I have a 7 hour layover at IAD prior to an international departure. Arrival time is 3pm on a Friday. The Udvar-Hazy Center is only open till 5:30. If our flight arrives on time perhaps that's a way to kill a couple of hours. However, having never been to DC I wonder if it's feasible to see any of it. Hire a car/driver for 5 hours (expensive I know but maybe worth it for the efficiency of travel) and take in some of the attractions. However mid-winter at this time of day will be pretty dark. Are we really going to get to see much? The mall at night? The capitol I assume is closed. Any ideas on what to see? I assume if we leave IAD around 3:30, we are in DC by 4:30 (or is Friday traffic worse?), then leave DC by 7:30 and back to the airport by 8:30?

This is not sounding like a great idea.....but with a car and driver we could at least potentially see a bit of DC pretty quick.