Taking my son on his 1st bike trip. Heading to York PA, Gettysburg, Lancaster etc. and we're hoping to do a day ride into DC. Are there any good times, traffic wise, to go during the week? Any good roads in and out or roads to avoid? Probably going on a Tues. or Wed. 4th week in August from York and returning to York. My wife and I went last year on a Friday and getting out was much worse than we expected and we knew it was going to be bad. Just hoping to do a little better this time.
Thanks for any help, Dan

 

I think every weekday will be bad. Sat or Sun might be less traffic. I have gone into DC on Sun morning and not much traffic at all.

 

I work in DC and there is no good time during the week to get in and out. If you really want to do it your best bet would be to try and get in after 9:30 and leave before 2:30.

 

Hey Roadan --- It's kinda like NY --- there ain't a good time anymore, to get in or out. Obviously you'll do what you want, but I wouldn't touch DC with a 10 foot pole on my bike -- especially with his 1st road trip, when there are so many other nice things to see & do in the northeast. I could give you 2 or 3 days in PA alone, to do stuff where there's hardly any traffic, and "natural" things to see. Upstate NY too, on the way back home. Stuff like PA Grand Canyon, Hyner View State Park to watch hang-gliding, Benezette PA where there's the largest population of free-roaming elk east of CO, Kinzua Dam & Kinzua Bridge, Letchworth State Park near Rochester NY, ride through the Adirondack's & take the ferry back across Lake Champlain --- stuff like that. Hope you don't mind the opinion --- hey, it's a forum! Alot of people do DC, but for me, it's like wanting to go overseas when there's so much in the U.S that I haven't seen yet! Like I say, just my opinion. If you wanna go to DC, go! If you're affended by this, my apologies --- just ignore me!

 

Moved from DC to Eastern NC a little over 4 yrs ago after 15 yrs there. What you have previously read is correct - there just ain't no good time to get in or out of there. But if you do go have a great time - lots to see.

 

I'm not offended by any response. The truth from those who know the area better than me is what I seek.
I guess the general concensus is to probably not bother with DC. We did discuss it and came to the conclusion that if we get stuck with a rainy day, maybe we'd rent a 4-wheeler and take drive down.
If we don't make it there, we have plenty of other things in mind for our 4 full days there.
Thanks for the replies, Dan

 

Take your son to DC it is a great trip but park out side and take the limo or rides offered into the city you can walk to see 99% of the place or take bus if needed.

 

I hear ya Smitty. My wife and I made it down there from York last year for only a few hrs. and only saw Arlington Nat. Cem. We told him how moving it was and he definetly wants to go. We all have been talking about riding the bikes past some of the sights and how cool it would be. I think he'd be pretty psyched to tell his buddies when school starts the following week that he rode his Harley past the White House, Lincoln Memorial etc. How many juniors in high school can say that? The look on his face and the future stories we'd have would be pretty cool too. Hell, I've never seen most of that stuff either.
We might end up saying screw the traffic 'cause we could end up regretting NOT going more than getting stuck in a **** load of traffic.
Again, thanks for all the opinions.

 

If you decide to try DC, we went a couple of years ago to see Tiki Barber's last game. We stayed over night in a hotel north of the city and took the Metro (their subway) right to the mall the next day. Nice place, reasonable price, I can get the details for you if your interested. If you want to do the Washington Monument, get the tickets online, the get taken fast. (it's free)