Obama Inauguration Trip?

Why a bus tour? There are super airfares right now especially for mid January. Is there a reason you want a tour to do this -- or are you thinking something that includes seating and maybe a ticket to one of the balls?

I heard this morning, the hotel price is sky high, and they request a 4-night minimum. That is only for rooms not sold out already.

Hi Canuckgal-- I don't know the exact answer to your question but I'm sure that this question or similar ones are in the minds of many. Destination DC has some good info:
http://www.washington.org/visiting/experience-dc/presidential-inauguration/information

Thanks..NeoPatrick-we figure the bus tour companies might have a "package" deal for 3-4 days. We don't want to drive (unpredictable weather) and as Faina says, the hotel rooms are almost booked solid or are sky high expensive. Thought tour companies might have rooms put aside and may be more affordable? Having never been to D.C. (we're Canadians), just figured a tour would make our lives a little easier!

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=134&tid=35164693

BWI is now sold out but there are rooms in downtown Baltimore and also Philly, although the train trip is longer.

This is completely off the subject but I must say it anyway. I am so touched that people from different parts of the world are pleased with our new president. I wonder if more people will make the trip from other countries for this historical moment. Welcome Canuckgal.

Just a note of caution about any tour operator that says they have tickets to the swearing-in ceremony. The tickets are only given out through members of Congress. If they do have tickets that they are selling, they would be second-hand or counterfeit. I would hate that people take a chance and purchase tickets and be disappointed when they get there.

Here is the link to the Joint Congressional Committee for the Inauguration: http://inaugural.senate.gov/

On a personal note, I went to a presidential inauguration years ago and it was an amazing experience. I'm going to try to go again this year. Fingers crossed.

Hi,

My mom and I reserved a bus trip on obamainauguration2009.com. IF you don't mind making a round trip WITHOUT a hotel stay. This group is organizing buses from many different cities (not sure if Detroit is among them) at an affordable price. It will be an exhausting but exhilarating journey! The bus leaves in the evening, drive overnight to DC, stay for the inauguration in public viewing areas then come back.

I looked at two ticket sites and at over $1000 for seating (and as someone said they might even be fakes!), I guess we'll stand with the masses, huddle to stay warm and witness history!

If we stay far outside DC in McGaheysville ,drive in to DC, where do we get a train/bus etc.? without tickets are you able to hear what's going on, if seeing anything is restricted? Thanks!

The tickets are for places very near where the inauguration actually takes place at the Capitol Building. There will no doubt be people covering the entire Mall, and that will be free and open to anyone. They should have those big outdoor video screens around with a sound system, so you can watch and hear it from afar, they do that for a lot of festivities or events, like marches. I am assuming there will be a lot of free activities on the Mall, also, but don't really know. It was one long weekend party on the Mall for the first Clinton inauguration, with a lot of good entertainment -- all free (I heard Bob Weir and Robert Cray, for example, and got pretty good seats for that). I really don't know about planned events, though, maybe there won't be anything like that, but I know you'd be able to be on the Mall and watch the swearing in on the overhead big screens, if you get there in time. I'm sure it will be packed all the way to the Lindon Memorial.

As for McGaheysville which is way far away, I really don't know what the best thing to do would be. One obvious option would be to drive near an endpoint of the metro and park there and take the metro in (eg, Vienna). I'm not familiar with the train system in Virginia and how that will be working or the closest point that might work, as I live in Maryland. I know they have a commuter train from points in Virginia called VRE, but I don't know its schedule or stations. You can check out www.vre.org and see what you find. It stops in Manassas, so maybe that would be an option.

I would think one might be able to get a hotel room still in some large chain hotel far outside the city on the metro line. I know the ones right in DC are very expensive and may be booked already. I'd start trying at a convenient location (eg, Silver Spring) and then keep going out.

thanks for all the great info!

to traveler100 - I just booked my ticket on that bus tour - from Miami to DC - thanks for the info. After much time checking planes, trains, tours, hotels - it seems the most budget conscious way to be there for this historic event! Where are you coming from?

where can I find a good map online that shows a layout of area where main activities? capital area?
thanks!

