Inauguration! Anyone going? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**NitemareHippieGirl** · 01-11-2009, 11:06 AM

Is anyone going to the inauguration? My friends and I are planning our trip today and it's going to be nuts!

We're staying in Harrisonburg, Va and hopefully finding an early morning train into DC... haven't started working out the details yet, but hopefully we make it!

Anyone else going? What are you guys doing? How you gettin' there, where you going to hang out for the whole affair?

It's going to be insane! I can't even comprehend the number of people that are going to be there!

xanthuos · 01-11-2009, 11:51 AM

"Hopefully" finding a morning train?
Are you talking DC Metro or Amtrak? If Amtrak, book NOW.
The inauguration is going to overload ALL forms of transit. Once you're in DC, you'll probably be better off walking EVERYWHERE rather than even attemping to use the Metro.

**NitemareHippieGirl** · 01-11-2009, 12:04 PM

yeah, I'm trying to find out where to park and get into the city from. Slim chances right now. Nothing out of the area we're staying in. Trying to find some place closer to the city to park and train/bus/something into DC from there. Probably be around 4 or 6am when we have to get in... Yikes. I'm looking at the Metro right now, but I'm not sure where stations are located...

Definitely walking once inside the city, I want to stay away from any bus or car if possible!!!

More googling and researching to do! We're all meeting tonight to discuss things, hopefully it'll all be settled and figured out and transportation tickets purchased if need be!

**pinknic38** · 01-11-2009, 12:33 PM

Lucky! Look online for a map of the DC metro to find the stations and lines. Of all the mass transits I've dealt with, I think DC is one of the easiest to navigate.

xanthuos · 01-11-2009, 01:22 PM

Your best bet is to attempt to take the Orange or Blue line into the city from the most outlying station. That would be Vienna-Fairfax-GMU on the Orange line or Franconia-Springfield on the Blue Line. Both lines have a stop at Federal Center SW which is probably one of the better stops to get off to get close to the Capitol. By getting on at the first station, you have a better chance of even getting on a train, though I can bet it will be ridiculously packed by the time you get into DC proper.

Here is a map of the DC Metro:
Metro - Rail - Maps - Rail/Google Map

Both the Blue Line & Orange Line begin running at 5:00 AM.

Good luck!

**NitemareHippieGirl** · 01-11-2009, 01:57 PM

Thanks guys, for the info!

Here's our latest plan. Get to Arlington at the crack of dawn, park in a garage... which I've already found online, can't rememeber what it's called. Walk into DC... Walk, walk, walk!!!!! Seems to be the best bet. And only a few miles across the bridge. The Memorial bridge is open only to bikes and foot traffic... AWESOME! If anyone has any other ideas let me know!