Touring Washington D.C. in a bus.
I have been to D.C. on two times this summer and this post is about what I did with the bus and not so much a travel log. For starters, don't go to D.C. between Memorial Day to Labor Day, every tour group you can think of is there full of out-of-control, public educated, bratty kids that have no clue of the significance of why they are there, and what they are looking at. One of the first things I noticed was there are more 45' buses per square mile than you would probably see anywhere else. If they can move around downtown, then anyone with a bus can. We were able to navigate around the mall without any problems. I would say 90% of the buses I saw where 45' Prevost, they seem to have the market cornered. One of the smartest navigational aids one could have is a GPS; I wouldn't go downtown without one. The endless procession of one-way streets can be madding. When I got off the beaten path it would get me back to where I wanted to go.
If you are an early bird and don't mind walking you can park your bus for free all day down by the Potomac on Ohio Dr. Below Independance and above 395. You will need to get there before 7a.m. or then it becomes hit or miss because every tour company bus seems to end up there.
Ohio Dr. on Google maps:
http://maps.google.com/maps?rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Washington,+DC,+USA&um=1&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title
The easiest place to park is Union Station; they are open 24/7. Facing the station the bus entrance is on the right, up the side to the back. Ask the attendant how to get out because the bus exit is at the side, not the same place as the entrance. They have 90 bus parking spots on a first come first serve basis and if you don't wait too late into the day you should be able to find a spot. $20 between 7a.m. to 7p.m., and $10 for the flip side. Here is how it works, if you get there at 6:50a.m. you will pay $10, and as soon as the clock strikes 7a.m., you get to pony up another $20. Weird, but that is the way it is. There is always an attendant walking around to take your money and help you park in the right place because if you screw up and park with the city buses, you get a big parking ticket.
From Union station you can do the two block walk to the Mall (That's what we did). The Mall is where the Smithsonian and the monuments are located. Or you can catch the Metro, or take one of the hop on/ hop off tour buses that circle the city. Union station has lots of shops and restaurants if you are into that.
Union Station Parking:
http://www.unionstationdc.com/directions.asp?gid=13
Union Station website:
http://www.unionstationdc.com/default.asp
Union Station map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Washington,+DC,+USA&um=1&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title
We also traveled to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Udvar Hazy Center at Dulles Airport. A place I have wanted to see. It is well worth it and they have plenty of bus and RV parking for $12. If you go try to hook up with one the free tours they give. You will get a lot more information than you normally would by just reading. I like planes so I could spend a day there no problem.
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Udvar Hazy Center:
http://www.nasm.si.edu/UdvarHazy/
We also stayed at two campgrounds that were close, nice and inexpensive. Bull Run has full hookups, paved spots and a nice skeet range. Lake Fairfax has gravel spots with electric and water. Both were nice and I would stay again. We didn't use the park's rest room facilities so I am not able to comment on them. That's an advantage of not tent camping.
Bull Run Regional Park:
http://www.nvrpa.org/parks/bullrun/index.php
Lake Fairfax Park:
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/lakefairfax/
Below are some photos of Ohio Dr, Union station and Lake Fairfax. I wish I would have let someone out with a camera and take some photos of me driving around the mall. We had a good time.
Union station:
Lake Fairfax and the Air and Space Museum:
Wish I had known you were going to be here, Bull Run is only about 15 minutes from the house. If you head this way again , give me a yell.
Frank
Wow...sounds very cool...er hot to me. We haven't visited Washington D.C. since 1981......literally a lifetime ago. Spent two (2) weeks camped at Silver Springs and I daily took the metro into town.
I loved the visit. Mary got bored after a bit and stayed at the campground. Wish I could do it again and this time spend four (4) weeks. Thanks for the great posts everyone. Our Capitol indeed. :) :) :)
I can say without a shadow of a doubt that DC is one of the most confusing cities to get around-mainly because there are so many trees you can't really get a bearing on where you are. Unlike cities like Denver, SLC, Phoenix, L.A. that are surrounded by orienting mountains. GPS-every time! Good Luck, TomC
I am glad it is you in DC rather than me. I lived in Leesburg Va for 7 years 20 years ago.
I drop for a equipment rental company and my aera was the Dc metro aera with a 48 foot landoll trailer. I can remember some long days trying to get around up there.
After that i worked at the Dulles airport at nigh and drove school busses into Dc during the day for feild trips.
Need less to say I am glad to be back home in TEXAS despite the heat
Laryn,
Thanks for the informative article and the pictures. I'm printing the info in the links for future reference; Marilyn has informed me that D.C. is on our agenda!
Dennis
Dennis,
When I get back from Disney, we need to get serious about a get together.
Laryn
Thank you Barn Owl!
Excellent advice for the DC parking!
I'll support every one of them as a completely viable choice for a busnut.
I have parked the coach right on the Mall in the evening.
The memorials have a different character in the dark, that many do not get the chance to experience.
happy coaching!
buswarrior