Hello-We will be heading south on 95 towards Williamsburg, and wanted to stop in DC for about 4-5 hours to see the monuments in the evening. We're looking for suggestions for a convenient, safe place to leave the car, that is not too long of a metro ride to the mall. Thanks!

You might have better luck parking in nearby Virginia (the Rosslyn station) and taking the metro over.

I would reccommend Pentagon City. You may have to park in the shopping center's parking lot, but its close, convenient, and safe.

You might consider driving to the monuments. Parking will be no problem at night, and you will get to see more in a short time than you would by taking the Metro and walking. It is very safe anywhere around the monuments. As far as a mall, Pentagon City is the closest to downtown. Springfield Mall is another option. It is near the 395/95 interchange, which will be on your way out of town from DC to Williamsburg.

I'm with carte005. Aim to park downtown on the mall if you can. It becomes easier after the museums close and even easier after rush hour. The parking lots at the shopping malls are not inherently unsafe, but I find it a little creepy returning to them after the store crowds thin out or the shops are closed for the night. If that is your preference, Pentagon City is the closest. Also consider parking at Union Station which is only a couple of stops away from the Smithsonian.

If you do end up parking downtown, try and leave DC via the Memorial Bridge and head out of town via the GW Parkway. The night view of the lighted monuments from across the river is one of my favorite DC moments. Even better if there's a big moon in the sky. I think you can still see the eternal flame at JFK's gravesiite from the Memorial Bridge.

I agree with carte005 and obxgirl, just drive on in and park near the monuments.

If you prefer to take the Metro, then the Van Dorn metro station would work. There are signs on the Beltway (95/495). There is a parking lot. This makes for a longer subway ride (15 min?) than the other suggested stations, but it would be easy for an out-of-towner to find. Upon returning to this station, I'd take the Springfield Parkway over to I-95S to get around the mixing bowl.

But really the drive in D.C. is pretty at night when I guess you will be leaving. Driving will save time, too. The tip from obxgirl about the GW Parkway on the way out is a good one. It's a little tricky to make the turns from the Mem Bridge, just follow the I395 South signs.

Thanks, everyone, for the very helpful replies. We will actually be arriving in DC around lunchtime, so would you still recommend parking near the monuments at that time?

We are considering taking the Duck Tour and/or Trolley in the afternoon, then walking the monuments after dinner. Any feedback on the Duck tour? Our kids love the one in Boston....Thanks again!

As far as the tours, I guess it's all about what you want to see. The Trolley--while pretty cheest IMHO--probably takes you to more interesting parts of town. If it's the National Mall you want to see (and given your time, I would say it probably is), then the Tours by the National Park Service are the best. Much less chessy.

Believe it or not, you might prefer to park at the New Carrollton station in Prince George's County, MD. Traffic can be miserable in northern Virginia during drive time. New Carrollton is right on Route 50 and one mile from 495/95 and traffic is usually pretty good. Though PG County is high crime for a suburban county, you are very safe at the New Carrollton lot.

The only problem with New Carrolton is that it so far out. It's at least a 1/2 hour to get to the Monuments (and then a 1/2 hour to get back and you are STILL stuck in Maryland. Pentagon City is less then 10 minutes and you are alraedy on your way to Williamsburg.

If you're coming from the north, the Greenbelt Station will be the first exit off the beltway once you've entered the beltway, assuming you're going to be driving clockwise. (For some reason, most mapping software directs you to drive c.c.w., yet highway signs direct you c.w.) Greenbelt is one of the larger parking lots (ALWAYS a space). The ride to the Mall area will be about 25 min.

New Carrollton would be the next decent stop. Parking is often a bit limited, but there's garage parking at the adjacent Amtrak station, but a bit more $. There's a govt office building (IRS?) nearby, making this a busy stop.

Branch Ave is easy on/off, located at exit 7 (7b?) near Camp Springs/Andrews AFB. I walked between here and a nearby Days Inn, and the lot seemed quite full in the daytime, so I don't know how packed it would be in the afternoon.

Huntington Station was not a very far drive, I think I exited at Telegraph Rd., but do remember a left turn that was a pain as there was no left-turn light.

Each of these stations are at the end of their lines, so it will take a bit to get into town. You can check approx Metro frequency & travel times at http://rideguide.wmata.com

I would recommend the Greenbelt Station the most, only because you'd be parked & into town to start your sightseeing the earliest in the day. Since you mention dinner in DC, the worse traffic will have already subsided when you return to Greenbelt at night to continue your trip to Wburg.

I would second the Greenbelt metro station for your particular circumstances. Make sure that when you leave the station that you follow the signs for 95 south - this will be a different way than the way you came in (i.e. it it a series of short roads - there is no direct ramp onto the beltway to continue south - just follow the signs).

Oops, I was thinking like a local. I would never take 95 to get from Maryland to Virginia; I would go through the city instead (saving yourself at least 45 minutes). New Carrolton or Greenbelt would be fine, although they are a bit of a ride into the city and back out again.

How long would you say it will take us to drive from DC to Williamsburg (assuming we do not leave during rush hour)?

The advantage of the Virginia stations would be that you're closer to Williamsburg when you leave DC. That said, I'd pick the Hunington Station which is exit Telegraph Rd South - the second exit after the Woodrow Wilson Bridge is Telegraph but be sure you take Telegraph South not North. There is a light on Telegraph for the left hand turn - so if you take that exit get over into the far left lanes immediately. I'd pick this station over Van Dorn because Van Dorn has very limited parking. Springfield Metro may be a bit tricky to find coming from 95 North - it's a snap coming up from Richmond but not from the other direction.
When you leave the metro heading south for Williamsburg, you can continue on Telegraph South and this way avoid getting back on 95 and the Springfield Interchange. You can get on 95 at Newington. It will take about 3 hours to get to Williamsburg. While you can sometimes drive 80 mph to Richmond other times, the traffic is backed up. From Newington exit it will take (provided no tie-ups) about 1 hour 45 minutes to Richmond and then about 45 minutes to Williamsburg.

Please confine your 80 MPH driving to DC or Maryland..we have enough frustrated NASCAR types in Virginia already!

If getting from DC to Wbg in a timely manner is most important, than I second Jillwen's advice. If the Huntington parking garage is full, there's a privately operated surface lot across the street that charges the same parking as does Metro. But if getting into DC earlier in the day to start your sightseeing is more important (after all, many things will close at 5) then use Greenbelt, or consider the drive in. Have a great trip, both cities are among my favorites.

If you're arriving around lunchtime on a weekday, there's a strong chance that the commuter lots at the metro stations will be full. I'd go back to the parking at Pentagon City mall idea. You'll pay, but you'll get a space and it's a quick ride in to the major sights.

Thanks again for the assistance. I think we will go with the Pentagon area. It sounds like the most convenient place for our arrival time, and relatively simple to get on our way to Williamsburg.

rb's 6/27/03 12:48pm rely mentions Branch Avenue. It is a very easy on-off staion from the Beltway. At around 3 pm, it has plenty of parking spaces. It takes about 22 minutes or so to L'Enfant Station (where many of the Smithsonian Musuems are located).

Looks like you have several picks. Why not be flexible? If there is a traffic jam on the Beltway, take a closer station (exit sooner) and when you return, the traffic jam should be over.