Washington D.C. (including Baltimore) - Parking for less than $40/nt in DC downtown? Park at Metro station?

I won a priceline bid for 2 nights at the Westin DC City Center. Was happy until I read that parking was valet-only @ $40/night. What are my other options? I can see paying $20/night but not $40.

1) What would I expect to pay in that area for self-parking in a garage?

2) Since there's a Metro station 2 blocks away, can I park at one of the larger Metro stations? I've heard they offer free parking on the weekends; although I don't know what qualifies as a weekend. We're checking in around 4 or 5pm on a Friday and departing on a Sunday. Can you park overnight at Metro stations? If so, which ones?

Thanks very much.

Just to provide a few additional data points, my approach is from the south (driving up from NC).

What about parking at a place like National airport in DC, then taking the Metro into downtown? Don't know how much parking is at National, but it's only $6 a day at RDU. I imagine it must be more at National, but it's got to be less than $40 a day! Or at least one would hope.

1) What would I expect to pay in that area for self-parking in a garage?

Garage parking in that part of downtown should run between $20 to $25 per day. Check out Marc Parc (www.marcparc.com/pages.asp?pg=Home) for locations and exact prices.

2) Since there's a Metro station 2 blocks away, can I park at one of the larger Metro stations? I've heard they offer free parking on the weekends; although I don't know what qualifies as a weekend. We're checking in around 4 or 5pm on a Friday and departing on a Sunday. Can you park overnight at Metro stations? If so, which ones?

None of the Metro stations in the city have parking so you'd have to go out into the Virginia suburbs to park. Huntington, and Franconia-Springfield are 2 stations that allow multi-day parking (www.wmata.com/rail/parking/) and Franconia-Springfield is on your way up - right off I-95. I've never done this so not really sure how it would work. If you have to pay, you need a SmarTrip card which would be a pain to buy. And at $5, not really worth it either.

What about parking at a place like National airport in DC, then taking the Metro into downtown? Don't know how much parking is at National, but it's only $6 a day at RDU. I imagine it must be more at National, but it's got to be less than $40 a day! Or at least one would hope.

Long-term parking at DCA is $12/day and you can take the Blue Line from the airport to McPherson Square - just a couple of blocks from your hotel.

If you head out a bit from your hotel into one of the city neighborhoods - Foggy Bottom or Dupont Circle - street parking after 8:30pm Friday & all day Sat and Sun should be free of restrictions. Check all the signs though as it varies by street. So...perhaps you could park at a meter for a few hours on Friday night, then move your car to a close by neighborhood street. Finding an on-street spot on a Friday night though could be tough.

Thanks for all the great info gtownguy. I checked into the long-term parking at the Metro stations you mentioned. According to their web site, only 15-17 spaces are allocated at each of those stations for multi-day parking. So that sounds like a complete crap shoot; not a gamble I'm likely to want to take. Too bad, as it seemed reasonable. Too bad that one lot is right off I-95--I'd hate to get there and find all 15-17 multiday spaces taken.

I'll check out Marc Parc, thanks for that. I'd gotten a PDF map of parking close to the "old convention center", but it really wasn't clear which garages offered overnight parking; although one said it wasn't even open on Sundays:

http://www.dcconvention.com/content/pdf/parkinglot.aspx

Thanks for the DCA info. $12/day sounds very reasonable, and the walk from the Metro to the hotel looks great. What's the drive like from a southbound approach to DCA? And how long, roughly, does it take to get from the Economy lot to the Metro station? I see there are closer daily lots to the Metro, but at a higher cost. Am I looking at about 15 minutes or so each way from the Economy lot to the Metro station?

http://www.metwashairports.com/reagan/1207.htm

Thanks again for all the great info.

1) What would I expect to pay in that area for self-parking in a garage?

Garage parking in that part of downtown should run between $20 to $25 per day. Check out Marc Parc (www.marcparc.com/pages.asp?pg=Home) for locations and exact prices.

2) Since there's a Metro station 2 blocks away, can I park at one of the larger Metro stations? I've heard they offer free parking on the weekends; although I don't know what qualifies as a weekend. We're checking in around 4 or 5pm on a Friday and departing on a Sunday. Can you park overnight at Metro stations? If so, which ones?

