| Home > Washington D.C. City > Travel Information |
| Getting There |
| Washington DC lies on the Boston, New
York, Washington corridor along the Atlantic Coast, so access by car and
train is very good. I-95, the major East Coast interstate highway that
goes from New England to Florida passes near Washington DC. It is an easy
3-hour drive north to Philadelphia or 5 hours to New York City and less
than one hour to Baltimore. Richmond Virginia is a two-hour drive to the
south. Amtrak has good passenger train service along this corridor. The
high-speed Metroliner can whisk you to New York City in about three hours. The city has three major airports: Ronald Reagan Washington International Airport is located just across the Potomac River near Arlington, Virginia. It is readily accessible by taxi, bus and the Metro subway train in 30-minutes or less. Dulles International Airport is about 30 miles west of Washington DC in suburban Virginia. It is accessible via taxi, bus, or train and usually requires about an hour commute from downtown. Washington International (BWI) is located near the suburbs of Baltimore about 35 miles north of the city. It is accessible via taxi, bus or rail from Union station and requires a one-hour commute from downtown. Getting Around the City Washington, DC is divided into quadrants: Northwest (NW), Northeast (NE), Southwest (SW), and Southeast (SE), with the U.S. Capitol and the Mall at the center. The streets running east to west are lettered. (A, B, C etc. with no J street or X, Y or Z) After W, the east-west alphabetic series continues with two-syllable names (Adams, Belmont), then three-syllable names (Allison, Buchanan). The streets running north to south are numbered. Major Avenues named for U.S. states run diagonally across the grid. Be sure to note the correct quadrant or your destination as the same intersections may occur in more than one. Several large circles and squares produce confusing traffic situations due to the number of streets and avenues intersecting at various angles. The Northwest quadrant includes most of the tourist attractions and some of Washington DC's most colorful neighborhoods. The Georgetown District, along Wisconsin Avenue is home to the famous Georgetown University and a popular upscale shopping and dining area. Many of the city's art galleries, plus fashionable restaurants and coffee shops are located around Dupont Circle on Connecticut Avenue. Just north of that, the Adams-Morgan District boasts an international array of restaurants, boutiques, specialty shops and late-night entertainment. The downtown area, bounded by Constitution Avenue and M Street between 4th and 21st Streets, contains most of the city's business district and several shopping malls. The largest selection of shopping malls and specialty stores are located outside of the city in suburban Maryland and Virginia close to the major commuter residential areas. Parking is always a problem in downtown DC during workdays. After hours and on weekends, you can find plenty of free parking around the Mall or in nearby side streets. Always read the parking signs! Some streets allow parking only during certain hours, and the rules are strictly enforced. You can often find free parking along the roadside in Potomac Park south of the Lincoln Memorial if you do not mind walking a bit. The National Park Service provides a Tourmobile service with special sightseeing busses running in a continuous loop around the Mall area and across the river to Arlington cemetery. These special Tourmobiles stop near all of the major downtown tourist attractions. You can buy a ticket that allows you to get on and off the busses an unlimited number of times anywhere along the route for one or two days. This is an excellent way to see the Washington DC attractions without the parking problems while saving many miles of walking. Public Transportation Washington DC has an excellent subway train system. It is clean, efficient and inexpensive. Six color-coded train lines intersect in downtown DC near the Mall. You can leave your car at many "park and ride" parking lots in suburban Virginia or Maryland and ride the Metro into the city. This is a very good way to avoid the parking problems in downtown DC. Taxis do not use meters in Washington DC but use a zone system to calculate fares. The maximum basic fare within the district is $10, but surcharges are added for extra passengers, late hours or special services. When you leave the district, metered mileage may be added. You should always ask the driver how much the fare would cost before departure. Parking in Washington The best advice anyone can give you about