Washington DC
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,615
Likes: 31
From: Charlotte Area
The tourmobile stops at Arlington and you can catch it there for less than $20 a day. You can get off and on and it takes you closer to the stuff than you can get on your bike. The roads there are for crap, lots of potholes, lumps and bumps. DC traffic is aggressive to say the least. Wear comfortable shoes. Get a visitors guide (free) from the visitors bureau. Stay within walking distance of the metro and leave your bike at the hotel where it will be safer. If you want to get into the capitol, write your member of congress and get tickets, ditto for the white house. Food at the museums is not all that great. There are restaurants downtown but Union Station has a food court with lots of choices.
Gas up before you get into town. there are few gas stations downtown and they are not in the best of areas. Remember you are in a big city and stay in the tourist areas to avoid trouble. Most everything in the city is free ( well paid by our taxes) and there is lots to see.
Have fun
Bubba
Gas up before you get into town. there are few gas stations downtown and they are not in the best of areas. Remember you are in a big city and stay in the tourist areas to avoid trouble. Most everything in the city is free ( well paid by our taxes) and there is lots to see.
Have fun
Bubba
Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 882
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee, WI
Memorial Day weekend will be rife with traffic and motorcycles. Rolling Thunder! It is a crazy mess. But if you have never done it you must go at least once! The protest ride is something you will only see there!
DC is not a place to ride on two wheels. Hell I don’t even like being in a cage there. The former wife lives 30 west of DC and used to drive in to Arlington every day. I was out there 4 times last year and I just don’t like it. There too many drivers who are nuts.
With all that said I’ll be out there Memorial Day weekend. A group of around 100 of us will take two days to ride out, do the Rolling Thunder Protest Ride and then I’ll head for Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
From where you live head for Athens. A couple miles out of Athens there’s a great gas/food stop. Great place for breakfast. Stay on US 50 across Ohio to Parkersburg. Keep on 50 across VW. The road is ok and scenery is great. Stay on US 50 to Winchester, VA. Then pick up State Highway 7 and head to Leesburg. 7 will take you in towards DC.
As a group we stay at a Motel 6 on the SW side of DC just off I-495. Not a really bad area, but then not a great area. Middle of the road. It’s about 13 miles to the Cemetery.
Traffic is heavy most of the day and evening. Rush hour is stop and go for a couple hours. And that's the daily routine.
DC is not a place to ride on two wheels. Hell I don’t even like being in a cage there. The former wife lives 30 west of DC and used to drive in to Arlington every day. I was out there 4 times last year and I just don’t like it. There too many drivers who are nuts.
With all that said I’ll be out there Memorial Day weekend. A group of around 100 of us will take two days to ride out, do the Rolling Thunder Protest Ride and then I’ll head for Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
From where you live head for Athens. A couple miles out of Athens there’s a great gas/food stop. Great place for breakfast. Stay on US 50 across Ohio to Parkersburg. Keep on 50 across VW. The road is ok and scenery is great. Stay on US 50 to Winchester, VA. Then pick up State Highway 7 and head to Leesburg. 7 will take you in towards DC.
As a group we stay at a Motel 6 on the SW side of DC just off I-495. Not a really bad area, but then not a great area. Middle of the road. It’s about 13 miles to the Cemetery.
Traffic is heavy most of the day and evening. Rush hour is stop and go for a couple hours. And that's the daily routine.
Last edited by GT_RoadGlide; Jan 24, 2009 at 02:44 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
I was a motorcycle courier in DC once long ago. Yeah traffic is bad but I wouldn't say don't ride there. It is better than riding in NYC.
On the weekend traffic isn't that bad. However, I find that DC area drivers are the most inconsidate and dangerous in all the land. If you go on a weekday, rock creek parkway is a nice way of driving through the city.
Actually I think a good way to get into the city is taking Clara Barton Parkway to Canal RD. Drops you right off in Georgetown. I think you can start way outside the city on River Road in Montgomery county ride that until you get close to the city and cut over to Clara Barton Parkway. River Road is a nice ride. As long as you don't ride between 6 am to 9 AM or 3:30 to 6:30 Pm the whole trip should be pretty pleasant.
On the weekend traffic isn't that bad. However, I find that DC area drivers are the most inconsidate and dangerous in all the land. If you go on a weekday, rock creek parkway is a nice way of driving through the city.
Actually I think a good way to get into the city is taking Clara Barton Parkway to Canal RD. Drops you right off in Georgetown. I think you can start way outside the city on River Road in Montgomery county ride that until you get close to the city and cut over to Clara Barton Parkway. River Road is a nice ride. As long as you don't ride between 6 am to 9 AM or 3:30 to 6:30 Pm the whole trip should be pretty pleasant.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,755
Likes: 12
From: Commerce, Mich.
