What's the least expensive but most efficient way to get around DC with two kids (ages 6&8)? We will have our own car and will visit the mall & museums, all monuments, Arlington, Library of Congress, Capital and Mt. Vernon. We'll be there for about four days in October. I looked into the Metro (prices have gone up in 20 years since I last lived in the area!), and the trolly (read lines can be very long). Thoughts? Suggestions? Ideas?

Thank you!!

Park the car and leave it. Get a pass and ride the metro and buses. And walk when possible. Driving around is just madness. Good luck.

I would use the Metro or bus. I have been to DC 3 times, all during October. I don't think that I waited in a line anywhere. I am sure that summer months are a different story.

Cars are just an expensive hassle in D.C. They are expensive to park at hotels and you don't want to drive them in town since street parking is hard to find, limited in time and expensive. Garages are also expensive.

If you are driving a rental car to D.C. from elsewhere, consider turning it in as soon as you get here.

If you are driving your personal car, look at finding a hotel which offers free parking. Three budget-priced hotels in nearby Arlington which offer free parking are the Americana, the Best Western Iwo Jima and the Holiday Inn Rosslyn @Key Bridge. All are within walking distance of a Metro station and it's a short ride from those Metro stations into D.C.

When you arrive in D.C., but a SmarTrip card at any Metro station. Each person will need his own card. The card costs $10 ($2 for the reusable card and $8 of transit value.) Use the card on Metrorail or Metrobus to get around the city. Add additional value as needed.

If you have your personal car, the only place it makes sense to drive is to Mount Vernon. But, Mount Vernon can also reached via public transportation (Metro/bus combo).

One tip: try to avoid buying the Metro card during rush hour. It's always painful to watch tourists try to figure out how to buy amid the crush of commuters.

We are in DC right now and have two children in our group. We have used the metro and one of the hop on hop off trolley passes for the days we have been here and that combo seemed to work great for the kids. Walking is optimal for the monuments and many of the sights you are seeing. we have only rented a car for the driving portion of our trip... heading for Mount Vernon and heading south into Virginia for the rest of our travels. Much like San Francisco, a car would be a hindrance here, in my opinion.

Car will be great for Mt Vernon and Arlington. Other than that - leave it in a garage and take Metro - or cab if the kids can't walk any further.

Note: we have driven down to DC several times - visiting family on the way so train makes no sense - and the only sensible thing is to just garage it for the duration.

We didn't go to Mt Vernon. Except for that we took the Metro everywhere.
Arlington & Alexandria too.

We even took the Metro to DCA for our flight home.

It worked perfectly.

"somewhere in the parking area"

What does that mean?

Metro! I live in Northern Virginia so I go to DC regularly and I never drive if I can help it. Parking is impossible to find and expensive.

"Maybe Sarah is trying to say somewhere parking is allowed for long hours."

Are you and Sarah roommies? Those are called parking garages and parking lots, not "areas."

>Car will be great for Mt Vernon and Arlington. Other than that - leave it in a garage and take Metro<

I'd take Metro to Arlington, too.

With two small kids, that's a pretty ambitious itinerary for four days.........you might consider prioritizing what's most important.

Question about public transport tickets. Where do you get the bus tickets.. on the bus or you have to purchase it prior?