Walking from Crystal City to DCA
 

I remember several FTers posting on a TravelBuzz thread from a couple of years ago that it is possible to walk from Crystal City to DCA via the Mount Vernon Trail, and that there's both a "south" and "north" way to enter the airport on foot.

If the weather isn't too cold or icy, I'd like to try to walk to DCA on an upcoming trip just for kicks. I'll be flying Midwest, which leaves out of the old terminal (A). Where in Crystal City do I pick up the trail or street that leads to the airport?

Thanks!

Yup, very possible
 

Yes, this is possible. I run on the trail all the time, but have never gone to the airport, so I can't remember exactly the best way to get from the Mount Vernon trail to the airport. But there are numerous forks off the trail that I assume go to various parts of the airport. Going south from Crystal City to the airport, Terminal A will be the last one. It might be easier to walk to the shuttle stop to take that to Terminal A.

In any case, you enter the trail from Crystal Drive between 15th and 18th Streets. There is a sign, and you'll see a big plaza area with a couple of waterfalls right by the entrance. That takes you on a ramp to the Mt. Vernon Trail, but even before you get on the main trail, you're on airport grounds, but I'm not sure where all the possible crossings are to the terminal.

It's very easy - I do it virtually every time I fly out of DCA.

For terminal A, the "south" way is better. Just walk south along Crystal Drive, past the Chipotle and the Starbucks, on the eastern side of the street. You'll see the ramp coming from down from the airport by the volleyball courts - continue walking up the ramp, which will wind to the left, and keep walking - follow the trail basically. You cross the GW Parkway on the bridge, and once on airport grounds, there will be (tiny) signs for the terminals. The trail is more or less marked with white lines on the ground, as you need to cross two or three parking lots. You'll also have two or three traffic lights to cross. All in all it takes about 15-20 mins.

The "north" way is better for terminals B and C, and it's a little shorter. The downside is that there is no proper trail, and that you need to cross the airport access road when there is a gap in traffic.

I have know someone who does walk but since I usually have a siutcase I just take the metro one stop down.

I run the trail also. :)

There is a way to get to the north entrance. If you enter the trail as others have suggested (near the Water Park), you'll cross under the GW parkway. The path then takes a big clockwise turn uphill and you'll wind up at the intersection to the Mt. Vernon Trail. Take a right on to the foot bridge that crosses over the GWP off-ramp. About .1 mile after the end of the footbridge will be a left-hand spur off the trail. Follow this one for about 100 yds and you'll come out in a small airport maintenance yard and will be facing the main DCA access road. You'll see an underground walkway that goes under the access road and pops up in the parking garage across the street. From there, you just walk through the parking garage to the terminal as if you had driven there.

No need to cheat death to cross the main drag! ^

We've probably passed each other a few times :cool: .

Cool, didn't know that, will have to scope it out.

Incidentally, just walked to Crystal City from DCA going the "south" way yesterday - would not recommend it at the moment as on the bridge there is a thick layer of packed ice on the sidewalk...

Hey Folks.. I am flying into DCA today... Thinking about walking to the Marriott ren... Am I mad? Better off getting a cab?

Are you talking about the Rennaisance Arlington Capital View hotel? Walking the "south way" should be very doable. Note that they have complimentary shuttle service to/from DCA - call 1 703 413 1300 for a pickup.

Beautiful new property, by the way.

Thanks! I ended up getting the shuttle..

Boy, you said it... Newly minted gold, I am up on the 14th floor.. about to check out the lounge...

Just a shot in the dark, but are you in town for the ASR Science Team Meeting? :D

i don't know where the marriot ren is, but the bike path was beautiful yesterdy(very cowded), ans should be very beautiful today(much less crowd) it won't get nicer for a walk in dc.

Here's a little map that I drew of the direct-but-dangerous vs. indirect-but-grade-separated paths from the north route to DCA:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paytonc/6266966394/

I sometimes use Capital Bikeshare to get to Crystal City and then walk the rest of the way. Haven't used the south route before, but since there's a CaBi dock right at the volleyball courts, it might be more efficient for UA flights out of Terminal B.

I've done the South route many times, especially when I am renting a car. While the walk isn't too bad, it does seem quite indirect. Once you hit the EPA buildings you have to walk all the way up to the volleyball courts, then back track up the ramp. It would be nice if there was access from the southern side to the access road. Even once you've crossed the GW parkway it seems like the paths kind of take you a bit out of the way versus walking directly towards the terminals.

Since I live at the very southern end, I've been thinking about trying the Four Mile Trail to MV trail, but I haven't yet only because you have to go down a pretty steep hill to get there.

Cheers - for everyone, this is an accurate and actually very good map for the options to Crystal City from the Airport.