None of the Metro stations in the city have parking so you'd have to go out into the Virginia suburbs to park. Huntington, and Franconia-Springfield are 2 stations that allow multi-day parking (www.wmata.com/rail/parking/) and Franconia-Springfield is on your way up - right off I-95. I've never done this so not really sure how it would work. If you have to pay, you need a SmarTrip card which would be a pain to buy. And at $5, not really worth it either.

What about parking at a place like National airport in DC, then taking the Metro into downtown? Don't know how much parking is at National, but it's only $6 a day at RDU. I imagine it must be more at National, but it's got to be less than $40 a day! Or at least one would hope.

Long-term parking at DCA is $12/day and you can take the Blue Line from the airport to McPherson Square - just a couple of blocks from your hotel.

If you head out a bit from your hotel into one of the city neighborhoods - Foggy Bottom or Dupont Circle - street parking after 8:30pm Friday & all day Sat and Sun should be free of restrictions. Check all the signs though as it varies by street. So...perhaps you could park at a meter for a few hours on Friday night, then move your car to a close by neighborhood street. Finding an on-street spot on a Friday night though could be tough.

Sure thing - no problem at all. Sorry, have never tried overnight parking at a Metro station, but I agree with your assessment that it would probably be a gamble.

I've never parked overnight downtown either, so not entirely sure which garages would offer it. With as many hotels as there are in that area, I'm pretty sure it shouldn't be a problem. In fact, a lot of hotels don't have their own parking lots and probably use the Marc Parc garages for their own valet parking. Around your hotel, it's possible that some garages may not be open on Sunday. Further east toward Chinatown/Penn Quarter I have parked in several garages on a Sunday.

Yes, the walk from the McPherson Metro station to your hotel isn't far at all.

Getting to DCA from the south is very easy. And coming northbound on a Friday afternoon you will be going against traffic, although things tend to slow down right before the 14th Street Bridge. From I-95N take I-395N toward Washington. Take exit 10 Boundary Channel Dr/Reagan National Airport and follow the signs into DCA and then to economy parking.

Shouldn't take any more than 15 mins to get from the Economy lot to the Metro station. DCA is pretty small area-wise and the furthest lots aren't really all that far from the terminal. And the shuttle buses run pretty frequently. Get off at either Terminal B or C, go down 1 level, and take the pedestrian bridge right to the Metro entrance.

If you have to pay, you need a SmarTrip card which would be a pain to buy. And at $5, not really worth it either.

I'm fairly sure that most Metro garages now have small vending machines where you can buy the SmarTrip card with a credit card.

The Huntington station is also very close to the beltway, its very near Old Town Alexandria, off the Eisenhower Ave exit on the way to the Wilson Bridge (south side of the beltway).

Honestly either would be easier to get either Metro Station than National Airport (which is not that hard to find). I probably would take under 20 minutes to visit each station and check to see if there is long term parking available.

You could hit Springfield and if there is not space continue up to Huntington, then if that doesn't work head up Route 1 to National Airport (one exit past Eisenhower Ave).

Another good (low cost) option would be to park in Crystal City (Arlington) its one stop towards DC from National Airport, a fairly dense high-rise area:
http://www.crystalcity.org/accessible/parking/free-parking

Some of the cheaper options, like the $4/day option are about 3 blocks from the metro station: http://www.crystalcity.org/go/parking-at-potomac-gateway

Those are office buildings so they probably are work hour access only.

If you do happen to take this option, it would help to plan out your route to the metro station on a map. I recommend that you do not walk to the Metro via the underground Mall/walkways, it ends up being a long way and is much more confusing than being on street level.

An old thread with more information about parking at Metro lots on weekends:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/washington-d-c-including-baltimore/583462-overnight-parking-metro-lots.html

A couple notes of caution:

* There has been a surge in Metro crime, still a very low level, but enough to make me wary of break-ins if I park overnight in the (clearly marked) multi-day spaces.
* Parking meters in "premium demand" zones now run till 10pm weekdays and include Saturdays; see http://dc.gov/DC/DDOT/Services/Parking+Services/Parking+Meters for a listing.

It's possible to park for free in many residential areas within walking distance of Metro, say 5-6 blocks north of Ballston, but most streets require a residential permit during the day; read the signs carefully.

