Long story short, DD wlll be traveling by car on last minute trip to DC next week. She doesn't really need the car once she and friend get to DC, they would be glad to park it and leave it for the 3-4 days they will be in town. She sees 2 options and is looking for guidance/advice on which to pick: 1) Find a hotel in DC proper near museums, tourist sites and figure out cheap parking arrangements for the car or 2) get a hotel near easy access suburb within commuting distance of Metro in/out of DC. Or, possibly a better option not yet identified? Fodorites with DC experience, please weigh in with your suggestions, thanks!
What to do with car in Washington, DC?
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I can tell you that the "easy access" suburb which is closest to the museums would be Arlington and either the Rosslyn section or the Crystal City area. Alexandria would be the next closest.
I vote for 1). She can stow her car at Reagan National Airport's economy lot for $12/day. Free and frequent shuttles to the terminals and Metro station into town. The easiest access burbs Dukey mentioned will also charge for parking, probably > $12 though nothing close to the downtown prices.
The Americana Hotel in Arlington has free parking and is about a block from the Crystal City metro stop. www.americanahotel.com
Lee Ann
Parking is free at some (not all) Amtrak stations if she wanted to ride an Amtrak train into WAS. Union Station is on top of a major metro station.
I would be extremely hesitant to park any car in a train station lot - or an unguarded hotel lot - for several days/nights at a time. It might be there or it might not - and might well be missing key parts.
Wherever she leaves it should have a guard or decent security system. (I would leave at Reagan and then take the Metro into town.
WSe usually stay in Alexandria at the Embassy suites . . right across fromthe Metro andwithin walking distance to old town Alexandria
http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/WASOTES/index.do?xch=1266708053,dhTqPfxVYwGKTswz32mSdR1Tyxj12BV8RPJ1TFxbPRLZ1G7NQFB8!1053801762!1331687925744&