How do I get to DCA tomorrow

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I say this as someone who usually aims to get to the airport 60 mins before a flight and am often not there until 50 mins before (takeoff, not boarding time).

I would plan to be there by 10am. There is SO MUCH that can go wrong with your transit, there may be increased security, etc. I wouldn’t mess around tomorrow.

Saturday is by the quietest day at DCA. OP will be sitting around for 4 hours with this advice. I agree it will probably take longer than normal and OP may have to cross the river on the beltway and maybe come in on 66 and then snake around the Pentagon, but this is over the top.

OP, just pull up Waze at say 11 AM and see how long it is taking to drive to DCA. I am willing to bet it will be 10 minutes longer than normal because of the redirections. Regular people will not be anywhere near the central part of the area tomorrow, most roads will be quieter than normal.

Do not listen to this person. They are wildly incorrect with their assumptions about tomorrow.

Right now Google Maps says 40 minutes drive from downtown Bethesda to DCA Terminal 2. I will check at 11 AM tomorrow, and will post back here, and take my blows if it's more than an hour. If I had the ability, I would easily bet $5k at even odds it will.be under an hour.

And you’re absolutely positively sure that Google Maps is taking the parade and the military celebrations into account, as well as the as-yet uncounted numbers of people who may be unfamiliar with area roads in making this estimate? If so, hats off to Google Maps.

They use live data from actual travelers, so yes.

OK I'm really curious about how this works - live data is for today, correct? How would they anticipate what the traffic will be 24 hours in the future?

Yes live data is based on people who have Google Maps running on their phones, it collects the GPS data as they drive, calculates speeds, collects it all to show lower speeds than normal, etc.

Projections for the future generally give you a range of time based on historic data for that day/time. But yes that's why it would be hard to tell what tomorrow will look like, because it won't be a normal June Saturday. Hence the need to look tomorrow at the specific time.

If you look right now for noon tomorrow, it says "typically 28 minutes to 1:05" and yes, does show a proposed route that avoids the GW Parkway where it is closed tomorrow.

Even live data will be of limited use. Just because someone made it through in 45 min and arrived now -- you can see building traffic but there are so many variables and other dynamics that are specific to this event.

Truly curious as to what sudden things you think are going to happen in Virginia or outer DC tomorrow at 10 or 11 AM. Per this map, pretty much all the road closures are already in effect today.

https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Army-250th-Birthday-Parade-Road-Closures.jpg

I don't understand the catastrophizing about this event. It's stupid and annoying and aggrandizing, but simply won't be felt that much a few miles away (with exception of things like the 395 bridges, etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you have someone drop you off at the metro station? Then you're not lugging your stuff much farther than you would if you drove, since the DCA metro station puts you right there. I bet metro will be pretty quiet tomorrow, too.

It has been my experience that Metro is tolerable on the way into town when big events are happening and fine during the event (until people start to leave).

Yes, and the stuff tomorrow is spread out throughout the day (other than the parade), and most importantly, relatively few people from the region will be going, as compared to say July 4 events on the Mall. Sure there will be some people from outside the region going, but not 100k+.

Remember, also that DC‘s biggest high schools also have graduation that day and they are all having to reroute to get to the venues. There’s more going on in DC than just the dumb fiasco.

You are talking about maybe max 5k people associated with graduation, in a region of 6 million, when something like 400-500k come into DC on busy weekdays to work. A couple of streets around a school would get busy, simply too small to have a regional impact.

Its not one graduation its many, so definitely more than 5k and they are not held at the schools. They are held at care first, lisner and UDC, so spread all around the city and which schools go where is not remotely related to where the graduations are. Plus they are at multiple times throughout the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take your luggage on the Metro.

This. Or come down to Arlington Friday at some point (which will also be a sh*tty drive, but less time pressure) and spend the night in a hotel. Then take a cab/uber tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I say this as someone who usually aims to get to the airport 60 mins before a flight and am often not there until 50 mins before (takeoff, not boarding time).

I would plan to be there by 10am. There is SO MUCH that can go wrong with your transit, there may be increased security, etc. I wouldn’t mess around tomorrow.

Saturday is by the quietest day at DCA. OP will be sitting around for 4 hours with this advice. I agree it will probably take longer than normal and OP may have to cross the river on the beltway and maybe come in on 66 and then snake around the Pentagon, but this is over the top.

OP, just pull up Waze at say 11 AM and see how long it is taking to drive to DCA. I am willing to bet it will be 10 minutes longer than normal because of the redirections. Regular people will not be anywhere near the central part of the area tomorrow, most roads will be quieter than normal.

Do not listen to this person. They are wildly incorrect with their assumptions about tomorrow.

