National Mall Transportation Tips

The National Mall in Washington D.C. is bigger and more spread out than many first-time visitors expect.

While seeing the sights usually means a lot of walking, you may want to switch it up at some point. Here are a few other transportation options.

Car

Traffic often gets very congested as you get close to the Mall. However, it can be an even bigger challenge to find parking once you get there.

Sights around the Mall tend not to have designated parking.
You may be able to find street parking, but it’s tricky.
There are several parking garages in the area with varying rates.

Car + Metro

To avoid the traffic, leave your car at your hotel and take the Metro in.
You can also park in Metro lots for about $5/day and pay with your SmarTrip Card.
Metro lots are free on weekends and federal holidays!

If you’re still in the trip planning stage, be aware that many of the hotels closer to the Mall charge guests for parking.

Metrorail

Washington D.C.’s Metro (subway/underground) system is a really convenient way to get to and from the National Mall.

Get a SmarTrip Card (used for paying fares) at Metro station fare machines or order online ahead of time.
Fare: $2-6, depending on time of day and how far you’re traveling.
All six of D.C.’s Metro lines have stops on or near the Mall. (PDF map and info.)
More information for new riders.

Bus

DC Circulator

The National Mall route goes from the Lincoln Memorial to Union Station, then around the other side of the Mall and Tidal Basin, back to the Lincoln Memorial.
Route maps are available online, as a printable PDF, or via mail. There’s also an interactive map for finding the stop closest to you.
Frequency: Every 10 minutes from 7am to 8pm (9am start time on weekends).
Fare: $1 per ride. Pay with cash or a SmarTrip Card.
Order in advance for a 1-day pass ($3) or 3-day pass ($7).
Not a guided tour, just a (cheap) transportation option – although it might be a good way to get at least a visual overview of the Mall.

Big Bus Tours

Commentary via recording or live tour guide.
3 different hop-on/hop-off routes available.
Tickets: $39-49 for 1 day.
Wifi on board.
Sightseeing bus recommended by Destination DC.

Bicycle

There are bike racks throughout the Mall to lock up your bike while you visit a museum, monument, or gallery.

Rental

You can rent a bike for short rides via Capital Bikeshare.

Day passes are $8.
The station map shows real-time bike availability.

Have you been to D.C.? How did you get around?

– Resources for Finding Your Way in D.C. –

December 1, 2016May 23, 2023

National Christmas tree

The U.S. National Christmas Tree in Washington D.C. isn’t seasonal. The decorations are. But the tree itself is a living thing, planted in the President’s Park, permanent enough to be a dot on National Mall maps.

It’s located in the middle of the Ellipse (a big lawn south of the White House), surrounded by the “Pathway of Peace.” During the holiday season, it’s lit up like….well, you know…with model trains and miniature buildings at its base and 57 smaller trees decorated for each U.S. state and territory (plus the District of Columbia) with handmade ornaments from schoolchildren and artists.

– Visiting The National Christmas Tree –

The National Christmas Tree lights are on nightly from approximately 4:30-10pm during the month of December.
The Pathway of Peace is open 10am-10pm.
30-minute music and dance performances take place on a nearby stage for 2 weeks in December.
It’s free to see the tree and watch performances.
There’s an annual lighting ceremony and concert. Watch the 2015 lighting online. (The 2016 ceremony will be televised later this week.)
The National Tree has a Twitter account. It loves Christmas, music, and, apparently, Gilmore Girls.

Getting There

Transit: The closest stops are the same ones you’d use for the White House – either Federal Triangle (blue, orange, and silver lines) or Metro Center (red, blue, orange, and silver lines).
Parking: There’s a parking garage at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Rates vary but plan for about $10/hour weekdays, $15 for weekday evenings or all day on weekends and holidays. Access via 13½ Street (off Pennsylvania Avenue) or 14th Street. Open to the public but visitors and vehicles are screened upon entry.
Street parking is limited.
We ended up walking from our hotel.

June 23, 2016December 4, 2021

Would you sleep in a lookout tower?

Wildflowers at McCart Lookout, Bitterroot National Forest, Montana.

I was looking for National Park campground information online when I came across this:

“Bunk in a Fire Lookout Tower – These are mostly historic fire lookouts once used by wildland firefighters, like 55-foot tall Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout located at 10,000 feet.”

I’ve seen these towers in the distance, perched over Arizona forests, and thought how awesome it would be to see the view from there. I had no idea it was a possibility (without years of training and a Forest Service job) until I read that. I also hadn’t thought about them no longer being in use.

I guess nowadays fires just send a text-?

The catch:

“Most offer panoramic views of mountains, forests and wildlife but may not offer electricity, running water, or road access.”

You may have to pack in all your food, water, and gear. You may also have to climb down a ladder to use the bathroom.

Inconvenient, but still, I’d stay in one for a night.

How about you?

—

How to find fire towers you can stay in on recreation.gov:

Type “camp” in the search box.
Under category, choose “campgrounds.”
Under looking for, choose “lookouts.”

—

Images via recreation.gov (except #2).

Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout, Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming.
Via iOS7 Text generator.
Bald Butte Lookout, Fremont-Winema National Forest, Oregon. “The lookout was built in 1931 and served as a Forest Service fire detection site for over 50 years. It was constructed from an Aladdin L4 ground-mounted lookout kit in which all of the pieces were pre-cut in six-foot lengths or less so the entire kit could be packed by horses into the remote site.”
(+ top/featured image) McCart Lookout, Bitterroot National Forest, Montana. “It has been restored to reflect a lookout of the 1940s, including the stove, furniture, dishes and other small touches.”
Screenshot.

April 18, 2016May 23, 2023

March Photo: Blossoms

I took this photo of a tree covered in white blossoms against a brilliant blue sky during our recent camping trip at Chiricahua National Monument.

It was outside the old Faraway Ranch house. I’m not sure what kind of tree it is, but the bees sure loved it! The blossoms make me so happy that I’ve made this the wallpaper for my phone’s lock screen.

—

January 19, 2016May 23, 2023

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Yesterday was a free entrance day for US National Parks, and there are several more scheduled this year.

One of the first fee-free days we took advantage of fell on the same day as our nieces’ dance recital a few years ago. We searched “find a park” and saw that there was one – not exactly on the way – but in the right general direction.

Even though it’s just an hour south of Phoenix, I had never been to Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Coolidge (not, incidentally, in the town of Casa Grande). Phillip hadn’t been since he was a kid, so we planned a pre-recital detour.

The “big house” it’s named for is a centuries-old adobe structure that’s still standing, now covered by a large metal roof constructed in 1932 to help protect it. Parts of walls from the surrounding complex remain, as well as an oval ball court.

It’s always fascinating to confront history like that and think about people living their lives within those same walls 600 years ago.

And then we went to watch our nieces dance their hearts out.

—