Washington Dulles Airport Car Rental

Popular routes from Washington Dulles International Airport

• I-66. After collecting your rental car, head west from the Dulles Airport and join I-66. To get to downtown Washington DC, follow signs for VA-28 and keep right to merge onto VA-267E. Continue onto 1-66E and take the exit to East Street. From here, take 18^th Street NW to L Street NW. The journey should take around 30 minutes.
• I-495. Find this route if you’re heading to Maryland. Starting from Aviator Drive, get on the VA-267E in Hunter Mill and continue towards Washington DC. Join I-495N and US-50 to Bowie, before taking exit 13A-13B-13C and joining MD-3N. From here you should be able to find your specific address in Maryland. In total, your journey should take around one hour from Dulles Airport.
• VA-267. Dulles Airport is a good place to arrive if you’re visiting Virginia. Heading south to Arlington or Alexandria? Take VA-267E towards Washington DC. If you’re traveling further to Richmond, Norfolk, Chesapeake or Virginia Beach, take I-95S all the way south.

Do I have to pay tolls to and from Washington Dulles International Airport?

On your journey into Washington DC, you may be charged on the Dulles Toll Road. The amount you’ll pay is based on the number of axles on your vehicle. However, when driving to Dulles Airport, take the Dulles Airport Access Road (it should be clear from the ‘Airport Only’ signs) to avoid the toll road.

When is traffic busiest in Washington DC?

Rush hour in Washington DC runs from around 6am to 9.30am and 3.30pm to 6.30pm. Washington DC traffic is usually at its peak during these times. However, there’s generally less congestion on Mondays and Fridays compared with other days of the week.

Is parking free in Washington DC?

Most parking meters in Washington DC operate between 7am and 6.30pm Monday through Saturday. Outside of these times, you may be able to park for free in most areas. There’s also limited free all-day parking along Ohio Drive and in Lots A, B and C (DC 20024) just south of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

Top 5 things to do in Washington DC

1. The Washington Monument

Built to honor George Washington, the first president of the United States, the Washington Monument dominates the city skyline. Located on the National Mall, America’s most famous landscaped lawn, the monument attracts millions of visitors every year.

2. The White House

The country’s most iconic address, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is where the sitting president lives. Tours are scheduled on a first come, first served basis – so make sure you book a few weeks in advance if you want to set foot in the rooms, halls and corridors of power.

3. Smithsonian American Art Museum

Home to one of the world’s largest collections of American art, the Smithsonian brings you close to seminal works by John Singleton Copley, Winslow Homer and Georgia O’Keeffe. Impressionist paintings sit beside contemporary masterpieces, with artworks to really make you think.

4. National Air and Space Museum

The National Air and Space Museum is where you’ll find aircraft, spacecraft and rockets which emphasize the scale of American ambition and courage over the past 150 years. The 1903 Wright Flyer is a particular highlight.

5. Georgetown and Dupont Circle

Chic shops, canal trails and the finest Victorian apartments are three good reasons to visit Georgetown – for many, the quintessential Washington DC neighborhood. Cross into Dupont Circle (the next neighborhood along) for eclectic bistros, bars and boutiques.

Best places to eat in Washington DC

1. For Italian food. Acqua Al 2 serves up hearty classics in a rustic setting at the Eastern Market, while The Red Hen, in Bloomingdale, will satisfy any palate with its fried cauliflower and mezze rigatoni.
2. For steak. Feast on a juicy T-bone or tomahawk ribeye at Randy’s Prime Seafood & Steaks – well worth the trip out to Vienna. Bourbon Steak is one of the finest spots in town. Located on Pennsylvania Avenue, it rounds off a day at the National Mall nicely.
3. For families. Silver Diner has multiple locations across the city where your little ones can feast without glares from other diners. Free ping pong tables make Comet Ping Pong a popular children’s birthday party spot on Connecticut Avenue.
4. For Asian food. South East Asian food is a specialty in Washington DC. Book a table at Bad Saint for Filipino, Daikaya for Japanese or Little Serow for Thai. Much of the area’s Vietnamese community is based around Falls Church in Virginia – so if dishes such as pho, banh mi and bun cha whet your appetite, you know where to go.
5. For Mexican food. Washington has several fine Mexican establishments – many of them cropping up in the past few years, such as Cortez on 9^th Street NW, Mi Vida on District Square SW and Taqueria Habanero on Baltimore Avenue.

Road trips from Washington DC

Washington DC to Elkton

With rolling green hills, tall trees and roaming elk, the flora and fauna around Elkton, Maryland, is second to none. Take a detour to Elk Neck State Forest and enjoy a stroll around the deep blue lakes while admiring the pink sunset – this is a place of true outdoor adventure.

Washington DC to Great Falls

Whether you’re birdwatching or whitewater rafting, Great Falls, Virginia, has outdoor activities for all ages, interests and energy levels. The pleasantly winding drive from Washington DC is aspirational as much as inspirational – you’ll pass huge mansions, the Mount Vernon Trail and the Potomac River along the way.

Washington DC to Glen Echo Park

This retro amusement park has kept families entertained since 1891. Boasting puppet shows, arts and crafts exhibits and workshops, Glen Echo Park continues to draw big crowds every day.

Washington DC to Saint Michaels, Maryland

Once a key trading post, Saint Michaels bristles with late Federal and Victorian homes. Take a walk around the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and chow down on crab at the harborside.

Washington DC to Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland