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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> Parking space in Washington, DC
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07/19/2007 03:04:10 PM · #1
I am planning to visit DC this weekend and I was wondering if there is any parking space around the white house or US capitol.

Thanks for all your help!!!
07/19/2007 03:11:46 PM · #2
No, and no, for the most part. You can always try parking around the mall by the Smithsonians, etc. I've had luck at nights and on weekends on most streets, so if you know where you're going, it shouldn't be too hard to find a spot. Chinatown (7th str. North of the Mall) is a good area to find parking.

If you have questions you can reply here or email me at ztross@gmail.com and I'll try to help out more. Others may have useful info, too.
07/19/2007 03:13:14 PM · #3
I think your best bet is to park on the outskirts and take the Metro in to the downtown area.

07/19/2007 03:16:29 PM · #4
Union Station is convenient to the Capitol and (of course) the Metro. Parking costs $15 (I think.)
07/19/2007 03:24:37 PM · #5
There is absolutely NO parking near the white house. As for visiting DC...park on the outskirts and use Metro, like mentioned.
07/19/2007 03:35:26 PM · #6
Originally posted by NathanW:

There is absolutely NO parking near the white house. As for visiting DC...park on the outskirts and use Metro, like mentioned.


When we went on the weekend for the GTG, Courtney parked not to far froms tuff forget exactly where. Theres also parking garages like Kadi said unionstation but also china town. Might be fileld but also IwoJima seems to have some parking.
07/19/2007 03:38:17 PM · #7
Last time I went, I parked somewhere in the proximity of the washington monument (i remember, cause thats where the rugby match was) so thats a hope too, but to reiterate - metro is the way to go.
07/19/2007 03:56:41 PM · #8
On the weekend, parking is not so much an issue as during the week. However, driving in DC is _always_ an issue. The Metro is cheap and convenient...a day pass is only $6.50

By the way, if you're planning to tour the Capitol or White House you'll need to reserve tickets...that's not always easy during the tourist season. About touring the Capitol. About the White House. Take note, also, of the limitations and prohibited items such as no backpacks and no cameras and absolutely no place to store them. There are lockers at the National Portrait Gallery which is a distance away.

You might also consider using hotel parking if you're determined to drive in.

The Iwo Jima memorial is out of the way. It did have parking at 11:00 p.m. when we were there. ;)
07/19/2007 05:56:00 PM · #9
Go to an outlying burb like Shady Grove, park your car for free, and ride the train directly to the mall, just a short walk away from most of the tourist things you'll want to do.
07/19/2007 06:35:05 PM · #10
Originally posted by NathanW:

There is absolutely NO parking near the white house. As for visiting DC...park on the outskirts and use Metro, like mentioned.


There's plenty, especially on the weekend. You might have to drive around a bit, but you'll find a spot.
07/19/2007 06:39:50 PM · #11
I've heard that you are welcome to drive up to the front door of the white house and you car will be valet parked ;-)
07/19/2007 07:23:34 PM · #12
If you can get your car up to the white house you'll be worried a little bit more about other things than valet parking. *g*

Message edited by author 2007-07-19 19:23:50.
07/19/2007 07:58:06 PM · #13
There is street parking near the white house an the mall area. It all depends on if you are lucky to find a spot quickly. I really think that (especially on a weekend) you can cicle the area and find a spot much faster than going to a suburb and then taking a 40 minute metro ride.
07/19/2007 08:07:06 PM · #14
I guess it depends on how you define "near."

Street parking is available a few blocks away from both the White House and the Capitol.

Metro is a great solution if you intend to be near the stations. To cover a decent chunk of the city, I find that a car is very useful. This is coming from someone who commutes every day on Metro, by the way, so I have only positive things to say about the system. But it's not very convenient to many of the monuments (e.g., Lincoln, FDR, and Jefferson).

Go to Metro's Web site, look at the maps, and decide what you want to see and whether Metro goes there.

Have fun!
07/20/2007 10:27:14 AM · #15
The trick is not finding places you're allowed to park on weekends, but rather that this time of year those places fill up fast. There is lots of on-street, free parking on the weekend. Most spots have Permit Only signs with green or red lettering, but those generally apply to weekdays. The best bet is to get down there early if you want to find street parking near where you want to tour.

I almost always find spots between Union Station and the Capitol. See this map. Louisiana Ave. right up by Union Station has slotted parking on both sides of the street. The white part of Penn Ave right by the Capitol has 4 rows of slotted parking (but these fill up early). D St. and Delaware usually have some open spots. Elsewhere, the spots along the Mall nearest the monuments will fill the fastest, so it's best to head a block or two off Constitution or Independence to one of the parallel "letter" streets if you want to park near museums/monuments.

BTW, I-395 on the map is actually underground so don't try to use that as a navigational guide when you're in that area on "surface streets."

Message edited by author 2007-07-20 10:29:36.
07/20/2007 11:02:33 AM · #16
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

I've heard that you are welcome to drive up to the front door of the white house and you car will be valet parked ;-)


Yeah, by the Secret Service after they provide you and your vehicle with their high velocity ventilation services.
07/20/2007 12:24:22 PM · #17
Thanks a lot guys for the responses!!!!! I am also thinking now to park some where at Metro and take a train to the nearest stop. Thanks again!!!!
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