Washington DC: How long IAD to town?
 

I need to go from NY to DC for a meeting Friday morning. The meeting is at 10am at the junction of Massachusetts Av NW and 30th Street NW. Will an 8.39am arrival at IAD be ok, or should I go an hour earlier?

Also, what's my best way of getting from IAD to the meeting? Will a cab be quicker than Washington Flyer, Orange Line Metro to Farragut West, then a cab? What would the approximate cost of the cab be?

Thanks.

As long as you don't hit bad traffic, and at that time it should be OK, it is about a 35-45 minute cab ride for about $40. The cab is definitely the fastest way.

Thanks, JerryFF. Now just to keep my fingers crossed that there isn't a flight delay... :eek:

a bit close
 

That's actually a bit close. When you get off the plane you need to take a buggy to the main terminal and then get in a cab to go through rush hour traffic on 66.

I'd take the earlier flight.

Better yet ...
 

You don't mention which airport you're flying out of, but particularly if its LGA ... Why not fly into DCA, that'll get you closer and give you metro as an option.

Mass/30th is a mile away from the nearest Metro (Dupont Circle) so cab is your best option even if you take the shuttle into DCA. Cabs are tricky though coz you have to jump on I66-E to get into the city and HOV-2 expires at 0900 after which 66 becomes a parking lot. If you take a cab out of IAD at 9am (giving you 20 mins to disembark, mobile-lounge and find the taxi stand), you will hit 66 right when it's still congested. But an hour should be enough time to slog through that and get into the city. Also, if you enter the city right at 9:30, Rock Creek Parkway is the fastest way to get to Mass/30th (5-10 minutes; no lights) but it only becomes bi-directional after 9:30.

Friday morning traffic is usually very light, surprisingly, which always leads to a miserable afternoon rush hour (I telecommute most Fridays).

Wingnut, how cost conscious are you?

Without checking schedules (and I should), the Route 5A bus goes from IAD into town with just a couple stops.... One in Reston, then at Rosslyn. If I were you, I would ride the bus to Rosslyn (for $2.50) then take a cab across via Georgetown and up Wisconsin Ave. The bus only runs every hour, but it will be a tad quicker- and cheaper- than the Washington Flyer/Orange Line/taxi option.

The Can from Rosslyn, VA will be metered and come to $15 tops.... the cab within DC may cost around $9. Get off at Foggy Bottom and you'll save some on cab fare (one zone less), plus save a hair on the metro fare.

I was thinking the same thing. Why fly all the way out to Dulles? DCA is much closer and the metro is right there. Also, what about taking Amtrak Metroliner from Penn to Union Station and then catch a taxi. I almost never fly to DC but rather take the train---much less stressful IMHO.

FWIW, Independence Air is offering $40 round trips EWR--IAD... they have arrivals at 7:40 and 8:20am Friday.

May be worth saved cabfare (about $50 one way) to buy a ticket on an earlier Independence flight......

Thank you all.

magiciansampras, I confirmed the ticket after my last post, so I'm committed to the 8.39am arrival now.

GoingAway & Analise, I could have flown out of and into any airport. Slight preference for EWR as it's easier to get to from my NY hotel. Obviously would have preferred DCA to IAD but $$$ more expensive. Prefer UA or US for miles earning. I did consider the train, but I need my status miles... ;)

blueDC, Great detailed advice! What's HOV-2? I presume some kind of toll thing? Looks like I want to be early for the I66, but late for the Parkway!

Viajero Joven, I'm fairly cost conscious, but it's imperitive that I make my 10am meeting. The worry of missing a once an hour bus is probably more than I can take. I may well take public transport on the way back to the airport, though. Also, thanks for the Independence Air idea. As a Londoner, I hadn't heard of them (although for anything remotely resembling the times I need the fares are now up to $150, which is only $40 cheaper than UA).

HOV-2 = High Occupancy Vehicle (2 or more persons per vehicle)

HOV-2 is enforced every weekday morning going into DC on I66. Once it expires at 9am, I66 is swamped with single-occupancy vehicles and the bridge into DC gets backed up a few miles. Since you can't possibly make it onto I66 before 9am, you'll most likely encounter moderate congestion where the airport expressway meets I66 and again at the TR bridge. The congestion usually abates at 9:30-ish or so depending on your luck.

Tell your cabbie to take the fastest route. He might take you through I66 or GW Parkway (hit or miss). Either way, it'll take you about 30+ minutes to make it into DC from IAD which should put you over 9:30 (hopefully) and you can ride traffic-free up Rock Creek Parkway. RCP is uni-directional at rush hour (all 4 lanes headed south/downtown) and becomes two-way again at 9:30 which allows you to jump onto it and make your way uptown and be at the Mass Ave exit (stone's throw from 30th ST) in no time at all. If you make it into the city before 9:30, trying to get to Mass/30 is pretty torturous but your cabbie should know the fastest route (he'll most likely wait till 9:30; fighting Key Br traffic or the E ST expressway exit onto West End is no fun).

Good luck!