How to Get Around in Washington, DC without a Car

Our Nation's Capital is full of free tourist attractions, beautiful memorials, and....bumper-to-bumper traffic. As a matter of fact, Washington is known for having some of the worst traffic in the country. Fortunately, it is also known for having one of the best mass transit systems in the country as well. Plan ahead to use the bus, MetroRail and other forms of transportation to keep out of the nightmare traffic.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Make sure your hotel has shuttle service to the nearest metro station, especially if it's outside of the city.

2. Go online to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) website. Here you can get a map of the entire subway system, as well as all information needed to plan your trip. The site includes door-to-door directions to any location in the area using the subway and bus system. It also provides information on the connector buses available in different cities and counties.

3. Purchase a SmartTrip card online for each person above 5 years old who will be travelling. While you can buy daily or weekly metro passes as well, SmartTrip cards work on the subway, bus and parking garage if you opt to rent a car for travelling near your hotel.

4. Use the online trip planner to schedule your activities while in DC.

5. Check into other options. There are other ways you can travel around without a car, such as private tours and bike rental. Washington, DC's bike rental allows you to rent a bike from an electronically-controlled stand with a credit card, and return it at any bike rack in the city from the same company. Segway tours are also very popular, especially at night when the traffic has died down a bit.

Tips & Warnings

• * Many of the Smithsonian museums are on Independence Avenue, with others blocks away. Take the Orange line train to the Smithsonian stop. Here you can visit the American Indian Museum, Gallery of Asian Art, African Art Museum and many others. The National Mall and White House are behind the museum.
• * Carry as little with you as possible.
• * Street vendors are everywhere, and are often an affordable alternative to the high-priced restaurants throughout the city.
• * Theft is extremely common. Do not leave anything unattended or pull out large amounts of cash.
• * Do not "buy tickets" to Smithsonian events. Most of them are free.
• * Carry a good map with you and learn what neighborhoods to avoid.

Resources

• WMATA website
• Yahoo! Travel