parking in Washington: Don't try it. With myriad residential and rush-hour restrictions, brutal downtown traffic and ever-vigilant parking enforcement, the city is a minefield for the would-be parker. The good news is that Metrorail serves most of the major tourist attractions well, so you could leave your vehicle stationary during your visit and still see the sights. But if you absolutely insist on using your car, here are some things you should know before you take to the city's streets. Rush-Hour Restrictions On most of the city's major thoroughfares, parking is restricted (and towing enforced) between the hours of 7 and 9:30 a.m. and/or 4 and 6:30 p.m. on weekdays. Be sure to check the entire block for signs before leaving your car in the afternoon or overnight. Residential Parking The city's neighborhoods are governed by restrictions that allow residents to park all day, but limit all others to two hours maximum from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. This means that you can't ditch your car on a residential street for a full day without getting a ticket (you can park overnight if you move by 9 a.m.). Restrictions do not apply on weekends, however, so if your hotel is in a residential neighborhood like Woodley Park or Foggy Bottom, you can leave your car from Friday night to Monday morning and save on the garage fee. Parking Meters With 15 minutes for a quarter, two-hours maximum and ticket-writers lurking, meter parking in Washington is no picnic. Pay attention as well that the block you park on is not governed by rush-hour restrictions. Most but not all meter parking is free on weekends; check the green signs before you walk away. And another warning: Meters near the MCI Center are enforced until 10 p.m. Garage Parking Unlike many U.S. cities, there are no central municipal parking garages in Washington. In the downtown core, several office buildings and hotels have private garages; rates range from $5 for an hour to up to $20 for a full day, and more for an overnight stay. Parking on the Mall This is a crapshoot at best. Almost none of the major monuments or museums has a garage, and while three-hour free parking is available on Madison, Jefferson and Ohio drives, expect serious competition for those spaces. Our advice: Bring a roll of quarters because it's often easier to get a metered space on one of the numbered streets that crisscross the mall. Parking Enforcement Washington residents joke that this is the city's most efficient public service. Put simply, don't park illegally in Washington or you will probably get a ticket. Not only are ticket-writers lurking like hawks for expired meters, they also exercise zero tolerance on other infractions, such as a vehicle straddling a no parking zone or parked too close to a corner or fire hydrant. Suburban jurisdictions tend to be less vigilant. Alexandria and Bethesda These popular suburban restaurant destinations can be as difficult to park in as the heart of downtown. Consider using a municipal or private parking garage if you drive there. Union Station 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE • Washington, DC • 202/289-1908 (http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/Stations/union_st.htm) Transportation Union Station is the biggest rail hub in the Washington area, with Metro, MARC, VRE and Amtrak converging in the Capitol's shadow. Built in 1908 by Daniel Burnham, Union Station is one of the busiest Amtrak stations in the country. The last Metrorail train departs for Shady Grove at 11:59 p.m. and for Glenmont at 12:11 a.m. Trains leave exactly 2 hours later on Friday and Saturday nights. Shopping and Dining Parking Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport • Washington, DC • 703/417-8000 Distance from . . . • Union Station: 5.8 miles • 16th and K streets NW: 4.4 miles • Chevy Chase Circle: 9.3 miles Additional Phone Numbers • Airport police: 703-417-8560. • Travelers Aid (including paging): Terminal A, 703-417-3972; Terminals B and C, 703-417-3974. Parking • Hourly garage parking for Terminal A and daily garage parking for Terminal B/C: $5 per hour, up to $14 per 24 hours. • Hourly garage parking for Terminal B/C: $2 per half-hour for the first two hours daily, then $4 per hour, up to $28 per 24 hours. Garage B/C is connected to terminals B and C by a pedestrian bridge. • Remote parking: $1 per hour, up to $7 per 24 hours. There is a 20-minute complimentary parking period in all parking areas. Free shuttles run every six to 10 minutes from all parking areas to all terminals. For information on parking locations and rates: 703-417-4311 (a recording) or 703-417-4300 (live), or check radio station 530 AM. All lots accept local checks and major credit cards. Getting There Metrorail runs to Reagan National Airport -- a stop on the Blue or Yellow lines, at the concourse (Level 2) of terminal B/C. Monday - Thursday, 5:30 a.m. to midnight; Friday, 5:30 a.