is it a good idea to drive the inner city of Washington DC to visit museums and historical places? is it easy to find a free parking place or should I park at an outskirt and take public transportation?
2007-01-18 14:02:04 · 9 answers · asked by Batmoon 2 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Washington, D.C.
When i visit D.C. I always park my car outside of the city at a metro station. Parking is free if you leave before 10:30am and after 6pm i believe. Other than that parking is $3.75 a day which can only be paid on a merto card that you can buy in the station. Finding free parking in D.C. is extremely difficult especially at night.
2007-01-19 08:52:57 · answer #1 · answered by G Dogg 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One thing you need to realize is you are going to be doing a lot of walking no matter which you pick. From the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial is two or three miles, with museums all along the side. Even if you found a parking space, you still would be walking around from one end to the other.
Do not drive and park on a weekday. Not only is parking nearly impossible, but rush hour parking laws nab 100s of tourists each day who don't know the ins and outs of parking. You might get luckier on a weekend, especially if the weather is bad (fewer people), but even then you might find the city a bit of a hassle to drive around.
Plan your trip is my best advice. Which metro station to get off at, which to get back on. Look into the bus lines to see a few things off the subway lines (like Georgetown, or some of the other neighborhoods). If you are going to drive, find the streets you need to get back to the Interstates so you don't end up driving through one of the 'rougher' parts of the city.
2007-01-19 07:49:23 · answer #2 · answered by apleyden 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Park at one of the Metro parking lots outside of the city and take the Metro. The museums are all basically within easy walking distance of Metro stations.
2007-01-19 07:34:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Parking is always an issue, downtown street parking is very sparse, time controlled, and enforced vigorously enforced. But if you plan on parking at one of the Metro stations on a weekday and taking transit in, you will find it rather difficult. Most of the parking spaces are taken at the earliest hours, and then you must pay for parking using a "SmartTrip" card. If you are planning on parking on the weekend, it will be easier and is free.
The inner city is quite safe, my wife and I often walk around after dark without any incidents.
2007-01-19 03:31:37 · answer #4 · answered by S Robert 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Just make sure you're gone before dark to be on the safe side.
My family used to attend church in Southeast DC (a generally poor area) and we were always fine. If it was totally unsafe, they wouldn't put a major museum there.
Parking depends on the day and the area. It's always best to use public transport when dealing with a major city. Traffic is killer!
2007-01-18 16:50:41 · answer #5 · answered by Midoria 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you will must be solid sufficient. Union Station is beautiful quiet late at night (i've got been there at 10 or 11 at night in the previous) and not something could be open. Be arranged, stick mutually, and likewise you should be friendly. you may even see some homeless persons puttering approximately, yet they are likely harmless. mutually as you get off the instructor and head into the station there is assorted seating by using employing the gates. you may consistently camp obtainable interior the marketplace. look after your cost ticket stubs effectual purely in case any individual asks why you're there. The metro, shops, cafes, and resteraunts will beginning interior the morning and that i anticipate which you will initiate seeing greater life between 5-7 am.
2016-10-31 11:57:45 · answer #6 · answered by santolucito 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Parking is free on Sat/ Sundays at metro rail stations
2007-01-19 06:54:12 · answer #7 · answered by the librarian 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't drive.... it's not easy to find parking at all, and it is not gonna be free. You can park at one of the outer Metro (subway) stations and take that downtown.
All of the tourist sites are in relatively safe areas.
2007-01-19 00:07:10 · answer #8 · answered by Mike R 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use metro then walk. This is a walking city. Everything a tourist wants to do is in a 3 mile radius. And if you want to do something
non-touristy there will always be a metro stop nearby.
2007-01-19 07:25:01 · answer #9 · answered by Paul 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