Thought I'd add another option here. Right at the Court House metro station is a garage (located under 2200/2300 Clarendon Boulevard). It is free to exit after the attendant leaves at approx 8 PM, or on weekends. Like S Clark St, the garage is connected indoors to the Metro station (there's a door between the far end of the P-1 level of the parking garage and the tunnel into the metro station), so in inclement weather you don't have to go outside between your car and your plane. It does require a change of trains at Rosslyn; fare is $2 in rush hour. I have also left a car here for over a week with no problem.

Make sure you park in the portion of the garage that is accessed via a gate (you have to pull a ticket unless the gate is already up when you enter), NOT the metered section where you would be ticketed/towed for failing to feed the meter.

Thanks for the tip. I now have more DCA flying in my future, so I'd love to hear more tips. Last time, I did the S. Clark option. My only problem was my flight was early and the gate attendant was still there. We didn't want to wait another hour (we had come back from Europe so it was already the middle of the night), so I "lost my ticket" and paid for one day.

Any updates on S. Clark, or any other suggestions. Thanks!

I would keep in mind, as well, the length of time that you are traveling. You don't want to leave your car long enough that someone might think it abandoned. Many garages keep tabs on cars that are present longer than 24 hours.

I've always wondered if you were returning on a weekend if you could get away with parking in the Crystal City Underground and leaving when the gates are up Saturday and Sunday?

I need to update 2200/2300 Clarendon. An attached hotel was recently completed and now to exit the garage you have to go out the garage booth (which is still unattended nights/weekends) but it dumps you into the hotel garage, and to exit THAT you then have to insert your ticket into the hotel's machine in order to exit. I'm not sure if this gums up the process or not if you entered when the garage wasn't "free" (presumably if you entered nights/weekends when it was "free" anyway, it shouldn't be a problem).

I've been in the Clarendon/Court House neighborhood several times recently and there's even more free, unlimited time street parking than I thought. The best spots are on the street right behind Starbucks on Clarendon Blvd. (N. Danville St. and 11th St.) Some are 2-hour but there are a good 15 or so unlimited time spaces, usually full though. Off Court House Road, between Wilson and Arlington Blvd there are also some street spots. Not terribly convenient for DCA since it involves a Metro transfer or a roughly $20 cab ride to get to the airport, but if you're in Clarendon anyway and need a place to leave your car, there's plenty of street parking if you're willing to walk far enough. All of the spaces on or adjacent to Wilson Blvd. are permit, 2-hour, or metered only.

Closer to the airport, Army Navy Drive south of the Pentagon City area has plenty of available free parking, but it doesn't seem very accessible via transit (a rather long walk to either the Metro or the airport itself, or spotty ART bus service).

For me it's a time/money tradeoff. If I'm running late, the company's paying or I have a lot of luggage I suck it up and pay for airport parking. If I'm gone for more than a couple of days on leisure, and up for a long walk, I park on the street.

Is everything still cool with parking at 1235 S Clark St with a late return? Anyone find any other good Crystal City options?

Thanks!!

I used the 125 S Clark St option back in March and it worked just fine.

I noticed there is a lot even closer to the Metro at Shops at 1750 on 18th St. Their website indicates it is free on weekend and free if you enter the garage after 4pm on a weekday. Has anyone tried to use this lot overnight?

http://crystalcity.com/Dine_Shop_Stay/parking

The last time I was unsure of my return, so I parked on Ball Street (just north of 125 S Clark St, you can google it). A warehouse like neighborhood, but they're building townhouses a block north (you may be able to park there). Kind of a haul to the Metro from there, so another option might be better (I was overnighting at the Doubletree, so I used their shuttle).

Has anybody tried parking on Ball St or 1235 Clark St lately? I'm planning a week long trip flying out of DCA and am trying to save a few bucks on parking. Thanks!

There are a number of the DCA hotels which offer long-term parking in the $8-10/day range and mini-van you over. This gets you security and certainty as some take reservations. On street parking leaves you liable to theft/break-in from bad guys who watch for cars which sit for long periods of time and garages do tow when there's no paid sticker/receipt in the window. Long-term parking at DCA itself runs as low as $12/day and that can be anything from a 2-minute walk to a 3-4 minute min-van ride. Problem is that it fills rapidly and you are stuck with hourly parking at $26/day + when the long-term is full.

Thanks for the info... man.. I didn't realize the long term parking filled up at DCA. $26/day would be killer for my 8 day trip! I think I might just go ahead and get a reservation for parking at an area hotel. I'd love to find some free parking, but... getting towed or having my car broken into doesn't sound like much fun!

This is a good thread- the first time I've seen this...and will try to post any updates/news that I can.

To make a long story short, I live in the neighborhood and overlook the garage/entrance/exit of 1235 S. Clark (in addition to the Washington Monument, White House, Jefferson Memorial, etc :D) - so I know the area.

1235 Clark (or any of the Crystal City garages) still offer free parking in the evening and on weekends - however, I can't tell you with any certainty on leaving cars for days on end.

Ball St has the North Tract apartment building that is now in existence and I'm not sure on the parking situation since I don't walk up there too often.

Also, as far as I know, there are no unmetered spots within a good distance from the Metro/airport aside from ~1 mile away - if anyone has any details otherwise, let me know - since it would be a great place for our second car :)

Lastly, if anyone DOES park on Ball, Crystal Drive (free on weekends/evening), Clark or the garages close by, why not try WALKING to the airport - it will save money and probably time, if you are leaving/returning on the weekend. There are two main entrances/exits from the Mt Vernon trail to DCA and a few others that can save some time if you cut through the street. If you need any tips on walking from a specific place in Crystal City to the airport, let me know - but given I'm a 30 minute walk from plane seat to couch, I would never take Metro and give them money (especially with the stupid 'peak-of-peak' fares) for a trip to the airport, even if it's pouring.

Good luck on your parking and keep this thread up-to-date with where you parked if not in the DCA garages.

-jeremy

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8320/4.5.0.81 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

The one time I went to DCA and longterm was full, they provided a coupon to park in the garage at the reduced rate.

That's happened to me, too