I was thinking of making a one-day trip into DC after I finish a meeting near Dulles. I'll still have the rental car, so I thought I'd drive to a Metro station early, park, and buy a pass or ticket, ride into the city for breakfast and early morning walking. Am I reading their website right that my options are to buy a pass good after 9:30 am or a SmarTrip card for $5 then put value on it? No just cash for one time ticket/token/fare?

I started adding it up--$2.25 parking, $5 card, wp to $3.25 each way = $13.75 for the day with only one ride in and out. If I wait until 9:30 there'll be no parking. Makes driving not so unattractive.

Linda, as one who rides DC Metro each day, here's a thought or two: parking downtown will run you $10-$15 ... not bad when compared with the costs you cite. But you'll have the car in one spot ... this will limit your freedom, and you'll have to fight rush hour traffic back toward Dulles. Or you can use your scenario and park at a Metro lot. There, you can look at their schedule and prices, and just buy a one-way ticket ... or a RT ticket ... ask the kiosk guy. If I were you, I'd follow my first idea ... use Metro, and enjoy a hassle-free day, one free of traffic and rush hours. It's fun to be on the subway when you see the city ... we went to Kennedy Center last night, and instead of driving used Metro to Foggy Bottom/GW Station, and walked to and from KC. It was fun ... despite a light rain after the play. I'd go Metro, like so many others do here. You can drive in traffic some other time. I really don't believe it's a cost issue at all. Welcome to DC. Ciao

Linda, I ride the metro every day. YOu can purchase a fare care strictly for the amount you want without having to pay $5.00 for a SmarTrip card. SmarTrips are good for people who use metro on a regular basis and constantly need fares. It's not worth it for a one day trip. So, your would actually cost $8.75 (if you travel during rush hour).

Just to add a bit: I believe the minimum amount Metro card you can buy is $1.10, which is the shortest/cheapest trip available on Metro. If, at the end of your trip, you find you have an insuffient amount on your card for the trip you just took, you have to "add fare", meaning pay to supplement your card.

So it helps to have some coins/small bills on you when using Metro.

I'm assuming you want to walk around the mall area (the area where the monuments and Smithsonian is - not a shopping mall as some tourists stopped me on the sidewalk last week to ask here the stores were- they thought the "mall" was a shopping area). Anyway, in the mall area the garages may be more than $10-15. Last week I noticed several in the area had signs that garage was full - only allowing monthly passes. Even if you drove in you might have to take the metro to various places rather than driving from one spot to another.

Thanks for the clarification. I found it hard to believe that you couldn't just buy a one-way or roundtrip ticket, but had to buy a $5 card to start. I'm a big believer in mass transit when I travel (I've used the train/subway in NY, Atlanta, London, Hong Kong, Paris) so I look forward to trying the Metro as I have heard such good comments about it.

Which Metro station are you starting from? If you're planning on driving and parking in a lot or garage, be aware that many of them fill up before 8am on weekdays. You may want to consider a bus/cab from your hotel to the Metro.

Linda - you actually have another option for getting into DC: if you're staying near Dulles, why not turn in the rental car (and save some money), and use your hotel's van (free) to the airport, where you can catch a Flyer bus into DC, about $16-$18 oneway, and they probably offer a RT discount. The ride in is 45 minutes or so, and you get off about 15th and K Streets NW, near McPherson Metro station. Or you can simply walk over to the White House (10-15 minutes), and begin your sightseeing there. Then catch the Flyer back out to Dulles in the late afternoon. It's a hassle free way to come in and see DC, then get home. Have a good time. Ciao

Dumping the car and using the Flyer is a good idea, but not the least expensive. You could do it one way, too. To be really cheap, dump car at Dulles (or drive to National airport and drop there if you can). From Dulles there is a bus to West Falls Church Metro station and Metro in from there -- about $5 from airport that way. From National, you can just jump on the Metro from there and it costs about $1.50 to downtown. Most hotels have shuttle vans that will take you to the nearest Metro station. Parking at the stations is terrible - usually sold out before 7:30 a.m. for commuters. My recommendation is to drop car at National, jump on Metro to downtown, cruise downtown by Metro or Taxi and then go to the Capitol Hilton at 16th & K Street and take Washington Flyer to Dulles. Or there is a Super Shuttle (call 800 number) which will also go out there, but you have to make reservation (pick up from any hotel). but the problem is always with luggage...if you drop car at Dulles, check it in very early. (but keep baggage receipt!)

If you don't mind walking, you can usually find a spot to park on the street for free within a mile of most metro stops in Northern Virginia. I could tell you where to park for East Falls Church (the parking lot's usually full by 7:30 or so), but you'd have to fight a lot of traffic on 66 to get there. If I'm around a station I'm not familiar with, I just drive out about 1 mile, and make sure I obey the parking signs.

Also, is your meeting at a hotel, or are you staying at a hotel? Most hotels in the area have a shuttle to the nearest metro, and you can ride the shuttle even if you've checked out.

Thanks again for the help. I caught up with an old friend who lives near Sterling and added a night to my trip. I kept the car because that made it a weekly rental and the total was less than if I returned it and paid daily. I drove (followig friend's directions) to West Falls Church Metro station through steady heavy traffic, arriving at 7:45 am and snagged a parking spot--probably completely full before 8:00 am. No trouble figuring out the machines and fares for my ticket and I got a seat for the ride to the Smithsonian station and the heat of DC.

As I have visited all the Smithsonian museums, I thought I would catch up on monuments and other activities. I first got a ticket for the Bureau of Engraving tour at 10:20 am, walked around to the Jefferson and FDR memorials, then took a break at the Holocaust museum cafe. Back to Bureau of Engraving, where at your tour time you get into the building to stand in line for 30 minutes before a short film and 30-minute tour. I thought it was interesting.

Then I was off to the Lincoln, Korean and Vietnam (both very moving in my opinion) monuments. After some water, resting in the shade with Albert Einstein, I headed on to the Old Post Office--quite a line for the elevator so I ate at the food court, then went up. No line when I came down around 2 pm. Good view despite the haze. On to Ford's Theater for a cool break.

Caught the Metro by 3 pm and beat the traffic back to my friend's house and a much needed shower. A short, but fun day that you guys helped with.

Even though you are probably finished with this trip. There is a very cheap option from Dulles into DC and back. The Metrobus has a line..the 5A that picks up at Dulles and drops you at your choice of three stops. One in Roselyn and the last one being L'Enfant Plaza, near the mall and Smithsonian. The same bus line will take you back to Dulles with the same stops. Each way $1.10. Times are posted for all seven days of the week and are about hourly. One way trip takes under an hour. We used it from L'Enfant Plaza to Dulles and back to drop off my exchange student at the airport. No problems at all and not crowded.