The man who is responsible for the tickets for this event was interviewed last night and on the news. The tickets are actually free and are given to members of Congress and their staffs, and others. They are not handed out until the week before the inauguration, so anyone who is saying now that they have tickets is lying. Similarly, if you buy tickets now on the internet, you may not actually get one as none of the people/outfits selling them have any tickets yet and they have no idea how many they will get. If you do it may be counterfeit. Buyer beware!

It is also unethical for Members of Congress or their staffs to sell these tickets.

Here's the map.

I was going to drive in to the burbs and commute in, but I'm guessing if we get to the route around 7 or 8am, the good spots will be gone.

Map:

http://dc.about.com/library/maps/blmapinauguration.htm

thanks alot , nstevey!

I have tried to look at metro maps , etc. but not sure is that subway only - bus? subway , train?

I am looking for suggestions on what transportation to take ,coming in on I66. Where to drop off car and get into Capital area- train? subway? and where are stations in Capital area? Thanks!

I am not sure what you are asking BWG, but the Ms on the map Nstevey linked are the Metrorail stations.

I doubt there is one Metro bus map because there are two many bus lines. Some bus timetables will show more than one bus but not all or many of them one one page. You can use the trip planner on www.wmata.com to figure out what to use on Metro.

The train (from city to city) station in DC is Union Station, which also has a metro station underneath.
the

"coming in on I66."

You are coming from the west? Then look at a metrorail map, find the metrorail station furthest and look at the parking options. Good luck.

As you might already know, all lanes of I66 eastbound are high-occupancy-only during morning rush hours.

The basic Metro map, including those blue "M"s on the inauguration map, are the subway stations.

The bus routes would be impossible to show on a map of that scale, there are too many of them. My daughter works in a building about 3 blocks from the White House and there are at least 8 bus routes that go past that building.

If you do not have tickets, then you probably want a Metro station that's in the Mall area (farther west) rather than at the Capitol.

I meant to say "furthest west"

There is a single map that shows all the Metro bus lines, at least within a certain radius of downtown. It's 3 feet square. You can see it covering the whole wall at some of the bus shelters (e.g., at Woodley Park).

thanks everyone! train and subway go to the metro stations ?- Union station or station closer to the mall?
Yes ,we are coming from the west on I66, so it sounds like the best bet is to look for a train station that goes to capital/mall area.
Thanks again, as I don't deal with this transportation system on a daily basis I'm finding it a bit confusing.

Technically, "Metro" refers to the entire system, but generally when people say "Metro" they are referring to the subway network with the color-coded routes.

There are also regional trains, operated by authorities in VA and MD, as well as Amtrak. Union Station serves all of these:Metro subway lines, commuter trains from the far suburbs, and Amtrak trains.

Most of the above discussion relates to the Metro subway system. Union Station is northeast of the main inaugural action.

I just want to chime in here because there was a big article in the Washington Post today about the swearing-in (what most people mean when they talk about the Inaugural); all tickets are free and distributed by Members of Congress; many of those offices have now stopped taking requests because they are well over their allotment (usually 500/tickets an office); for example, my out of town relatives requested tickets in September and will probably now be put into a lottery because of the volume of requests.

It will be an amazing event but know that is likely to be cold and that, without tickets, you will be far away from the actual event. Don't want to discourage anyone, but no one should pay for tickets either off of a web site or as part of a package--it is a scam and none of them will be honored.

Especially when the tickets cost 40k.

My husband just contacted VRE and was told they may not be running Inauguration day as it is a federal holiday! But a final decision has not been made.
So , can you tell me what other mass transit options coming from the west on I66 are available?. How far out do commuter bus or subway lines run? Thanks

Wildbird,

Just checked back in here. I'll be coming from Providence, RI. I thought maybe I should just stay home and watch from my comfortable warm living room, but I really want to just be there!