OP - you're coming in on a weekend, ignore everyone's posts except for iolairemcfadden. Head into Crystal City, park in the garage there for free and then catch the yellow line directly into the city (blue line is a bit longer of a trip, but also an option). I do this regularly and its free, and fairly secure. Overnight Metro parking is not recommended in the DC area, its actually prohibited in most lots, and just note a safe bet.

DC is ridiculously pricey to park in a garage or on the street these days - Crystal City is the best bet. I also park on the street in Rosslyn, but that's only when I'm going in for the night only (not sure if they charge for Saturday parking).

Enjoy your stay!

A couple of other data points:

1) The Franconia-Springfield Metro station's multi-day parking spaces are usually available.

2) This station has one exit lane that takes credit cards, so no need to waste the money on the SmarTrip card. If you are coming from the south and don't need your car in DC, this is probably a very viable option. Alternatively, there is a mall across the street from the Metro station where you could presumably park for free for several days.

A couple of other data points:

1) The Franconia-Springfield Metro station's multi-day parking spaces are usually available.

2) This station has one exit lane that takes credit cards, so no need to waste the money on the SmarTrip card. If you are coming from the south and don't need your car in DC, this is probably a very viable option. Alternatively, there is a mall across the street from the Metro station where you could presumably park for free for several days.
WHY is paying a better idea than parking for free in a garage in a more comfortable area?

Thanks to all for the great replies. I appreciate the help. Although this is a bit off-topic, can anyone recommend a large non-antiquarian used book store in DC or anywhere off I-95 on the southern approach to DC?

I'm a bit spoiled here in North Carolina with the Edward McKay's used book store in Raleigh--10,000 square feet of terrific bargains (mostly non-fiction). I imagine the used book scene in DC might be more akin to the situation in Harvard Square--lots of tiny used book stores clustered together.

Wirelessly posted (goingaway\'s phone: BlackBerry8900/4.6.1.231 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

There is a mcKay's out in Manassas, but it's out of your way unless you are checking out the battlefields

I imagine the used book scene in DC might be more akin to the situation in Harvard Square--lots of tiny used book stores clustered together.

No, not really - at least nowhere that I can think of around here. I think the rents are probably way too expensive for that.

Anyway, there are several places in DC and MD, but the only one I know of that is on your way into town is Already Read Used Books in Alexandria. If you're coming up I-395 N toward DC, take the Duke Street East/Landmark exit (#3 I think) and it's about 4 miles down straight down Duke St.

www.alreadyreadusedbooks.com

Thanks again.

I imagine the used book scene in DC might be more akin to the situation in Harvard Square--lots of tiny used book stores clustered together.

No, not really - at least nowhere that I can think of around here. I think the rents are probably way too expensive for that.

Anyway, there are several places in DC and MD, but the only one I know of that is on your way into town is Already Read Used Books in Alexandria. If you're coming up I-395 N toward DC, take the Duke Street East/Landmark exit (#3 I think) and it's about 4 miles down straight down Duke St.

www.alreadyreadusedbooks.com

Thanks everyone. AlreadyReadUsedBooks.com looked tiny in the pictures on their web site. I discovered Second Story books in Dupont Circle. Decent, but not a book superstore like the kind I was after. Was hoping for a larger Espionage/Intel section. It's DC after all.

Ended-up parking at DCA for $12/day in the Economy lot. Took the free shuttle to the metro, then a free shuttle to my hotel. Great deal considering I stayed 3 nights. Will have to drop by the Franconia metro station next time on the way in.

One other note: This worked well except that I was shocked to find the Metro, in a major city like DC, was closed on Sunday morning! I was ready to hop a train from Downtown DC to DCA at 6am, but the Metro station didn't open until 7am; then it took about 18 minutes to catch the first train to DCA.

Now that I know better, I can plan for it. Just took me by surprise. Didn't expect it to be open 24 hours/day, but I thought the Metro opened at 5:30am. Would expect fewer trains, but not locked Metro stations at 6am. And no signs indicating hours of operation. I chalked it all up to shoddy research on my part, but wow. That was completely unexpected.

*shrug* On Sundays, trains start at 6am in Boston, 7am in Chicago, 8am in San Francisco— every system is different.

The DC Metro runs until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights, and they need to do maintenance some time.

Its called My Exremities Torn Right Off for a reason.....