I'm making a tentative plan to visit DC over Memorial Day and am wondering if it will be exceptionally crowded then, if driving into and out of it will be bad or if it is actually a nice time to go because of specific events that might be going on then. I've been there twice but this time would be bringing a daughter and would be driving there from the south and heading back into the midwest on the following Tuesday. Any insight would be appreciated.

DC is likely to be pretty crowded Memorial Day weekend. It's the start of tourist season and with the various Memorial Day observances at the memorials/monuments there will be a lot of people. That's not to say you couldn't go and have a good time, but driving in the National Mall area will be difficult because of traffic and pedestrians. If you plan to drive to the DC area and stay at a local hotel, taking Metro into the Mall area would be wise.

The big event is the Rolling Thunder motorcyle gathering -- an awesome thing to see, or something to avoid like the plague, depending on your interest.

Memorial Day weekend is Rollng Thunder, thousands of motorcyclists, many on loud Harleys. Quite a few are down in NC beforehand, then make their way north along the Blue Ridge Parkway+Skyline Drive in large convoys.

I don't find DC particularly crowded over Memorial Day weekend. As mentioned Rolling Thunder is rolling about, but lots of locals head out of town for the weekend. I'm always in and out of the tourist core in DC over that weekend and haven't really even been bothered by Rolling Thunder - they dont cause traffic jams like one sees over Cherry Blossom time.

Here's a list of some of the activities planned (tentative) for the D.C. area over Memorial Day weekend. http://dc.about.com/od/hoildaysseaso...emorialDay.htm

I've stayed in Washington over the Memorial Day weekend in the past and found it not as crowded as I would have thought. I used the metro and had no problem getting around. I've seen larger crowds at the museums during March/April. I thought Rolling Thunder was amazing (and LOUD!).

Rolling Thunder sounds like the Harley Davidson reunion here in Milwaukee a few (or several?) years back. Cycles everywhere!

Rolling Thunder is a national organization who's purpose is to bring awareness to POW's and MIA's. They've been coming to DC for maybe 20-25 years.