Question about Alexandria, VA and the metro

[jfranklyn]

We are planning to be in Washington for a week this spring (not Cherry blossom week or Easter week), and I'm looking for advice regarding the metro. We will have our car, but we know that driving into the city isn't a good option. My question is about the Metro parking situation. Ideally we'd like to stay at a hotel that was walking distance to the Metro, but finances may make that impossible. I know they charge for metro parking, which is fine, but can you usually get a spot or is parking usually limited and commuters fill up the lots?

 

[lovemygoofy]

Hotel shuttles strictly depend on the hotel. There are several really good hotels in Old Town Alexandria including Embassy Suites and Residence Inn that are within walking distance of the King Street stop on the metro.

Farther out like springfield has some marriots but you would drive to the Franconia metro. There is parking at this metro but it on the very top of the parking complex and you have to get there by say 9am because sometimes it's hard to come after 10am. The downside to taking the metro during "rush hour" is an extra commuting charge on the metro in addition to the 4.50/day parking.

If you can at all swing it, I would do a weekend here to help save some money. Metro parking is free on the weekends and metro is not full price for the travels.

 

[Mrs.Malone]

On weekdays I usually use a private (non-Metro owned) lot at Eisenhower Metro. It is $5 all day last I checked and I have never seen it completely full. It's probably not as secure as a Metro garage but the area is fine and I've never had a problem.

As for the Metro garages--a lot of times they do fill up on weekdays. After the morning rush, Huntington usually has a handful of spaces left way up on top of the garages but I wouldn't count on it. Franconia-Springfield is further out but usually has more open spaces than Huntington. Van Dorn is virtually always full. King St. doesn't have parking, as far as I know. You can park at Pentagon City Mall, but I don't know how much it costs.

 

[golfgal]

When we were planning our trip several people found some lots (one near Union Station or at Union Station) that were $5-10/day which is over half the going rate then the hotels. They parked their cars there and used the metro to get to their hotel. Another option might be to park at Regan Airport (not sure how much that costs). Self-parking at the Embassy Suites in Alexandria is $24/day. Parking at the Residence Inn is $18/day-which is REALLY good for the DC area. It is right across the street from the King Street Station and you would not need your car at all for your stay.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

On weekdays I usually use a private (non-Metro owned) lot at Eisenhower Metro. It is $5 all day last I checked and I have never seen it completely full. It's probably not as secure as a Metro garage but the area is fine and I've never had a problem.

That parking lot is ginormous, I cannot imagine it ever filling up. The area is fairly safe - I've seen people jogging across the bridge at 9 o'clock at night.

 

[Christine]

Didn't we have a DISer last year who got a hotel near the Ballston Metro but parked her car at the Ballston Mall ($8.00 a day) and then took the Metro from there. Or she drove from farther out to the Ballston Mall and parked there?

I believe the Pentagon City Mall charges about $15.00 per day to park and use the Metro. If you shop there and buy something you can get some money off your parking.

Most of the Metro lots are full during the week. I've even heard Springfield has filled up at times. Parking is definitely a problem at the Metro lots during the week.