I'ts been about 5 yrs since I lived in DC and will be up there this weekend(Fri-Sun). Renting a car at Dulles and then driving to Old Town Alexandria for our hotel and then will be meeting some friends in Rockville. I know that we will have to head out by 3 or 4pm on a Friday to avoid rush hour...anyone living in that area have any advice ... should we abandon car at hotel and just metro it or risk driving and if the latter - a better route than the beltway... GW Pkwy?

Hi Leahinsc,
"Rush-Hour" on a Friday in DC can really begin around 2-2:30 and if it's raining, yikes!! I'm assuming you mean heading up to Rockville from Old Town on Friday afternoon? If this is the case, metro might be a better option however, if you get an earlier start and the weather isn't bad then yes, take the GW Parkway to the beltway (495N) and head up 270 towards Rockville. I would definitely leave Old Town no later that 3PM and earlier if it's raining, to get a jump on the rush hour. It's probably easier to have a car once in Rockville and for your return to Old Town in the evening. I would also suggest that you take the parkway to Alexandria from Dulles. It's the most direct; definitely avoid taking 495 S to 395, especially on a Friday. Lots of construction still going on in that direction. The parkway will take you straight into Old Town!!
Cheers,
Phoebe

Yes on the GW Parkway to Rockville, as Phoebe says. Metro may or may not be convenient, esp. if you will be returning very late.

From the airport, I would take the Dulles Access Road (VA route 267) to I-66 and then VA route 110 which runs into US 1 in Old Town.

I agree with the posters on getting from Old Town to Rockville.

From Dulles to Old Town take the Dulles Toll Road to I66. Leave I66 at exit 72 "Lee Highway / Spout Run Parkway." Turn left onto Spout Run and at the bottom of Spout Run merge onto the George Washington Parkway south. This will take you into Old Town without the lights and traffic of Route 1.

That's better. Ignore the 110/1 route that I gave you. Those are directions to Crystal City, not Old Town.

3 or 4 PM on a Friday afternoon? That is rush hour here on a Friday. Leave by 2:30 PM to be safe.

thanks for the advice/feedback...Since we'd like to linger a bit in Old Town before jumping in the car to fight rush hour I may opt for metro-ing up and having them pick us up in Rockville.

If you can take the metro and get picked up in Rockville, that's sure the option I do rather than Friday afternoon rush hour traffic from Old Town to Rockville.