Right now Google Maps says 40 minutes drive from downtown Bethesda to DCA Terminal 2. I will check at 11 AM tomorrow, and will post back here, and take my blows if it's more than an hour. If I had the ability, I would easily bet $5k at even odds it will.be under an hour.

And you’re absolutely positively sure that Google Maps is taking the parade and the military celebrations into account, as well as the as-yet uncounted numbers of people who may be unfamiliar with area roads in making this estimate? If so, hats off to Google Maps.

They use live data from actual travelers, so yes.

OK I'm really curious about how this works - live data is for today, correct? How would they anticipate what the traffic will be 24 hours in the future?

Yes live data is based on people who have Google Maps running on their phones, it collects the GPS data as they drive, calculates speeds, collects it all to show lower speeds than normal, etc.

Projections for the future generally give you a range of time based on historic data for that day/time. But yes that's why it would be hard to tell what tomorrow will look like, because it won't be a normal June Saturday. Hence the need to look tomorrow at the specific time.

If you look right now for noon tomorrow, it says "typically 28 minutes to 1:05" and yes, does show a proposed route that avoids the GW Parkway where it is closed tomorrow.

Even live data will be of limited use. Just because someone made it through in 45 min and arrived now -- you can see building traffic but there are so many variables and other dynamics that are specific to this event.

Truly curious as to what sudden things you think are going to happen in Virginia or outer DC tomorrow at 10 or 11 AM. Per this map, pretty much all the road closures are already in effect today.

https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Army-250th-Birthday-Parade-Road-Closures.jpg

I don't understand the catastrophizing about this event. It's stupid and annoying and aggrandizing, but simply won't be felt that much a few miles away (with exception of things like the 395 bridges, etc).

That is a HUGE "except".

During any event like this there are hundreds of cars being driven by people who are completely surprised that roads/bridges etc are closed. Maybe they don't watch the news, or whatever, but it happens. Then you have essential workers who are just trying to take a route to work or wherever they MUST go. Just these people can clog a major highway for HOURS. I made the mistake of thinking I could do a quick jaunt into the city one Memorial day weekend in like 2004. Which was peak Rolling Thunder. IT WAS HELL. I was stuck on 395 for hours because I couldn't get off an turn around until I'd go through the city! I was young and dumb, but I have made sure to pay attention to huge road closures like this every single time since then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you have someone drop you off at the metro station? Then you're not lugging your stuff much farther than you would if you drove, since the DCA metro station puts you right there. I bet metro will be pretty quiet tomorrow, too.

It has been my experience that Metro is tolerable on the way into town when big events are happening and fine during the event (until people start to leave).

Yes, and the stuff tomorrow is spread out throughout the day (other than the parade), and most importantly, relatively few people from the region will be going, as compared to say July 4 events on the Mall. Sure there will be some people from outside the region going, but not 100k+.

Remember, also that DC‘s biggest high schools also have graduation that day and they are all having to reroute to get to the venues. There’s more going on in DC than just the dumb fiasco.

You are talking about maybe max 5k people associated with graduation, in a region of 6 million, when something like 400-500k come into DC on busy weekdays to work. A couple of streets around a school would get busy, simply too small to have a regional impact.

Its not one graduation its many, so definitely more than 5k and they are not held at the schools. They are held at care first, lisner and UDC, so spread all around the city and which schools go where is not remotely related to where the graduations are. Plus they are at multiple times throughout the day.

Oh so they are spread throughout the day and throughout the city? Even less impact then, especially in MD and VA. And those are all very accessible sites to Metro, and I am sure participants are being advised to use Metro. This is a big city, built to handle literally millions living and working here! I just don't understand why tomorrow will be different than say July 4 in terms of road closures, except many fewer people probably going to the actual events.

[Anonymous]

Can you ship some of the luggage?

[Anonymous]

I didn’t think Google takes temporary road closures into effect, does it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t think Google takes temporary road closures into effect, does it?

Dude pull up google maps right now. It shows all the current road closures, actively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go around the Beltway to the toll road (267) to 66. Then take Glebe Road through Arlington to the airport. It's a lot longer with lots of lights but none of these roads risk being closed down. I would give yourself an hour just to get there just to be safe and I'm normally a person who gets to the airport at the last minute.

I despise metro but it honestly may be the best option tomorrow.

This. Yes.

I hate GW Parkway during all of the construction and have been doing this anyway lately. It takes awhile, but it works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you have someone drop you off at the metro station? Then you're not lugging your stuff much farther than you would if you drove, since the DCA metro station puts you right there. I bet metro will be pretty quiet tomorrow, too.

It has been my experience that Metro is tolerable on the way into town when big events are happening and fine during the event (until people start to leave).

Same. And metro is generally faster to DCA anyway (save if someone has mobility issues or is wrangling several little kids). No need to park. Just get off and go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I’m traveling for the summer at my in laws house - that’s why I have multiple bags. I will recruit my husband to help me but I can’t take less bags.

