Travel from USNA to DC Advice

[Keystone_Dad]

Sooo, we will be celebrating Easter with our sons at USCGA and thought about swinging down toward DC to spend some time as tourists. We have lodging at USNA and thought we'd spend some time touring it first. The question is what is the best option for doing a day trip to DC after tour USNA? We thought we'd keep our USNA lodging since we will fly out of BWI when we head home. We can scratch the USNA-DC leg of our trip with ease, but in case we do try it we'd thought we consult the wisdom of the service academy forum.

Thank you!

 

[CKR2024]

Sooo, we will be celebrating Easter with our sons at USCGA and thought about swinging down toward DC to spend some time as tourists. We have lodging at USNA and thought we'd spend some time touring it first. The question is what is the best option for doing a day trip to DC after tour USNA? We thought we'd keep our USNA lodging since we will fly out of BWI when we head home. We can scratch the USNA-DC leg of our trip with ease, but in case we do try it we'd thought we consult the wisdom of the service academy forum.

Thank you!

Simple! Plug in directions to New Carrollton metro station and take the train in. It is a 20 min ride, parking is free and safe and drops your off at the Smithsonians. You can hope make on and go to Arlington, the White House etc. we live in Delaware so have done this a lot

 

[Keystone_Dad]

Simple! Plug in directions to New Carrollton metro station and take the train in. It is a 20 min ride, parking is free and safe and drops your off at the Smithsonians. You can hope make on and go to Arlington, the White House etc. we live in Delaware so have done this a lot

Thank you! That sounds great!

 

[Capt MJ]

I second the Metro, Orange Line from New Carrollton into DC. Easy to figure out. Buy your pass at NC with credit card or cash from machine. Everyone needs a card. Parking is free on non-commuter days.

Stops at or near all the major museums, monuments, historic spots, Arlington Cemetery. Websites for your destinations often list nearest Metro stop by Line (Orange, Blue, Green, Yellow, Silver, Red) and Name (Smithsonian, etc.). Lines run in two directions, distinguished by final stop at each end. For example, when you head back at the end of your DC trip, you will find the platform for the Orange Line/New Carrollton. You would have taken the Orange Line/Vienna at the start of your day.

There is a trip planner and fare estimator at:

WMATA | Trip Planner

Metro news and service information for the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia region.

www.wmata.com

 

[Capt MJ]

Oh - in the WMATA trip planner, be sure and select “train” option, or you will get Metro bus options too. There are Metro bus options from Annapolis to New Carrollton, but if you have a car and park on a free day at NC, easy-peasy.

 

[justdoit19]

We did it differently this last weekend and it was a hoot. We drove, parked free after hours (paid before) and rented scooters/bikes and had a blast. Saw the presidential and other memorials on Presidents’ Day at night, absolutely stunning.

The beauty of DC is there are so many different “day trips”. One can highlight different things, too much to do in one day.

Another highlight was a Bobby Flay Burger Joint for dinner. Very good!!

 

[Capt MJ]

I love the Korean War Memorial in the early morning, just past sunrise, especially if there is a morning mist. So life-like and haunting. I used to go for runs past there.

 

[justdoit19]

I love the Korean War Memorial in the early morning, just past sunrise, especially if there is a morning mist. So life-like and haunting. I used to go for runs past there.

I have 3 boys who will/are serving. I couldn’t help but picture them as those men. Wondering what those statues were thinking...they look so real. Are they scared? Lonely? Hungry? It was pretty emotional!! And yes HAUNTING.

 

[Capt MJ]

I have 3 boys who will/are serving. I couldn’t help but picture them as those men. Wondering what those statues were thinking...they look so real. Ate they scared? Lonely? Hungry? . It was pretty emotional!! And yes HAUNTING.

Okay, I’ll admit it, I used to greet them quietly as I ran by. My DH, if we find ourselves at the Wall, always looks for names he knows, touches them briefly in greeting and remembrance.


“We will remember them.”
From “For The Fallen,” Lawrence Binyon.

Apologies to OP - didn’t mean to veer off. I too love the monuments at night, worth sticking around for.