From Gettysburg to D.C.
 

We are planning a daytrip from Gettysburg to D.C. the week after July 4th. What would be the best option in terms of parking? Drive to downtown D.C. and find a spot, or park outside the city and take the subway in? If so, which subway station would be best, presumbly in Maryland somewhere, I think the red line? <BR><BR>Thanks.<BR>

The metro would be very easy and probably less of a hassle then trying to find a place to park in the District, it's hit or miss and probably much harder if you dont know the area.<BR><BR>Take Rte 15 to Frederick MD, pick up 270 south to Gaithersburg, take the 370 spur to the Gaithersburg metro station called Shady Grove on the Red line. This would be the first metro station you would hit coming from Frederick. There are no metro stations in Fredick county. Metro signs are brown and white with a capital M, just follow the signs to the station and parking. <BR><BR>The red line brings you to Metro Center where you can switch to any line or to MCI Center / China Town area where you can walk around and find your way to the White House and The Mall. Buy an all day pass for $5 and it will allow you to go anywhere until midnight. Without the all day pass you need to figure out zones, fares and how much to load up your card for. You can buy a fare card in any $ increment. You can buy passes through a vending machine, easy to use with cash, credit card or debit card. Bring exact change for cash or you'll get quarters back. Once you are on the train is about a 20-30 minute ride to metro center. <BR><BR>Parking is free on weekends and at Shady Grove and there is plenty of it. If you decide to find a metro station further in (towards DC) on the red line parking may become more difficult, the lots are smaller. Gaithersburg would be much easier to navigate and get back home.<BR><BR>Have a great trip.

Thanks Alicia!<BR><BR>What is the parking situation during the week? Unfortunately, we won't be doing this daytrip on a weekend.<BR><BR>

During the week you would have to get in early to get a space, but being your trip will be in the summer it may be light while area commuters are on vacation. There is a new garage schedule to open soon which should add more spaces, but it may take some time driving around to find a space.<BR><BR>Coming from Gettysbug you are traveling with the rush hour traffic toward Wash DC and Northern VA which can be very heavy on 270!!! If you look at a map, your exit off of 270 would be around exit number 8. I would say without traffic it would be 90-120 minutes to Shady Grove from Gburg, with rush hour traffic it could double depending on weather and accidents. <BR><BR>I would consider a hotel room the night before you go. There is a Comfort Inn very close to the Shady Grove station on Shady Grove Rd at the intersection of Rte 355 in Gaithersburg. Also a Marriott Courtyard at Research Blvd / Shady Grove Rd in Rockville, right off 270, about 5-10 minutes from the station. Across the street from the Courtyard is a great family style Italian restaurant called That's Amore, that alone is enough reason to come in the night before!<BR><BR>The parking lot collects a parking fee until 10PM during the weekdays, its $2.25 for all day parking.<BR>

FYI: You can't use the all-day pass until 9:30. But if you're going to go all the way in from Shady Grove, it's well worth it.<BR><BR>I don't know what the Shady Grove parking lot is like, but Northern VA lots fill up by about 7:30 a.m. at the latest.