Washington DC Sights in A Day?

[robd]

I am mulling over a day trip from NY to Washington DC to visit a few famous landmarks, ie. The Capitol Building, Lincoln Memorial, White House, Pentagon Memorial & both Air & Space Museums. On Google Maps, they all look relatively close, apart from 1 of the museums which is close to the airport.

The flight looks comparable to a Mel-Syd in duration and is only ~$110 rt.

Is is possible to squish it all in a day trip?

If so, what's the best way to get around to each?

 

[Bundy Bear]

If you are flying into and out of DCA then you could a few things around DC in a day, the only thing that would be impossible to fit in would be Air & Space Museum near Dulles.

If you were flying into DCA and then out of Dulles then it might be possible to do both, but then just miss a few attractions on the Mall.

This trip report might be of interest to you.

Dulles to The Mall area is about 45 minutes to over 1 hour depending on traffic, and remember security isn't like Australia where you go through airport security in 2 minutes.

 

[robd]

If you are flying into and out of DCA then you could a few things around DC in a day, the only thing that would be impossible to fit in would be Air & Space Museum near Dulles.

If you were flying into DCA and then out of Dulles then it might be possible to do both, but then just miss a few attractions on the Mall.

This trip report might be of interest to you.

Dulles to The Mall area is about 45 minutes to over 1 hour depending on traffic, and remember security isn't like Australia where you go through airport security in 2 minutes.

The flights are actually LGA-IAD-LGA. To have a decent look around, I guess I'd give the second museum a miss if time was not favourable. Would really love to see space shuttle "Discovery".

 

[Bundy Bear]

The flights are actually LGA-IAD-LGA. To have a decent look around, I guess I'd give the second museum a miss if time was not favourable. Would really love to see space shuttle "Discovery".

With a LGA-IAD-LGA you could then do just the Air & Space Museum at Dulles, you could spend 4-5 hours there, and give The Mall a miss until next time.

 

[robd]

With a LGA-IAD-LGA you could then do just the Air & Space Museum at Dulles, you could spend 4-5 hours there, and give The Mall a miss until next time.

Thanks for your advice.

Hmmmm...... Maybe I'll switch it around and do the other things. I can't go to the "centre of the world" and not get the obligatory pics in front of such iconic landmarks. Who knows when I'll get back there.

 

[get me outta here]

We also had to cover DC in 1 day. Got the Hop On Hop off bus and went to the furthest point and started back and went around twice getting on and off. Depending on your interests, I found that all the Monuments, JFK burial site, some museums, Vietnam Memorial, etc all added up to a better overview than the 2 hours (on a different day), we could spare to go to the Udvar-Hazy (sp?) Air Museum.

 

[robd]

We also had to cover DC in 1 day. Got the Hop On Hop off bus and went to the furthest point and started back and went around twice getting on and off. Depending on your interests, I found that all the Monuments, JFK burial site, some museums, Vietnam Memorial, etc all added up to a better overview than the 2 hours (on a different day), we could spare to go to the Udvar-Hazy (sp?) Air Museum.

I'll check out the Hop On Hop Off bus scenario.

Thanks.

 

[get me outta here]

Thinking back now, we went the whole way around to get the size of it and you can see the resting, eating and drinking points .... then went back to the furthest point.

 

[Newk]

see the original star spangled banner.
Easily the best thing I saw in Washington and that includes the air and space museum....and Hey, I'm a plane nut

Star Spangled Banner Flag - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[pshepvic]

The mall area is massive - its not all as close together as it looks on a map (I just got back from Washington this week).

You can't really drive it as there is no parking allowed in most places. And taxis can be difficult to hail around the area as well.

Best way to do it is on a Segway tour. We did the "private" tour (which is up to 6 people max) - 3 hours for $120. You go to absolutely everywhere in the mall - all the war memorials, landmarks, federal buildings etc. Best way to do it. I'd recommended the private tour (rated #1 on trip advisor I think) as the bigger groups spend too long on training and not enough getting around. Also less chance of someone incompetent on a Segway on a small tour as well! Only problem is they do the private tour at 6:30pm in summer due to the heat - so you'd need to have a very late flight out (or even stay one night and head back in the morning). We were in Washington for 4 nights and still could have spent a few more days there to do everything that we wanted.