If you are coming in from the west, you want to look at the Orange Line for subway.

There is a MARC train from WV (Harpers Ferry) but that may not be running, due to it being federal holiday, as the case with VRE.

If you have some DC addressses to work with (eg, hotels near Vienna), use the trip planner at http://wmata.com or
http://tinyurl.com/3dmud9 to identify exact Metrobus / Subway connections you might try.

Good luck.

You also might try motor coach companies some distance away from DC.

For example, an Albany NY area company has 1 day trips that leave just after midnight, arriving ~8am, leaving DC after the parade arriving back at Albany about midnight. $100 per person.
http://tinyurl.com/5tkey6

I'm sure there's motorcoach companies closer to DC doing the same thing for a smaller fee.

Big Warning - if you do these, be back at the designated pickup point on time, or you'll pay your own return fare with no refund from the charter.

Check craigslist too. A church in my area has bus trips for $60, but I don't know the details.

Check out this tour thats being put together in your city right now...

@ victormaurice.com

This is an All inclusive trip and it is possible for you to join the planning team and get your trip for free.

Just curious - what is everyone expecting and doing on I Day?

I guess wait for Obama to pass by, get a glimpse and some pictures and listen to his speech (will there be a speeech) from afar? Throw in some food and drink here and there?

BWG,If the VRE is operating that day, take I-66 to the first rte 234 Manassas by pass.  That is the first exit after the 29/211 exit to Gainesville where the road construction is.  Take 234 to rte 28 south or follow the Manassas airport signs.  There is a VRE station in that complex which is the first stop into DC. The next station would be in Old Toen Manassas. There should be plenty of parking at the airport stop.

If you have to use the Metro, the Vienna station is what you would need but parking is pretty limited there.

It will take about an 1 1/4 hours to reach either VRE or Metro from Woodstock, VA exit 283 on I-81.

There was a news blurb on the Harrisonburg, Va tv station (WHSV-TV) last night about a bus company in the valley going into Washington for a day tour. Don't know if the buses are from Harrisonburg tho.

The phone # for the tv station is 540-433-9191. Perhaps they could help you.

As I posted previously, all bridges and highways into Washington will be closed to vehicular traffic that day.

Hi all. I don't want to be a party pooper, but you should go into this with your eyes wide open.
DC, its close-in suburbs, its roads, and its mass transit are all going to be a MESS on inauguration day. Be sure you go to the Washington Post web site and look up the recent articles on the restrictions and hassles the event is creating.
Area officials have announced that all bridges over the Potomac River from Virginia to DC will be closed to all traffic except taxis, limos, and official vehicles. They just relented and will now allow pedestrians on those bridges. The MARC trains will only be accepting special pre-purchased tickets for the day, and will run a special schedule. The tickets on the Baltimore-DC lines are already sold out. Metro has said that if you're 2 miles or less from the inauguration site, you will be better off walking than taking the subway. Large areas of DC around the Capitol, the Mall, and the White House will be shut down to all traffic. An even larger area will be closed to all traffic except tour buses (area officials are trying to find parking for the more than 10,000 tour buses that are expected). The closest available hotel rooms are probably at least an hour away, and that's with good traffic (the DC metro area has the 2nd worst traffic in the country).
I really, really, really wanted to go to the inauguration, but I've decided it's just TOO much hassle.
If you're absolutely determined to come, more power to you. But at least you've been forewarned. Good luck!
=MarkM

bwg,

Here are two local bus companies in the Valley you can check with.

The Valley Connector www.shenvalleycommuters.com (540)635-4145. They have daily service from along the I-81 corridor to DC in the morning, returning in the evening.

Schrock's in Winchester. www.schrocktours.com. I don't know if they have buses going in that day, but it's worth a try.

