years. Neat little place but I don't miss the traffic or the living expenses. Old town waterfront is a nice place, always something going on down there.

[Lee4847]

Here is another question on parking to ponder. My wife and I are avid bicycle riders and see that there are a lot of pathways in the DC area. Where does one park to get around on bikes? Also I have seen some public transportation that allows bicycles on subways and bike racks on the front of buses. Is the Metro so equiped? We are going out this summer and ride from site to site but haven’t figured out the parking yet. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Greg in Maryland]

Here is another question on parking to ponder. My wife and I are avid bicycle riders and see that there are a lot of pathways in the DC area. Where does one park to get around on bikes? Also I have seen some public transportation that allows bicycles on subways and bike racks on the front of buses. Is the Metro so equiped? We are going out this summer and ride from site to site but haven’t figured out the parking yet. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

If you want to bike around the city you can find free parking on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. I think it is at Roosevelt Island and right after the Airport. I haven't done this in a while, so I could be a bit off.

You can take bikes on both the subway and metro buses. Here are the links: http://www.wmata.com/riding/bike/bikeonrails.cfm and http://www.wmata.com/riding/bike/bikeonbus.cfm

DC is a great biking city -- you can bike from Harpers Ferry, WV to well beyond Mt Vernon, VA along the C&O canal bike path. This is a easy path that goes right by Georgetown, DC and Alexandria. You can also bike the Rock Creek Park through DC up to Bethesda, MD. You go right through or by the National Zoo. This is a greater challenge than the C&O canal. Additionally, the entire mall is one great bike path.

Greg

[Russianwolf]

Also MARC has rail service that runs from the north end of Baltimore to DC. It runs both ways during the day with more into dc in the morning and out in the evening. Just another opion. You can check out the schedules at www.mtamaryland.com

Don't forget the zoo if you have time.

[jziegler]

radhak,

I live new Philly in NJ. There is no way you can drive from Philly to DC in 2 hours. It just doesn't happen, even if the mileage says that it should. I'd guess more like 2.5 hours without traffic, possibly much more if you hit traffic. I've taken the train to DC a few times, and it is a good way to go. Comfortable, reliable, relatively quick (note, this only applies for trains between NYC and DC, don't know about other places). 30th St station Philly to DC Union station should be around 2 hours on the Acela, a little longer (maybe about 2.5) on the slower regionals, but they are cheaper. The trains are pretty frequent on weekdays, about every 1/2 hour, I think.

On a weekend, i'd say drive, it's usually cheaper. On a weekday, you don't want to deal with the traffic.

Jim

[atgcpaul]

radhak,

I live new Philly in NJ. There is no way you can drive from Philly to DC in 2 hours. It just doesn't happen, even if the mileage says that it should. I'd guess more like 2.5 hours without traffic, possibly much more if you hit traffic.

Jim

Gotta' agree with this. Maryland state troopers are VERY vigilant. On my
first drive from DC area to Philly, it took me 2.5-3 hours and all the troopers
were in unmarked cars--all different. Unmarked Ford Mustand (first time I
ever saw that), SUV, and regular luxury sedan.

The local news this morning said the parking lots at Reagan were full. They
suggested calling ahead if you choose that option. This Sunday we parked
in a garage all day for $13. It was around the corner from 12th & Pennsylvania.
Lot's a pay lots around there. It was a hike to see all the memorials on the
Mall, though.

Paul

[kirkroy]

Gotta' agree with this. Maryland state troopers are VERY vigilant. On my
first drive from DC area to Philly, it took me 2.5-3 hours and all the troopers
were in unmarked cars--all different. Unmarked Ford Mustand (first time I
ever saw that), SUV, and regular luxury sedan.

To make good time on I95 you need a sportbike and a willingness to go well over 100mph in heavy traffic. There are 'clubs' that regularly make the trip between DC and Baltimore for fun. Troopers don't even chase them any more (although they had a program where they pretended they would chase them using a jet helicopter - I don't even want to think about what that would cost...).

Please note that I'm not knocking sportbikes or motorcycles. I commute by motorcycle most days year round and have owned a couple sportbikes...

[Jeffrey Schronce]

radhak,

I live new Philly in NJ. There is no way you can drive from Philly to DC in 2 hours. It just doesn't happen, even if the mileage says that it should. I'd guess more like 2.5 hours without traffic, possibly much more if you hit traffic. I've taken the train to DC a few times, and it is a good way to go. Comfortable, reliable, relatively quick (note, this only applies for trains between NYC and DC, don't know about other places). 30th St station Philly to DC Union station should be around 2 hours on the Acela, a little longer (maybe about 2.5) on the slower regionals, but they are cheaper. The trains are pretty frequent on weekdays, about every 1/2 hour, I think.

On a weekend, i'd say drive, it's usually cheaper. On a weekday, you don't want to deal with the traffic.

Jim

Anybody who thinks DC to Philly is 2 hours is crazy. Heck it's 130 miles. Plus it is almost impossible not to hit traffic somewhere along the trip. It normally takes me over 3 on average.