The segway tour was the second best thing we did in Washington - best was the tour of the Pentagon. You have to book ahead, as there are a few security checks etc that they do. It is right near Reagan airport too so you can take the subway just a couple of stops to get there.


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[robd]

The mall area is massive - its not all as close together as it looks on a map (I just got back from Washington this week).

You can't really drive it as there is no parking allowed in most places. And taxis can be difficult to hail around the area as well.

Best way to do it is on a Segway tour. We did the "private" tour (which is up to 6 people max) - 3 hours for $120. You go to absolutely everywhere in the mall - all the war memorials, landmarks, federal buildings etc. Best way to do it. I'd recommended the private tour (rated #1 on trip advisor I think) as the bigger groups spend too long on training and not enough getting around. Also less chance of someone incompetent on a Segway on a small tour as well! Only problem is they do the private tour at 6:30pm in summer due to the heat - so you'd need to have a very late flight out (or even stay one night and head back in the morning). We were in Washington for 4 nights and still could have spent a few more days there to do everything that we wanted.

The segway tour was the second best thing we did in Washington - best was the tour of the Pentagon. You have to book ahead, as there are a few security checks etc that they do. It is right near Reagan airport too so you can take the subway just a couple of stops to get there.


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It sounds ideal, but the tour time is the gotcha, as I don't really want to stay overnight. I've never done a Segway. I may well be that "incompetent someone".

 

[robd]

I just googled up Washington Mall Segway tours - a non private tour looks more suited time wise at 10am. Definitely considering this.

 

[pshepvic]

It sounds ideal, but the tour time is the gotcha, as I don't really want to stay overnight. I've never done a Segway. I may well be that "incompetent someone".

They aren't really hard to use at all - shift weight forward to accelerate, back to stop. Move the stick left/right to turn. Have fun. Easy!!


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[pshepvic]

Just another FYI - the mall area is currently a bit of a construction site. They are having drainage issues and so half of the lawn area is dug up with construction equipment around. The reflecting pool is also empty as it had a algae problem. So it's not possible to get the nice photos from the Capitol down to the Monument, nor from the monument to the Lincoln Memorial. Not sure when this work will all be finished.


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[coyote25]

Just another FYI - the mall area is currently a bit of a construction site. They are having drainage issues and so half of the lawn area is dug up with construction equipment around. The reflecting pool is also empty as it had a algae problem. So it's not possible to get the nice photos from the Capitol down to the Monument, nor from the monument to the Lincoln Memorial. Not sure when this work will all be finished.


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Hopefully before late November when I'm there! Thanks for the heads up.


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[pshepvic]

I was quite disappointed but the other highlights (especially Pentagon tour) made up for it.


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[get me outta here]

Segway sounds interesting way to go. What do you do with it if you want to stop and go into the momuments (stepes) or into a building or some such thing?

 

[pshepvic]

You have a tour guide so they just look after them when you walk in to the monuments. I don't think you can just hire them without a tour guide.


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[sumthinfornuthin]

We have just had 2 nights there. We did the Hop on Hop Off tour and also the night tour. You basically see everything and get to hear about it all rather than trying to get around yourself, find parking and know what it is all about.
The smithsonian air and space museum is fantastic and some of the things you can see are no where else....Wright bros aircraft,WW2 V2 rocket, copy of Moon landing module, WW2 fighter aircraft and lots more. Even if you are not into planes you could walk through in an hour and a half and see most of it and it is FREE.

Smithsonian American Indian museum (almost next door) is great and they have an exhibition at the moment on the horse and it's connection from time of conquistadors.

Lincoln memorial at night is incredible. FDR memorial if guided through is fantastic

Do the hop on hop off bus tours they are good value !!!!

 

[robd]

So I took the advice on board, and the answer to my question is no, you can't do all Washington DC sights in a day. Having said that, we still had a fantastic day and snuck in quite a few sights. It was an easy shuttle to the Air & Space museum near Dulles Airport and then we did the Segway tour through the National Mall - a fantastic way to get around. It was a real highlight and loved every minute.

Particular thanks to Pshepvic for the suggestion.