You could take the Yellow Line right to L'Enfant Plaza or Archives, both of which are within a block of the Mall. But, yeah, it would be a bit of a walk to any of the monuments.

Also, the dates for that Blue Line shutdown may be changing, based on yesterday's news story.

I would base the decision on how to do this on a combination of the weather forecast and a check of wmata.com to find out what the track work situation is.

Jeff_ Definitely just take the metro. You'll catch the mall at sunset which is a great time to be there ^

If your are looking for more local history have dinner at Old Ebbitt

There's almost no chance of this, based on the OP. I believe Jeff is landing at DCA around 5 pm on 12/10. That's almost the winter solstice, so the sun will almost certainly be down by the time his plane touches the runway, let alone by the time he can get into the city.

The Old Ebbitt recommendation is solid! ^

I just went through the Old Ebbitt website and I am hungry now (I just finish to dine. My diet thanks you all )
I will check to subway if it's under reconstruction but it seems to be easier to go by car plus I saw pictures of DC by night, looks really nice.
Again thank you all for the tips

Old Ebbitt looks very interesting! I'll be in DC next weekend.

I would still book a hotel in downtown DC. Early on a Sunday AM, it's a 10-minute Uber out to DCA vs. a 5-minute ride from a DCA hotel, due to the traffic pattern. The tradeoff is the difference between a sterile airport/office park vs. downtown DC with great restaurants and a good time.

I would Uber to a DC hotel near whatever site you pick, drop your bags and head out to whatever it is you want to see and dinner. Depending on what that is, you might be walking. In the AM, hop at Uber back to DCA and you've had a great time and no hassle.

Car rental at DCA is as convenient as it could be under the circumstances, but that does not make it convenient. There are no HOV lanes at any time between DCA and DC, especially on weekends, but traffic on Saturday PM can back up. Parking at nice downtown hotels is rarely included and can run $40-60/night easily. So, why settle for some place based on cheap parking?

Downside to certain hotels that time of year is (as someone else mentioned) holiday parties. Room rates get jacked up - as do parking rates (especially ones near Metro Center).

Perhaps I am missing something here, but given that everyone was advising against renting a car and do drive by visits and to do Uber instead, I am wondering how an Uber driver would avoid the same traffic from the airport as OP would experience?

Are Uber in Washington allowed some special driving lanes of some sort that would shorten the ride, thus reducing the transport fee?

Given that the OP comes in late on Saturday night in December, which some have stated to be lighter traffic and will more than likely have parking options available, this may not sound so bad.

I am not from DC, so I can't make any strong recommendation in anyway, although I did visit and used the metro there.

If I were to go (and this is based on my preference), I would stay by the airport. Rent a car for the $40. Drive by various monuments, etc., as you most likely won't have much time and the weather may be colder for extended walking around. Then have dinner somewhere in DC. Drive back to airport and return rental car early. Have a good night sleep, and wake up early enough for airport shuttle to take you to airport in timely fashion.

Again, this is my personal logic and from someone who has been to DC only once, so it may not sound all that logical.

You are missing several parts of the equation, hoangb. First is the time required to rent the car, gas up the car, and return the car; second is the very considerable hassle factor of having to park the car at the various places where the OP wants to stop. For someone unfamiliar with DC driving, it's not all that simple to find one's way around, so that would factor in. Then there is the considerable cost of parking at any hotel in DC, if the OP is staying there. Uber presents a much better alternative.

I wouldn't really do the metro. Not only is it prone to disruptions, both planned and unplanned, it's also not on par with a private car in terms of comfort or privacy. It being Saturday evening, there's bound to be a good number of people on the Metro, people going out etc. and especially if there's a Caps or Wizards home game and you're on the wrong line at the wrong time it could even be packed. I guess it depends on whether an 'urban experience' is what the OP wants between two flights or if he wants something a bit more pacific.

Given he suggested a rental just to see monuments and landmarks, it sounded like it was more about picturesque impressions of the nation's capital. The metro is many things but it's not picturesque and it's unlikely to show the capital's best side.

Not sure if you read my post in its entirety, though. I did discuss about staying at a hotel at or near the airport where often parking fees are less or there are no parking fees, at least in most major airports where I have visited. Additionally, in terms of renting a car, I also suggested the OP to return the car after visiting the monuments and having dinner early so that OP could just take airport hotel shuttle back to hotel and sleep and wake up to take hotel shuttle back to airport in the morning.

Also, I did factor into account time for getting car rental. If one have say Hertz Gold, National Emerald Club, the car would be waiting in the lot and all one has to do is get the car, drive out, and show attendant ID, and one is good to go. I became Hertz President Circle member after numerous rentals, and I can say the rental is generally very quick and pain free.

As for gas, most airports will have a station nearby, or in the city where OP will visit and just top it off and save receipt. Not sure if that should take more than 5 or 10 minutes.

True, Uber can be an alternative. Better? Not sure. It's all based on what one is interested in doing.

I recently did a trip to Miami where I relied exclusively on trains, buses etc to get around, and I must say that I really liked not having a car to deal with. Also, I have done similar to what OP was thinking and picked up a rental car for a few hours and enjoyed the flexibility to see what I want to see within the time frame that I allotted. I was also able to drive to the "famous" or "must eat" places with my car. I liked both experiences.

So, in the end, Uber can be one option. It will limit the number of sightseeing though.

Car can require a little more time to pick up/ gas up, etc. but $40 is not too expensive, and even if one is not too familiar with DC, a GPS really helps.

Again, everyone has their opinions on what is the best alternative is. I think OP should just read what others have suggested between Metro, Uber, and rental car, and make the choice based on what is most appropriate for OP.

Hi everyone,

My initial thought was indeed to rent a car and leave it at the airport before going to the hotel. Then the Uber solution was suggested
I think I won't know the solution I'll pick until the very last moment. I have a connection at JFK of 1.5h (from Europe) and fear about missing the flight to DCA in case of long TSA lane or if the boarder agents take me for few more questions (I have both euro and middle east eastern nationality).
Anyway I'll pick a flex option for the car in case of late arrival (or bad weather conditions). As some people said here the metro seems to be a coin flip and even it's a cheap option public transportation is always a risk (I leave in Paris ).
My main concern on Uber was beeing able to quickly find one near remote places but given your comments that is not an issue here so it is still open for me.
Thanks again

You should be able to get an Uber in under five minutes 24 hours a day pretty much anywhere that you, as a tourist, would want to be. Places remote enough not to have instant Uber availability are places you should avoid, particularly at night.

Uber might be a bit more of a challenge in the next couple of weeks....

I think this trip is set to be in December based on OP's information.