Rolling Thunder
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 986
Likes: 6
From: NY
I've never camped there, but there is info at the bottom of this page:
http://www.rftw.org/index.asp?lg=1&w=pages&r=81&pid=110
http://www.rftw.org/index.asp?lg=1&w=pages&r=81&pid=110
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,265
Likes: 99
From: Northern VA
I don't know what it used to be like, but I can tell you what it's like the past few years since I've joined the demonstration ride. Ride starts at noon, I start the bike about 1pm. 15 to 20 minutes later, the ride is over and you either pull off & park at the ball fields or head out of town.
Since I live an hour from there, I do DC saturday and just head out after the ride sunday.
Get there early. We get there about 8am and about 1pm we're on the bike ready for our line to leave. There's actually quite a bit to do once in the pentagon parking lot, but most people are afraid to leave that area. Walk over to the pentagon and check out the 911 memorial is a must do. You have plenty of time to get back. Hell, even my wife got ancy because we stood on the hill for the flyover and watched the start of the ride before heading into the sea of bikes to find ours.
Hard to see in this pic, but the upper left hand corner is where 250ish porta pottys are placed. You only stand in line where they have a few placed on the outskirts of the parking lots - not by the bulk of them.
As far as getting there... All roads in VA & MD head to DC so that's easy. Gets confusing heading out because of the amount of roads. My suggestion - follow in a group. The Ride of the Patriots is the biggest one around. Pretty impressive the way they handle things. http://www.patriothd.com/custompage.asp?pg=rides
Like someone else said, PM me if you have other questions. Or just ask them here and I'll see if I can answer them for ya.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,265
Likes: 99
From: Northern VA
Nothing against MD, but I'm a VA guy and would stay on that side of the river.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/campgrounds.htm
http://www.hillwoodcamping.com/
http://www.aquiapines.com/
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/campgrounds.htm
http://www.hillwoodcamping.com/
http://www.aquiapines.com/
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 23
From: MD just outside DC
Nothing against MD, but I'm a VA guy and would stay on that side of the river.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/campgrounds.htm
http://www.hillwoodcamping.com/
http://www.aquiapines.com/
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/campgrounds.htm
http://www.hillwoodcamping.com/
http://www.aquiapines.com/
Greenbelt park is nice .. It is one of the only national parks inside a beltway. about 35 mins to the city.
http://www.nps.gov/gree/index.htm
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,265
Likes: 99
From: Northern VA
Hiya Liz,
Patriot HD in Fairfax has a huge escorted ride to the Pentagon and I included that in my first reply in this thread.
Do you know of a MD dealer that has a ride in that you could add to this thread to help people out?
Since I don't cross the river much, I don't know a lot about MD dealers 'over there.'
Patriot HD in Fairfax has a huge escorted ride to the Pentagon and I included that in my first reply in this thread.
Do you know of a MD dealer that has a ride in that you could add to this thread to help people out?
Since I don't cross the river much, I don't know a lot about MD dealers 'over there.'
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 23
From: MD just outside DC
Hiya Liz,
Patriot HD in Fairfax has a huge escorted ride to the Pentagon and I included that in my first reply in this thread.
Do you know of a MD dealer that has a ride in that you could add to this thread to help people out?
Since I don't cross the river much, I don't know a lot about MD dealers 'over there.'
Patriot HD in Fairfax has a huge escorted ride to the Pentagon and I included that in my first reply in this thread.
Do you know of a MD dealer that has a ride in that you could add to this thread to help people out?
Since I don't cross the river much, I don't know a lot about MD dealers 'over there.'
http://www.hdwash.com/custompage.asp?pg=rollingthunder
They have a huge staging area. Police escort to the event and on Saturday a all day party with vendors ect. They do it every year and it is huge from what I have heard.
Also I would expect that my dealer old glory will as well.. But I havent seen anything about it yet.
http://www.oldgloryhd.com/default.asp
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 986
Likes: 6
From: NY
I've been to the Saturday event at Fort Washington, and it was very nice. First, it was a nice ride there, out of the crowd, and we cut through some really nice neighborhoods of DC on the way back which I had never been to (not sure if I could find it again...lol). They had vendors like Liz said, lots of stuff on sale inside the dealership, music, and free bbq sandwiches (funny what you remember). I actually bought my rain jacket there on clearance.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,615
Likes: 31
From: Charlotte Area
Having done about 7 of the rides, I'll qualify myself as knowledgeable about it. I'd suggest getting into town on Wednesday or Thursday if you want to do some sightseeing. Ft. Washington HD seems to have a bigger Saturday event but the Patriot event is awesome too. One year the Ft. Washington ride got lost in the middle and ended up two blocks from the White House. Luckily several of us knew our way around and got most of the rest of the folks to the Pentagon. Times we have gone with patriot, it seemed to be better organized.
As others have said , it is a long wait at the Pentagon. We actually walked around to see the 911 memorial and then walked over to Pentagon Mall. Advise you to take some snacks, water and a sheet to sit or lay on. Find a piece of grass and chill out after exploring. It always chokes me up to see the gunny sgt standing at attention behind the Lincoln memorial (for the whole parade).
Last year we staged over by the Smithsonian castle and watched the ride. What a wonderful perspective. I urge you to ride the parade at least once. You won't forget it. The prisoner in the bamboo cage makes me say a prayer for all who served and continue to serve.
We won't be making the trip this year. But we will be with you in spirit.
Bub
As others have said , it is a long wait at the Pentagon. We actually walked around to see the 911 memorial and then walked over to Pentagon Mall. Advise you to take some snacks, water and a sheet to sit or lay on. Find a piece of grass and chill out after exploring. It always chokes me up to see the gunny sgt standing at attention behind the Lincoln memorial (for the whole parade).
Last year we staged over by the Smithsonian castle and watched the ride. What a wonderful perspective. I urge you to ride the parade at least once. You won't forget it. The prisoner in the bamboo cage makes me say a prayer for all who served and continue to serve.
We won't be making the trip this year. But we will be with you in spirit.
Bub
I have a question for you guys that go a lot. Is there much in the way of theft of bikes, or stuff off of bikes in the parking lots and so forth? We would be there with camping gear and all our stuff that's important to us.