Originally Posted by
travelmad478
It's certainly possible, although it adds about 45-60 minutes of drive time once you're done seeing what you want to see in DC. I certainly would NOT stay in the DC area and attempt to beat rush hour to get to BWI in the morning. DC rush hour starts around 6 AM due to many federal government workers being on flex-time. It's terrible until after 9.
The above is good advice.
Note that most Smithsonian museums close at 5:30 (but check their individual webpages as on select dates each one might have special hours; none appear to do so on 12/10 as of today) so you will not be able to get inside any except the Portrait Gallery (which closes at 7).
However, on the Mall you will still be able to see the White House and Capitol lit up for Xmas, er, the holidaze; and the many excellent monuments (Jefferson, Lincoln, Vietnam, WW2, FDR, MLK) on the Mall take on dramatic and impressive appearance and atmosphere when viewed at night. You will do well to see them.
On a normal Saturday evening parking around the Mall isn't terribly difficult. But, t'will be the season, and parking close to the White House will be tough as you wont be the only one who wants to visit the National Christmas Tree and otherwise see the monuments at night. So, park your one-way rental car from DCA somewhere in West Potomac Park or on Independence Avenue and walk up and down the Mall.
Leave for your hotel at BWI after dinner at Old Ebbitt and you will have had a fantastic and stress-free short visit to the nations capital. Enjoy.