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m.-midnight. Free shuttles run between the Metro station and the main Terminal A (Midway Air Lines, Northwest and TWA). Metrobus stops at the base of the Metrorail station (for rail and bus information, call 202-637-7000). Taxis cost about $15 from downtown Washington, Capitol Hill and Georgetown, and about $18 from Bethesda and West Falls Church Metro stop. Washington Flyer express bus service (703-417-8471), operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, travels from Dulles to National. Monday-Friday, every hour on the hour, from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, every two hours on the hour from 5 a.m.-noon; every hour on the hour from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. The bus departs from the ground level, curb 1E, and goes directly to National. Tickets for the 45-minute ride can be purchased at the curb. Cost: $16 one way, $26 round trip; $13 each for families of three or more; free for kids 6 and under. Services • 30 food/drink/snack spots • 49 retail shops Unusual Business Services Internet access is available at Thomas Cooke currency exchange in Terminals B/C and at pay phones equipped with data ports throughout Terminals B/C. Extras Look for the manicure kiosks in Terminal A and C. Prices begin at $12; open 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Although still in the planning phase, Terminal A is slated for a major overhaul to restore the original 1941 design, connect the terminal to Garage A and expand the concessions. Construction is scheduled to begin next fall with completion in 2003. Washington Dulles International Airport Washington Dulles International Airport • Dulles, VA • 703/572-2700 Distance from . . . • Union Station: 28.3 miles • 16th and K streets NW: 28 miles • Chevy Chase Circle: 25.5 miles Additional Phone Numbers • International Visitors Information Services: 703-572-2536 or 703-572-2537 (translators available) • Airport Police: 703-572-2950 • Paging (available for main terminal only): 703-572-8296, or call the airline. • Travelers Aid: 703-572-8296 Parking • Hourly parking (in front of the main terminal): $3 for the first hour, then $4 per hour, up to $27 per 24 hours. No charge if exiting within the first 20 minutes. • Daily lot: $5 per hour, up to $10 per 24 hours. No charge if exiting within the first 20 minutes. • Long-term/economy parking: $1 per hour, up to $6 per 24 hours. No charge if exiting within the first 20 minutes. Free shuttle to terminal every 15 minutes (about a five-minute ride). • Really in a hurry? Valet parking is available daily through hourly parking (follow signs), in front of the main terminal, 24 hours a day: $25 for the first 24 hours, $12 each additional day (703-572-4542). For information on parking locations and rates: 703-572-4500 (a recording) or 703-572-4580 (live), or check radio station 530 AM. All lots accept major credit cards. Getting There Washington Flyer coach bus service (703-417-8471), operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, travels between Dulles and West Falls Metro station every 30 minutes Monday-Friday and Saturday-Sunday afternoons, and every hour on weekend mornings. The first bus leaves Dulles at 5:45 a.m., the last at 10:15 p.m. One-way tickets are $8; a roundtrip is $14. For rail info, call 202-637- 7000. For bus info, call 888-927-4359.In 2001, the trek to Dulles Airport got a whole lot cheaper, thanks to Metrobus. In fact, it is so cheap we almost didn't believe our ears. Ride the 5A bus to Dulles and drop a whopping $1.10.The route, which originates at L'Enfant Plaza Metrorail station, makes two stops Rosslyn Station and the Park & Ride lot in Herndon and drops off all passengers at Door 4 on the upper level, near the entrance for Air Tran and United. The 5A runs hourly during the week and on a more limited schedule on the weekends. Taxi fares are about $45 one way from downtown D.C. and National Airport, $40 from Bethesda, $35 from West Falls Church Metro Station and $90 from BWI. Services • food/drink/snack spots • 35 retail shops, including newsstands • 7 currency exchange stations Unusual Business Services A notary public is available at Thomas Cooke in terminals B and C (703-417- 3200) from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Internet kiosks are located near business service centers; look