Car Travel

A car is a must to travel throughout the counties, but, if possible, avoid the highways during morning and afternoon rush hours. At those times the congestion is some of the worst in the country.

The Capital Beltway, I–495, circles the District of Columbia through Virginia and Maryland (and enters the District very briefly, as it crosses the Wilson Bridge), providing a circular bypass for I–95 around Washington. During commute hours it becomes congested, so if you plan to spend most of your time in downtown Washington or within the Beltway, it would be prudent to select lodging north of the I–95/I–495 interchange. The Custis Memorial Parkway, I–66, runs east–west between Washington, D.C., and I–81 near Front Royal, which takes you south through the Shenandoah or north to West Virginia. Note that HOV restrictions prohibit single-person vehicles on I–66 inside the Beltway eastbound during morning rush hour and westbound during evening rush hour.

Giving parking tickets is one of the things capital-area jurisdictions do best, so if you park at meters, be careful and keep the meter fed. Also read parking signs carefully. There are many variations, and they are often quite confusing. Many districts have parking apps that allow you to pay on your smartphone.