I wanted to go to the inauguration, also, or maybe some public events related to it (I live on the DC border of Maryland), but now I'm afraid to go anywhere near downtown and figure it wouldn't be a very enjoyable event anyway. I never thought I'd get tickets, so I know that being in some mass of people (at best seeing a jumbotron, but that may not even be possible) is not as good as seeing it on TV.

It is amazing to me how many Virginians are whining about how Virginia is cut out and being discriminated against because they can't get there. They can get there just as much as anyone else, the only thing they can't do is drive a personal car on the bridges into DC. Was that what all these folks were planning to do who are complaining about it? (on the radio, in the paper, etc.). I don't know where they thought they were going to park or drive in the first place, if that was their plan, to drive their own car there. If I lived in Virginia, I'd drive or somehow get to a close point and walk over a bridge (like the Memorial, most likely, it's the best). Of course one can try the metro, but that sounds dicey just because it will be so crowded.

Anyway, does anyone want to predict what the traffic may be like on the beltway around DC on inauguration Day? I'm just wondering if I'll have problems even getting to work that day. I have to take the beltway from around Silver Spring all the way over to Route 50 exit. I'm sure it will probably be crowded if people can't drive into the District, just going other ways, and just from all the traffic due to the inauguration anyway, especially in the evening I'm thinking when I need to go home. I usually go to work around 8-9 am and go home around 6-7 pm.

It's going to be paralyzed. You should probably leave home at 6 AM.

I think the beltway is going to be very crowded -- it's the only way to get anywhere on the 20th. I would try to work from home that day or go in late when most people will have already gone to work and/or tried to get to the Mall. Good luck!

Thanks for the suggestions-- fortunately the resort we are staying at has motor coach transport we will be taking.

Hi, Christina. I live in Silver Spring, outside the Beltway. Do you have to have to go to work that day?

Even FedEx and UPS are considering suspending services that day (and maybe the day before). They don't think they will be able to get from the airports to the warehouses for loading the trucks.

The Washington Post has now listed more buildings that were to be open and now will be closed. In looking at my maps , I am not sure where buildings are that are open -I am looking for buildings close to the mall.
Can any one help? Thank you!

What are you talking about? Can you link the Washington Post article?

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/inauguration-central/

From Washington Post:
Inauguration Day Update: Open and Shut
It looks like the 300,000 people watching the inaugural parade may have a harder time finding shelter than we initially reported.

Since our last post about places to warm up, grab some food and use the bathroom on Inauguration Day, there has been one large change: The National Gallery, whose West Building was set to be open on Tuesday, will actually be closed. It turns out that security and parade assembly areas have made it impossible to open the museum on Jan. 20.

UPDATE: Another one down. The Holocaust Museum has announced that security and traffic concerns have prompted the museum to close up shop on Tuesday.

UPDATE part II: With the bad news comes some good. The Navy Memorial and Heritage Center, which is conveniently located along the parade route, plans to open on Tuesday. For $30, ticket-holders can come and go from the building, taking advantage of warmth, bathrooms, food by Organic To Go and a 46- by 16-foot screen televising the inaugural events. Only 300 tickets will be sold, so hop to it (or call 202-380-0733) if you want one. (Tickets have sold out)

Here's an interesting site with the history of the various elements of the Inauguration Day proceedings:

http://inaugural.senate.gov/history/daysevents/index.cfm

well, I am not going to work that day now -- I managed to swap Monday, MLK day holiday for Tuesday, the inauguration. My boss said fine, he didn't care. Some people don't have Monday as a holiday so couldn't do that. I am now going out of the city towards Baltimore to watch it with a friend on a big screen TV.

I actually was going to work something out -- comp time, say I was working at home, whatever, to avoid the traffic that day. I think traffic Monday around the beltway may be bad, also, with people arriving, but not as bad as Tuesday could be for going home.