It’s fewer bags, not less bags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take your luggage on the Metro.

This. Or come down to Arlington Friday at some point (which will also be a sh*tty drive, but less time pressure) and spend the night in a hotel. Then take a cab/uber tomorrow.

Shocked that some of you claim to live in an urban area. You sound like you’re posting from SW Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you have someone drop you off at the metro station? Then you're not lugging your stuff much farther than you would if you drove, since the DCA metro station puts you right there. I bet metro will be pretty quiet tomorrow, too.

It has been my experience that Metro is tolerable on the way into town when big events are happening and fine during the event (until people start to leave).

Yes, and the stuff tomorrow is spread out throughout the day (other than the parade), and most importantly, relatively few people from the region will be going, as compared to say July 4 events on the Mall. Sure there will be some people from outside the region going, but not 100k+.

Remember, also that DC‘s biggest high schools also have graduation that day and they are all having to reroute to get to the venues. There’s more going on in DC than just the dumb fiasco.

You are talking about maybe max 5k people associated with graduation, in a region of 6 million, when something like 400-500k come into DC on busy weekdays to work. A couple of streets around a school would get busy, simply too small to have a regional impact.

Its not one graduation its many, so definitely more than 5k and they are not held at the schools. They are held at care first, lisner and UDC, so spread all around the city and which schools go where is not remotely related to where the graduations are. Plus they are at multiple times throughout the day.

Oh so they are spread throughout the day and throughout the city? Even less impact then, especially in MD and VA. And those are all very accessible sites to Metro, and I am sure participants are being advised to use Metro. This is a big city, built to handle literally millions living and working here! I just don't understand why tomorrow will be different than say July 4 in terms of road closures, except many fewer people probably going to the actual events.

Because of, in addition to the planned road closures and people coming in for planned events, like the parade and graduations, there are significant protests that are going to take place, along with them come potential unplanned road closures and unanticipated delays.

I think the people suggesting getting to the airport at 10 am for a 2:30 flight, or getting an airport hotel the night before, are nuts. But I think your cavalier attitude is equally misplaced. There's a fair amount of uncertainty, it is not business as usual, and it's silly to pretend it is. It may be a tempest in a teapot, but maybe not.

OP, In your shoes, I'd take the metro, and if you can't carry your luggage yourself have your husband (or someone else) take it down to DCA with you to help you transport it to the checked baggage line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you have someone drop you off at the metro station? Then you're not lugging your stuff much farther than you would if you drove, since the DCA metro station puts you right there. I bet metro will be pretty quiet tomorrow, too.

It has been my experience that Metro is tolerable on the way into town when big events are happening and fine during the event (until people start to leave).

Yes, and the stuff tomorrow is spread out throughout the day (other than the parade), and most importantly, relatively few people from the region will be going, as compared to say July 4 events on the Mall. Sure there will be some people from outside the region going, but not 100k+.

Remember, also that DC‘s biggest high schools also have graduation that day and they are all having to reroute to get to the venues. There’s more going on in DC than just the dumb fiasco.

You are talking about maybe max 5k people associated with graduation, in a region of 6 million, when something like 400-500k come into DC on busy weekdays to work. A couple of streets around a school would get busy, simply too small to have a regional impact.

Its not one graduation its many, so definitely more than 5k and they are not held at the schools. They are held at care first, lisner and UDC, so spread all around the city and which schools go where is not remotely related to where the graduations are. Plus they are at multiple times throughout the day.

Oh so they are spread throughout the day and throughout the city? Even less impact then, especially in MD and VA. And those are all very accessible sites to Metro, and I am sure participants are being advised to use Metro. This is a big city, built to handle literally millions living and working here! I just don't understand why tomorrow will be different than say July 4 in terms of road closures, except many fewer people probably going to the actual events.

Because of, in addition to the planned road closures and people coming in for planned events, like the parade and graduations, there are significant protests that are going to take place, along with them come potential unplanned road closures and unanticipated delays.

I think the people suggesting getting to the airport at 10 am for a 2:30 flight, or getting an airport hotel the night before, are nuts. But I think your cavalier attitude is equally misplaced. There's a fair amount of uncertainty, it is not business as usual, and it's silly to pretend it is. It may be a tempest in a teapot, but maybe not.

OP, In your shoes, I'd take the metro, and if you can't carry your luggage yourself have your husband (or someone else) take it down to DCA with you to help you transport it to the checked baggage line.

Where are the protests going to take place? The No Kings organizers have specifically said they will not sponsor or support protests in DC tomorrow.

https://www.nokings.org/district

I do agree that Metro is the best option- even with 2 suitcases that's what I would do. With 3 I could see it being tough to manage.

[Anonymous]

Go tonight and spend the night at a hotel near the airport.