StephenG

We are traveling in May from California to DC area. Actually flying Into Baltimore from San Diego. Best deal for us on Southwest. Planning on renting car and going to Charlottesville for
one night then 2 nights, Williamsburg before Washington for 5 nights. We would like to drop the car and take either metro or train to Capitol Hilton ($90 , priceline).
Ant suggestions other than Reagan?

caughttravelbug

I think Reagan is a good place as I assume you'll rely on public transport once you drop the car off. The metro is great. Have a safe trip!

Dukey

Which rental car company?

Have you checked to see if the Hilton has a rental car agency office or are you concerned about driving into the District itself?

Some of the rental car agencies at Reagan are located off-airport in nearby Crystal City but getting Metro shouldn't be much of a problem from either.

Anonymous

The major car rental agencies all have offices at Union Station, which is more convenient to the Capitol area.

StephenG

We will being dropping the car on Friday afternoon about 4 pm. Yes driving and traffic is always a concern, so any help in that regard is always good. I am experienced with everything from LA Freeways to Paris but always try to find the easyway and lowest cost if possible.

kayd

If you are approaching DC from the south at evening rush hour, it makes sense to leave the car in Virginia at one of the airport rental facilities and taxi in to the hotel ($15 approx). For a little effort--shuttle from off-premises rental office to the airport, then Metro to McPherson--you could save $10.

Christina

I don't think if you have to leave the car by 4 pm that I'd worry about rush hour traffic so much myself. Of course, I live in DC so am used to driving there and getting to Union station wouldn't be that difficult to me, but I think National Airport would be perfectly okay, also. The metro being right there is very convenient. It may take some time if you need to wait for the car rental shuttle bus, though (I've rented one off site and they come around fairly frequently--most of them are down on Route 1 a ways, I think). Still, you are going to spend time at that if you are off the airport. But it actually may be more convenient to leave it off on Route 1 than getting into National.

Rush hour doesn't get really bad until around 4:30, I think. If you have to be there at 4, I think you'll have to be hitting the District about 3:30 at the latest (I was thinking Union Station, maybe). It would be more complicated to drive into the center of the city near the Hilton for someone who had never been there, I suppose.

I'd probably do what you planned for convenience -- leave the car at National Airport or nearby.

Dukey

Rush hour STARTS in some places around here by 2:30!

FLmom

Hi StephenG- I did exactly that when visiting D.C. last spring. I happened to rent from Thrifty. We flew into Richmond, did the historic triangle, stopped for ½ a day at Mt Vernon on are way up to D.C; highly recommended if you’ve got the time, DD, 13 LOVED IT and dropped the car at Regan.

Be sure and check with your rental company as to where, exactly, the drop off facility is located. Thrifty was “off site”, so when we got to the airport we had to watch the signs carefully. The drop was very quick and easy and they had a courtesy shuttle to take you to the closest Metro station or your hotel. From that point on we used the metro exclusively and it worked out beautifully. BTW I dropped off at 2PM on a Tuesday and traffic was not an issue.

StephenG

FLMOM,

Thanks, we were thinking of Mt.Vernon too.

Thanks for the help everybody.
Probably do that drop a little earlier like suggested. Have not reserved car yet but checking with company for drop off point makes sense.