azzure

Here's my plan so far, for October of this year:

- Fly into IAD from Seattle, pick up car and drive to Gettysburg. 2 nights near Gettysburg.

- Drive to Monticello/Charlottesville. 1 night near Monticello.

- Drive to Williamsburg. 2 nights Williamsburg

- See Mt. Vernon on the way back to Reagan, where we will drop the car. Then spend 5 nights in DC. My husband has never been there; I was there for a week a few years ago but certainly don't mind re-visiting a lot of DC sites. Thinking Capitol Building, Mall memorials, Holocaust museum, Ford's Theatre, Newseum (love this), a couple of Smithsonian museums at minimum.

-Take shuttle back to IAD and fly home (I'm assuming round trip flights to IAD will be cheaper than DCA. I know DCA is more convenient to DC).

Does anyone see any big potential problems here? We'd also like to take in some fall color, but I don't know which routes would be best for that.

Thanks for any help!!!

tomfuller

When pricing flights into DC area airports, also check BWI.
It is easier to get to Gettysburg from BWI IMO.
It is also easy to get from BWI to Washington using the Amtrak NE Corridor trains.
Saving $20 on airfare flying into IAD is not worth it with the hassle of getting to and from the airport.
Reagan National has its own Metro Stop and available rental cars.
You can also rent cars at the Washington Amtrak station.

longhorn55

Definitely factor in the cost of transportationto get to IAD--both in terms of money and time-- when pricing your airline tickets. Super Shuttle from D.C. to IAD will run around $40 - $45 for 2 people and could take a long time to get there with all the various hotel stops. A taxi will take about 45 minutes and cost around $70.

Southwest flies from SEA to DCA and if you book early enough, the fares could be quite reasonable.

Depending on when you come in October, you could see some nice fall color in Pennsylvania.

Sassafrass

Good advice advice from Tomfuller and Longhorn, especially about BWI. It is a great airport, easy to get into and out of and less than an hour and a half from Gettysburg.

Depending on times, driving around IAD can be a traffic nightmare. Do it only if you have to.
Check out super shuttle from BWI and train from BWI.

You itinerary might make it impossible, but if you can do multi-city, Richmond is another really nice airport, only an hour from Williamsburg.

You already have a lot on the agenda, but a stop in Fredericksburg would be nice.

Also, right down the road from Mount Vernon is Woodlawn with the wonderful Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian house (Pope Leighey House) on the property.

Skyline Drive at Charlottesville, depending on the weather, might give you the fall color.

Vttraveler

Montpelier, Madison's home near Charlottesville, is also very interesting but you probably could not do it, too, with only one night in the area.

The James River plantations near Williamsburg are also well worth a stop.

azzure

Thanks to all who responded. I see that BWI may, in fact, be a better alternative than IAD. If I do the same trip essentially (arrive BWI, rent car and do the loop, returning car at Reagan before spending 5 nights in DC), is it pretty easy to get from DC (probably Arlington) back to BWI for the flight home?

Underhill

On the way to Williamsburg be sure to stop for lunch in Fredericksburg. The old town is delightful for breaking a lengthy car trip. We had a very good, and inexpensive, lunch at an Italian restaurant that was on the right side as we headed into the Old Town part of the town. The tourist office is very helpful.

Underhill

I meant to suggest also stops at Woodlawn Plantation, just below Mt. Vernon, and the 18th-century estate Gunston Hall. My late mother, an antiques fan, was in 7th heaven visiting those two homes.

obxgirl

is it pretty easy to get from DC (probably Arlington) back to BWI for the flight home?

Yes, it's an easy trip from Union Station in DC (where there is a metro stop) to BWI via MARC or Amtrak trains. There are frequent shuttles from the train station to the terminal.