We are planning on driving into DC from Maryland and parking at Union Station. Will this be a problem? We would like to tour the National Musuem and Smithsonian, (as much as we can stand), return to Union Station for an evening tour of DC. Help..we are 6 ladies from the south and not too familiar with the city...does this sound like a plan? We were told parking at Union would be advisable. Thanks.

Yall ladies from the south, not to worry. The parking lot is multi-story attached to the back of US. It's very safe for what you're doing, I've parked there even overnight and my car was fine. The subway goes right into US which also has some shopping (not much) and some cool restaurants. Your best bet is to catch a cab to the museums but you might need 2 for 6 people, don't think they can get more than 5 legally.

Last I parked there it was $18 for the day.

I would recommend parking downtown if you want to spend some time at the Smithsonian. Union Station is about a mile from the closest museums, and it will make for an uphill walk at the end of the day (its on top of Capitol Hill).

If you are arriving from the South, you can travel in and out on Route 66 and will find easy access to downtown parking garages.

Check out this link for other parking tips in DC: http://www.dstreetdave.com/archives/...gton_dc_1.html

We've parked at Union Station when making a day of the Smithsonian and National Gallery. Taxis are plentiful at US but I'm not sure why you wouldn't use the Metro. It's pretty easy to do.

>Union Station is about a mile from the closest museums<

This isn't completely true as the Postal Museum is directly across the street from Union Sta. It's a sleeper, well worth a visit, especially with kids. Even a group of six ladies!

napas is arriving from MD so it's a non issue but if you're taking Rt 66 into DC your're coming from VA west, not south. South would be the dreaded and dreadful I-95.

Union station is a great parking spot. Make sure you get your parking ticket validated inside if you make a purchase...dinner, coffee, shopping, etc..

8-)

If the distance from Union Sta to various Smithsonians is too much for walking for you, and you don't want to take the Metro, then look at the Circulator Buses.
http://www.dccirculator.com
There are 2 routes, one between the SW Waterfront to the Convention Center, and the other runs from Union Sta to Georgetown. Keep your receipt ($1 fare) and you can travel all day, and transfer between the two lines at the Convention Center. Agree that taxi's are reasonable.

What's the "National Museum" cited by the o.p.? If it's the National Building Museum, there would be no better way to it than the Metro, where you're looking directly at the museum as you come up the escalator.