I live about a 15 minute walk from the airport, using the 'direct' route, and it's the only one I do - so if you see some guy walking across the streets here, it might be me :-)

Just for folks who use CaBi, there is a station adjacent to the South of the entrance to the Water Park, at 20th & Crystal Drive, which is a quick walk to the underpass of the VRE/Amtrak trains, and the entrance to both of these walkways listed in the picture.

-jeremy

This summer, Crystal City is running a #DCAwalk social media contest. Document your #DCAwalk, share it online, and you could win an exciting weekend in Crystal City. (Second prize: two weekends in Crystal City? Just joking!)

To encourage people to make the trip, they've helpfully added directional signage along area sidewalks, and posted a clearer online map of the access routes.

This map spurred a Tweeter to respond with a map of the the dangerous/direct north route. Basically, cross the road at the stone airport sign (a two-lane off-ramp, then one lane), walk into the Cell Phone parking lot, and walk under the tracks to the Metro station/dog park.(Yes, you'll have to dash across 40 MPH off-ramps, but this is no worse than typical traffic in, say, downtown Dallas.)

In related news, the National Park Service reiterated its support for expanding Capital Bikeshare to eight sites along the Mount Vernon Trail -- including two at DCA, and one at Gravelly Point.

How is it to walk on the Mt Vernon trail from DCA to Crystal City these days, especially at night?

It’s not easy to do.
https://www.washingtonian.com/2019/0...gave-it-a-try/

https://www.arlnow.com/2024/06/12/pl...al-investment/

They are planning on building a bridge from crystal city to DCA for pedestrians that likely would then link to mt vernon trail.

the trail itself doesn’t go into crystal city. It follows the lower level area along GE parkway at four mile run therr is a trail along the creek into the southern end of crystal city.

Thanks for that. The first link seems to show it's possible? It seems like the author found it somewhat inefficient and perhaps dangerous; and while the path isn't winning any prizes, it doesn't seem that bad. :)

Presumably one takes Mt. Vernon trail shown here in green? I once read the path decants into one of the parking garages, which one then crosses to the terminal. The below map seems to support this. Hopefully no physical obstacles along the way, like a closed gate.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...89ba1a10b3.png

I have walked from CC to the airport and back many times. I only used the tunnel under the train tracks from the north end of the airport once or twice. The Washingtonian article very accurately describes the walk - pretty easy but not the most comfortable considering being very close to traffic.

The other option, which I have used many times, is to walk over via the Airport Access Road overpass at 26th Street. One side of the overpass has a sidewalk that is well separated/protected from traffic. The challenge there is that to get on the overpass you have to go about a half-block north and use the sidewalk starting at 2450/2451 Crystal Drive next to the volleyball courts. Once across and on the airport property there are a number of roads to cross with well-marked crosswalks and good wayfinding signage. It can be a bit circuitous but drivers have almost always been respectful. The most direct path bears to the right (south) and you end up along the old hangars with the aviation school, Coast Guard Air Station (exec transport and the helos that go after aviation incursions in the DC restricted flight zone, Signature flight support, and the TSA testing laboratory, among some other interesting entities there. Bear left (north) and you end up at the A garage and banjo (er, A terminal) entrance. This route also takes about 20 minutes. And also is not really recommended for pax with bags.

How is it at night? I haven't walked it at night. But that part of Crystal City is made up of pretty pricey condos so the demographics is middle and upper middle class. It is patrolled by MWAAs airport police as well as Arlington County PD, and the US Park Police keeps a regular presence along the parkway. In addition, there are a variety of USG entities in the offices along Crystal Drive so Homeland Insecurity's "Federal Protective Service" officers and guards are around as well. Arlington PD crime analysis maps show "only" three robberies and one agg assault over the last 4 years, mostly clustered around the northern part of Crystal City - so more near the tunnel. It is a very low crime area. Having said that, YMMV. :)

as section 107 said there is a way to walk from the airport to crystal city but it isnt straight forward. You have sidewalks but you are close to a lot of car traffic.

that area is not a crime area. I live about a mile south of southern edge of the airport.

crystal city is a middle/ upper class neighborhood as is the area in Alexandria just to the south.

you could get random petty theft along the path but there are many different police in the area with airport police, park service police, Arlington police, state police, and other various federal law enforcement who have the ability to arrest. In crystal city you have HQ of the US Marshals and DEA and some FBI office space.

I did this walk (over the bridge at 26th) a few months ago midday and found it very easy but, as it says above, somewhat circuitous. I would not have any problem taking this walk at night. The tunnel under the train into the trails might be a different story. I've done that walk as well and it is better suited for jogging and access to Gravelly Point.

Pretty much -- off of Crystal Dr. you access the Mt. Vernon trail via a steep pathway down under the train tracks, then cross under the GW parkway (it is very narrow here, with a guardrail on one side and the bridge abutment on the other, so watch out for bicyclists), go clockwise and uphill around the loop to get back up more or less level with the GW parkway and turn right at the junction. Heading south, you then turn left in the obvious place (IIRC it's signposted as well) towards the airport. Then another underpass to get under Entrance Rd., and when you come up that ramp you'll see the T2 parking garage in front of you.

