Arlington parking for DCA -- a good idea, or not?
 

I've got need for longterm parking at DCA. My recollection is that there are no private lots, only the airport's longterm lot, which I think is now $12.

I recall reading somewhere that you could park on the streets of Arlington and take the Metro. Is that still possible, and is it a good idea?

Otherwise, is there any realistic alternative to the airport lot?

Thanks!

You are correct that the only longterm airport parking lot is at DCA.

It's certainly possible to find on-street in Arlington and then take Metro to the airport, but be aware that finding an unrestricted space isn't that easy in the neighborhoods near DCA. In fact, much of the street parking in Arlington that isn't metered is zoned and restricted to residents of that zone.

I am aware of unrestricted parking on surface streets not that far from the Ballston Metro Station, but that'd require a change from Orange to Blue at Rosslyn, and if you're not traveling during rush hour, it could take almost an hour to get between Ballston and DCA.

You might consider the Del Ray area of Alexandria. Although in the immediate area of the Braddock Road Station (next Metro station south of DCA) residential permits are needed for long-term parking, you can find plenty of non-permit street parking on the streets north of George Washington Middle School (i.e., a less than 10-minute walk to the station.)

Isn't that just another name for Arlandria and doesn't the neighborhood get a bit rough as you go north on Mt. Vernon Ave.?

What time does your flight return? there are a lot of lots in Crystal City that allow you to leave for free after a certian time or are free on weekends. When they are 'free' there is no attended so you can leave even if you have parked for a week or longer.

Climbguy has it right. Last month the parking lot under the Marriott at Crystal City was open and free when we stayed there one weekend coming in on Friday and leaving on Sunday.

You just have to be careful you know what lot you are pulling into, some are free after 7 others are 9 (the one near Mortons might be 3p but i am not to sure) and on weekends. If you get back early you may need to wait a couple hours to get your car out. the lost in the area are generally about $17 a day so if you have been gone for a week it will really pay to wait the extra hour or two. Once you park you can just take the metro to the airport.

I use to work in 1235 S Clark St., the lot there is free on weekends or after 9p. I knew people who would leave their car parked there for weeks at a time and never had a problem.

This is "priceless" info. Thanks guys! :p

My flight gets back into DCA at 7 pm on a weekday. Can someone steer me to a "safe" (both from theft and payment of fees) and relatively convenient lot? Gracias.

About the same as Adams-Morgan is another name for Georgetown. Arlandria is (currently) a primarily Latin American neighborhood about 1.5 miles north of Del Ray that is in both Alexandria and Arlington - hence the name - and smack next to very pricey Arlington Ridge.

I can really only vouch for the 1235 S Clark option since i know people who have left their car parked there for extended periods of time. If you land at 7 the 9 pull out shouldn't be too big of an issue for you. If you checked a bag by the time you collect it and take the metro you shouldn't have too much time to wait. If you are left with an hour or so there are plenty of places to eat/kill time on crysal drive.

Basically here is your plan, park at 1235 S Clark St. take the elevator to the main level. If the weather is bad you can stay entirely underground to walk to the metro. Just look for signs it is about a 7 minute walk. If it is nice out you can walk outside, if you choose this option just ask someone for directions. Take the metro one stop towards hunington (yellow) or fracoashia-springfield (blue). it doesn't matter which one you take. I don't know how familiar you are with the metro, but just for some background fares are distance based so you need one metro card per person. It is $1.35 each way or $1.65 during rush hour.

I guess that I was confused by there having been (maybe still is) a restaurant up Mt Vernon Ave in the Calvert strip center called the Del Rey. I figured that was the location of the Del Rey neighborhood with what looked like Arlandria right there.

I think you're thinking of the Del Merei Grille, which replaced the Calvert Grill a few years ago. FWIW, the Calvert and its various shops and restaurants aren't really in Del Ray or Arlandria, either, but technically in the Hume neighborhood.

The Del Merei Grill is a fantastic restaurant with a southern flavor, located in the strip adjacent to the Calvert apartment building. It's sort of around the border of Del Rey to the south and Arlandria to the north. (I also highly recommend Bombay Curry Company for Indian food, in the same strip, but I digress.)

I would be cautious about leaving my car on the street unattended in some of those areas for too long. Arlington/Alexandria is pretty safe overall, but car thefts definitely do happen.

I'm going to try this one unless my wife makes me chicken out at the last minute :) or somebody else has another suggestion. A slightly earlier pull-out would help us, but we could probably limp along until 9.

Thanks.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Thanks everyone for the tips about garages in Crystal City...I never knew any of them allowed free exit at any time.

As for street parking, I usually park up the hill from the Rosslyn Metro if I am traveling light and near Clarendon if I have luggage. Rosslyn is a bit faster ride to DCA as it does not involve transfers, but the streets off Lee Hwy. that have unrestricted parking, west of the Key Bridge Marriott, are up a very steep hill from the metro and thus not for anyone who isn't up for a "hike" :)

Clarendon is flatter, which is why I park there if I have heavier things packed...some of the side streets off Washington Blvd. south of the metro station offer free parking about a 10 minute walk from the station.

A few years ago, there were a number of unrestricted spots near Crystal City and Pentagon City, but most of those have since been metered or limited to 2 hours. The only street parking without restrictions I can find in Crystal City is a few (maybe 5) spaces on Fern Street.

Either way, if traveling on leisure free parking sure beats the $20 per day for the DCA garage (which is full much of the time anyway) or $12 for a long shuttle ride.