Driving to DC on a Friday AM - Am I crazy?
 

Hi everyone -

Hoping you can advise me on an upcoming trip to DC. My family and in-laws are heading to DC from Nov 11 - 14th.

Our original plan was to stay at a hotel near Dulles on the 11th, because we'd be spending the day at the Udvar-Hazy center. Then we'd move to a hotel near Union Station on Friday, probably around lunchtime. Both hotels were pre-paid, and very very cheap for DC! (We've visited several times before)

However...we just found out that our Senator's office arranged at White House tour for us. (Yay!) But the tour is on Friday the 12th at 8:30 (Boo!).

How long do you think it would take on Friday morning to get from Dulles to Union Station? We'd need to be at Union Station by 7:15, I figure, to park, get everyone's Metro cards (there are 8 of us) and catch a train in time.

The other option is to just book a new hotel, and eat the cost of the Dulles stay. That option is looking more and more likely.....

Since Friday is "getaway day" in the good weather, getting into town might not be so bad. Leaving would be the challenge.

My advice would be to either get into that DC hotel or hire a limo to drive you to the White House.

It will take you at least a solid hour in normal rush traffic to get from the Dulles area to downtown. I'd easily give it and hour and half. You might catch some slack from those with flexible schedules who don't work Fridays.

Are you parking at Union Station and taking the metro to the White House? Why not park in a garage near the White House? Maybe I'm missing something.

Yes, I would look for a garage near the White House and walk.

Have you considered driving to one of the Metro's "Orange Line" Park & Ride stations, parking the car(s) there and just taking the orange line in to McPherson Square (two and a half blocks from the White House)?

It would necessitate sending someone back out to collect the car(s), but it would be a way to avoid the morning traffic jam, and while the car(s) are being collected after your White House tour, the rest of the people in your party could take the red metro to Union Station and check into your hotel.

Now, to answer your original question - I'd play it safe and expect AT LEAST an hour and a half from the moment you get into your car at your Dulles hotel to the moment you step onto the red train at Union Station to take you to the White House. Parking in the Union Station area may be a problem and delay you even more. Find somewhere to park there before you go so that you're not driving around that morning looking for something. Maybe your Union Station hotel will allow you to park in their designated lot before you officially check-in that day.

The concierge at either the Dulles or Union Station hotel may be able to help you with your questions too.

Friday November 12 will probably be an unusually light traffic day because of the Veterans Day holiday on Thursday November 11. I would expect that many workers will take a vacation day on the 12th for a 4-day weekend.

Also consider the fact that you cannot take anything with you on your White House tour -- no backpacks, bags, cameras, even purses -- so what are you going to do with all that stuff if you park at Union Station -- leave it in your car? I guess if nothing else, I'd want to park in an attended lot.

<i>The other option is to just book a new hotel, and eat the cost of the Dulles stay. That option is looking more and more likely.....</i>

Hotels typically have either a 24 hour or 48 hour cancellation policy. Your trip is still a month away.

Some internet rates are prepaid and don't have a cancel option.

I think the OP has caught a break and that traffic into DC the Friday after Veterans Day will be lighter than normal.

Agree that Friday, 11/12, may have lighter than normal traffic, but there will still be a fair amount of traffic. Veteran's Day is in general only a holiday for government workers and not a holiday for the majority of private companies in the DC area. Also schools are open on 11/11. I agree that u should allow about 1.5 hours.

I like furledleader's idea the best. Or park closer to the WH. It doesn't make sense to go all the way to Union Station and then come back to go to the WH. If u need to leave stuff in your car, just put it in the trunk.

Have a good trip.

Here's a website that shows the various parking garages around D.C. and what they charge. You should be able to find a parking garage closer to the White House than Union Station (but it might be pricier too.)

Here's the website: http://washingtondc.bestparking.com/index.php

Thank you so much for all the great suggestions! We looked into using the orange line to arrive (great idea!), but it would still necessitate getting the kids out of bed soooooo early to make it. So we've decided to get a hotel a little closer. Unfortunately we can't cancel the Dulles hotel (it was pre-paid through Hotwire) but it was so, so cheap. Worth the fee to ensure we don't miss the White House tour, we think.

Thank you so much for the parking map! We typically park at Union Station regardless of where we stay because the cost is reasonable, we know how to get there, etc - it's just our habit I guess! But this new resource will be GREAT for any future trips or as a backup if the garage is full.

Thank you again Fodorites!

OMG..the kids...soooooo early

Dukey - I'm sensing some snark here. If you can get 4 children (including a toddler and two teenagers) plus two 65+ grandparents, up, ready and out the door by 6:30, more power to you! You're much more motivated on vacation than I am.

I think you've made a wise decision!