IMO because of the elevation changes it would be annoying to do this with much more than a light rollaboard (i.e. an underseat-sized one, or a lightly packed international-sized). The only time I've done this, all I had was a backpack for a quick weekend trip.

Sorry, I just noticed you said _from_ DCA _to_ Crystal City. So while yes it is basically the reverse of the route described above, the main challenge IMO is finding where to go through the garage.

I've done it in this direction before as well -- I was bored one weekend and did it as a "dry run" just to know how to do it in case I ever _needed_ to, and took pictures :D (it was also a convenient excuse to stop briefly to check out Abingdon Plantation Historical Site)

From the T2 parking garage you are looking for the overhead sign that says Mt. Vernon Trail (there may be more than one aisle where they have a sign, but obv this one for sure)

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7fe5c147a3.jpg

Follow the arrow on the sign to the back of the garage and exit up the stairs thusly:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e0bb3d043a.jpg

Once outside the garage follow the sidewalk and pay attention to signs for Mt. Vernon Trail. This will lead you down the ramp and under Entrance Rd. in the reverse of what I described earlier, after which you will shortly reach the actual Mt. Vernon Trail:

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...17323d232b.jpg

Obv. head towards Crystal City

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...61994b7a93.jpg

Here then you turn left and go counterclockwise down the loop:

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7785b8f267.jpg

After that you just stay on the path, go under GW parkway, under the train tracks, and you pop up on Crystal Dr. next to the Water Park restaurant kiosks.

Great guide, @zorak. When I attempted this route, I got jammed up trying to follow the Trail signs outbound near the Abingdon Plantation site - I ended up cutting through the rental car service area and was spit out again near the path to the bridge. These pictures will be helpful next time... Thanks.

Ive done this when I've had a day trip - its not a bad walk but you kind of do need to know where you're going.

I forgot to mention, using your guide I did this exact walk one day (the Mt Vernon trail version, not the 26th bridge version). I was unencumbered, went at a decent pace, and tried this during daylight hours; was surprised that it did still take the 23 minutes described by the WaPo author. (In my reading, he made it seem like he was wandering--surely I could do it in less time if I walked with purpose? But apparently not. :))

There were plenty of joggers, cyclists, and even strollers on the path. In that it's probably purposed more for recreation and fitness, than transportation, it didn't seem that well lit. I can only imagine what it would be like towing a roller bag at dusk, while trying to dodge a dedicated jogger. (I don't personally think it would necessarily be a dangerous walk, but it might be cumbersome.)

Aside from a bit of confusion at the parking garage, I felt the density and utility of signage was ok; certainly this guide helped, as did a sense of adventure. Upon emerging on the CC side, I was surprised how immediate the return to civilization was.

My conclusion is, I'm glad they had constructed the various stairs and tunnel which make this possible. And the walk isn't that bad. It is however, just inefficient enough that an Uber/Taxi for that short distance (however silly it may feel) might still be worth it. A more direct bridge or pathway can't come soon enough.

Thanks for the guide, and also to djp98374 and Section 107.

A few months back I walked to DCA and realized it's possible to enter the garage a bit earlier, which puts you on level C1 instead, so of course that means you can exit that way as well. I got some pix of that today, so in addition to the previous post where you find CG-16 and head to the back of the garage, you can also do it from level C1-11, which saves a small amount of walking if coming from the DL/UA gates or T1:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a8ca39ec75.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3f4d98da15.jpg

turn left and then follow the rest of post 23 starting from "Once outside the garage follow the sidewalk and pay attention to signs for Mt. Vernon Trail..."

It's used a lot by (mainly bike) commuters as well, but I believe lighting is restricted because it's on NPS land.

Ok so this saves not just some "horizontal distance," but also some "vertical distance" too?
In other words: previous version requires descending a level, then climbing a half flight of stairs. Using this, you can enter and exit the garage all on the same-level?

It means saving one flight of stairs because you no longer have to go down to level G, but the walkway to the terminals is garage level 2? so it's still not all on the same level either way.

Incidentally, I also found in one of the older posts upthread a reference to some public event promoting the ability to walk to DCA, and in conjunction with that someone made this Google map of the various walking paths:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/vi...495553651&z=18

the one we've been discussing most recently is the dark blue one. The yellow one might be more relevant if starting from T1 and going to points further south on Crystal Drive; I may investigate that path the next time I'm bored (but probably not until the weather warms up a bit :D)

Also, I wonder how difficult the yellow one is at night. Or when there are a lot of cars! Is it more like Frogger, where you're dodging a million things? Or is it more like Pac Man, where you're only dodging four things?