If my wife, who had only been riding for 2 years, can ride from Detroit to DC, park next to the mall, and walk all over town, and then ride back out on Labor day weekend..YOU CAN DO IT EASY!
We stayed outside of town a ways, in Columbia MD, rode in just after 9 am on Sunday, on the beltway, left town at about 5 pm, again we used the beltway. Had a great day in DC, traffic was NOT all that bad. I see worse everyday right here in the Detroit area.
I like the idea of parking at Arlington, the Metro is a nice clean and safe way to see the town.
Go...have fun, see the sights, and enjoy yourself. Everyone should see our nations Capital at least once in thier lives. Make sure you visit the Wall, and walk along the outside of the White House.
We stayed outside of town a ways, in Columbia MD, rode in just after 9 am on Sunday, on the beltway, left town at about 5 pm, again we used the beltway. Had a great day in DC, traffic was NOT all that bad. I see worse everyday right here in the Detroit area.
I like the idea of parking at Arlington, the Metro is a nice clean and safe way to see the town.
Go...have fun, see the sights, and enjoy yourself. Everyone should see our nations Capital at least once in thier lives. Make sure you visit the Wall, and walk along the outside of the White House.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,642
Likes: 6
From: Forest Lake, Mn
Wow, LOTS of good posts and info. Thanx to ALL.
Why do I think things NEVER change?? Reading these posts, doesn't really sound like the place I rode in, in 1972.
A kid I went to NavNucPwrScol with, had an older brother who was a teacher at the Naval Academy. We were in Bainbridge, Md, and rode down there on weekends. Mike's brother would give us the inside track on the tourist thang, and how to navigate thru town.
Times were tenuous at best. Remember the race riots of the late 60's? And DC was like 75% black. A yank cracka had to watch the 'backside' if you catch my drift, and there were sections of town, we did not want to even 'ride' thru.
Why do I think things NEVER change?? Reading these posts, doesn't really sound like the place I rode in, in 1972.
A kid I went to NavNucPwrScol with, had an older brother who was a teacher at the Naval Academy. We were in Bainbridge, Md, and rode down there on weekends. Mike's brother would give us the inside track on the tourist thang, and how to navigate thru town.
Times were tenuous at best. Remember the race riots of the late 60's? And DC was like 75% black. A yank cracka had to watch the 'backside' if you catch my drift, and there were sections of town, we did not want to even 'ride' thru.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 383
Likes: 3
From: Maryland
Drive my cage from Maryland to DC 6-7 days a week. If I take a Xanax along my blood pressure medications, I may take my scoot into work...No joke! Weekends or holidays, I'm definitely riding on two wheels into work.
Agree with my posting neighbors here that you want to avoid rush hour in the morning and late afternoon/early evening.
That said, weekends and holidays aren't that bad as govt. traffic is non-existent and it's only the local idiots you have to worry about.
The BW Parkway, GW Parkway, Rock Creek Parkway, and a couple others are some nice scenic routes which take you from Maryland and Va. into DC.
I now live in Md. but used to live in Crystal City Va (Arlington, Va). It's a mile or so outside of DC and has a few hotels/motels you can stay at.
Agree with my posting neighbors here that you want to avoid rush hour in the morning and late afternoon/early evening.
That said, weekends and holidays aren't that bad as govt. traffic is non-existent and it's only the local idiots you have to worry about.
The BW Parkway, GW Parkway, Rock Creek Parkway, and a couple others are some nice scenic routes which take you from Maryland and Va. into DC.
I now live in Md. but used to live in Crystal City Va (Arlington, Va). It's a mile or so outside of DC and has a few hotels/motels you can stay at.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 4
From: Oklahoma
Previous posts are right about the metro and walking. Find a motel near a metro stop, park the bike for the duration, and you're set.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,750
Likes: 261
From: back home in Michigan
Cool guys. Thanks for all the great info for sure.
While there I want her to see Arlington and the changing of the guard at the cemetery. Its awe inspiring. I want to see the 'Wall', these are priorities. The Washington monument, the Smithsonian. the Capitol, White House....she wants to see these too.
Iirc, the construction of the Washington monument consisted of each state contributing either rock or ore that was indigenous to that particular state, and each 'floor' is incorporated with that states contribution.
So coming in from the Arlington side, maybe staying there and parking at the cemetery taking the Metro into DC, or walking over into DC would work?
While there I want her to see Arlington and the changing of the guard at the cemetery. Its awe inspiring. I want to see the 'Wall', these are priorities. The Washington monument, the Smithsonian. the Capitol, White House....she wants to see these too.
Iirc, the construction of the Washington monument consisted of each state contributing either rock or ore that was indigenous to that particular state, and each 'floor' is incorporated with that states contribution.
So coming in from the Arlington side, maybe staying there and parking at the cemetery taking the Metro into DC, or walking over into DC would work?