for the sign indicating "Internet and e-mail" throughout the main concourse near B and C terminals. Children There is a small play area (between concourses C and D) offering a slide and miniature house. Extras • A chapel/meditation room, located on the B concourse, is open around the clock. • The Airport Exxon station (open 24 hours), food mart and Subway sandwich shop are located adjacent to the Blue/Green economy parking lot. • The Super Snack (main terminal, near security) is open 24 hours. • The Club Flyer Cafe (main terminal lobby bar) offers three data ports; the cafe closes at 9 p.m., but Internet access is available round the clock. Baltimore-Washington International Airport P.O. Box 8766 • Linthicum, MD • 301/261-1000 (http://www.bwiairport.com/) Distance from . . . • Union Station: 32 miles • 16th and K streets NW: 33.5 miles • Chevy Chase Circle: 36 miles Additional Phone Numbers • Flight info: Call individual airlines or link through BWI Web site. • Paging: 800-435-9294 • Airport police: 410-859-7040 Parking • Hourly garage parking (in front of the main terminal): $2 per 30 minutes, up to $30 per 24 hours (first 30 minutes free). • Express Service Parking (ESP): $3 per hour, up to $13 per 24 hours (five- to 10-minute walk to terminal, with free buses as well). • Daily Lot B: $2 per hour, up to $11 per 24 hours. Free shuttle to terminal every 15 minutes. • Satellite Blue and Green lots (economy): $1 per hour, up to $7 per 24 hours, with each seventh day free. Free shuttle to terminal every 15 minutes (about a 10-minute ride). For info on parking locations and rates: 410-859-9230 or check radio station 1040 AM. Lots accept major credit cards. Getting There Amtrak and Maryland Rail Commuter (MARC) trains run between Washington's Union Station and the BWI Rail Station; from there, it's a free shuttle trip (about 10 minutes) to the terminal. Amtrak trains (202-484-7540 or 800-872-7245) run 5 a.m. to 10:45 p.m., with more than 30 trains making the 25- to 29-minute trip daily. One-way adult fares range from $19 to $30 (depending on time and train type); children 2-15 pay half fare. Seniors 62 and older get a 15 percent discount on some trains during the weekends. MARC trains (800-325-7245) -- 35 minutes from Union Station to BWI -- depart Monday through Friday every 30 minutes during peak hours and hourly at other times; no weekend service. Service from BWI is 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.; from Union Station, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. One-way adult fare is $5; seniors 65 and older pay $2.50; and children under 6 ride free. Taxi fares are about $55 one way from downtown Washington, $62 from National, $90 to Dulles and $65 from Bethesda. MetroBus express route B30 travels between Greenbelt station and BWI Airport. A one-way trip is $2 -- or $1.15 with a rail-to-bus transfer, 90 with a bus-to-bus transfer. The bus runs daily with approximately 40-minute intervals in both directions. BWI Express/Metro buses will serve two stops, one at the lower level International Pier and the other at the BWI Business District light rail station. Southbound buses depart the BWI Business District stop, loop through the airport to the International Pier (lower level) and out to Interstate-195 to the BWI Parkway to the Greenbelt Metro Station. A route map and schedule is available on Metro's website, www.wmata.com; 202/637-7000. SuperShuttle van service (800/258-3826) from BWI departs within 60 minutes of your request. To arrange service to BWI, reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Rates range start at $26 one way; additional passengers $8 each way. Express Service fare is $24 one way; $40 round trip. Children under age 6 years old will ride free. Services • 36 food/drink/snack spots • 14 newsstands • 29 retail shops • 2 currency exchange stations Unusual Business Services: 108 data ports at pay phones throughout the airport. Children The lower level of the Observation Gallery (between piers B and C) features giant toy airplanes and other transportation-themed play equipment. |
| >> Featured Hotel Partners << |
Priority
Search Engine Submission © February 1st, 2008 E-Biz Travel Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. Central Reservation Office, Bangkok operating hours : Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (GMT+07:00) Office Close on Sunday & Thailand Public Holidays Bangkok Office : 31 Phyathai Building, 9th Floor, Room No. 916, Phyathai Road, Phyathai, Ratchthevi, Bangkok, Thailand 10400 Tel : +66 2246-1400 to 2 Fax : +66 2246-1403 USA Number : +1 603-821-4556 Please contact us for any suggestions or comments |