Coming from New York City direction to Washington.

Where is best/safest/cheapest place to park our car and take the subway?

I assume the subway will get us to the Smithsonian buildings, the mall area, and Arlington Cemetery?

This will be at busy time of July 4-5 probably.

Park at Reagan National Airport. $9/day. There is a free shuttle that will take you to the Natioal Airport Metro stop (less than 1/4 mile away). It is guarded 24 hrs/day.

I hesitate to recommend any parking on the 4th of July. Many people from the suburbs fill up the accessible parking lots very early in the morning and take in picnics with an intention to stay the entire day on The Mall.

The lots--which usually have plenty of empty spaces on weekends and holidays, are certainly all full to overflowing on the 4th.

As for me, I think PBS does a very nice job of broadcasting The Mall fireworks.

Please note, after the fireworks are over, it is a real mob scene on The Mall and it can take hours to get where you are going because Metro is jam packed. If you are determined to do this, why not stay overnight in DC and book a convenient hotel room? It would be much less stressful.

National Airport sounds good. Another possibility is the New Carrollton (Carrolton?) Metro station. They have long term parking, since the lot serves Amtrak as well as Metro. I've parked there and taken the train to Philly for a couple days. I don't know if it's guarded, and how much it costs, but you might be able to find this out by going to Metro's web site, which is www.WMATA.com, or searching for Amtrak's New Car. station. While it's not right off I-95, it wouldn't be too far off your path.

And yes, metro goes to every place you mentioned, although the Arlington stop requires a little bit of walking.

Thank you --- will look into Airport and Carrollton stop for parking.

We may find a hotel but probably outside the city (especially with it being July 4th). That's why I was thinking of parking for the subway.

We do not get broadcastings in CANADA of your July 4th fireworks.

I went to Washington DC for a July 4th a few years back. I think it was a "special" year & they expected a million people. I chose my seat on the lawn quite close to a subway entrance (not even thinking about how it would be "after"). The throng of people was amazing & part of the whole thrill of the event.

Thanks everyone

Sylvia

Coming from NYC, the closest (and one of the largest) parking lots would be at Greenbelt. As I-95 intersects the Beltway and you drive clockwise, it's the first exit from the Beltway (it's OWN exit, I think. You'll be at the northern end of the Beltway. Of course, it still might be filled by the locals.

The security in the New Carrollton metro lots does not have a great reputation. In my own experience, I have returned to my truck in the lot and witnessed the sad results of episodes where half a dozen car windows have been broken into by thieves in one spree. This I've observed four or five times in the two years I exclusively parked at New Carrollton. A pal of mine risked parking his auto in the New Carrollton lot in the mid-eighties for a three day trip only to have it stolen. However, close by the Metro entrance, Landover side, there is a private lot that is secured by guards and cameras and is inside a secure structure. It will most probably cost more but your vehicle will be all but guaranteed to be unmolested by the criminal community.

Speaking of criminal community --- any recommendations which outskirts direction to find a BUDGET basic motel?

Syv,
The average rate for a hotel room in DC is $200 - what price range do you consider budget??

We have stayed at the Marriott in Crystal City, Va. It's very convenient to Washington's Metro. The Metro is located right under the Marriott and you'll have great access to it. Just take the escalator down to the subway system. I must forewarn you that it may be pricey to stay here at the Marriott though, especially during the holiday weekend. But, we stayed at this Marriott years ago and it was great. We parked the car and used the Metro all throughout DC.

Greenbelt metro station has 2x more parking than New Carrollton station. It has its own exit right off I-495 just south of US 1. There is also a Marriott hotel in greenbelt not far away. Only thing is, you have to transfer trains from green line to orange to get to the mall. Like you said, if you plan on camping out near the mall metro station and leaving fast that may not be a problem. Will you have immediate access to the metro with all the security since 2001?