Any DC / NOVa people that can give some advice?

[TruePaige]

Hey all, I'm going to a show in may at a place called DCNine. The address is:
1940 9th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001

It appears to only be about 3 miles off the interstate, but I haven't been to DC in a while, and don't really know where this is at.

I'll be riding on 66-East until I get off the interstate.

Is that area of town busy? Is traffic going to really bad there at 7:00~8:00-ish?

Any tips?

Thanks!

 

[biggestmuff]

Why not take the metro? That place is very close to the 930 Club. I've been there several times and only drove once because I took a guitar (Ibanez JPM100P2) to be signed (John Petrucci).

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: biggestmuff
Why not take the metro? That place is very close to the 930 Club. I've been there several times and only drove once because I took a guitar (Ibanez JPM100P2) to be signed (John Petrucci).

Well I haven't ever drove in DC, but I also haven't taken the Metro before, doesn't seem like the best time to be learning it. =)

We're driving up from VA, and it's about 2:30 hours if traffic permits, so we have to take the car with us anyway and were just going to drive in.

I'd love to go all public transit, but I'm not going to do both really. =)

I'd like to hear any parking tips / traffic warnings, or what not you might have on that part of town though!

 

[deftron]

Unless youre familiar with driving downtown, I'd take the Metro.

DC is probably one of the most confusing cities to drive in.
The layout is pretty crazy.



You'll proably be ok, however, if you get directions and a map off the web or you have GPS


Traffic shouldn't be too bad after 700



BTW... if you're driving "up" from VA, dont you mean taking 395 into the city (from 95) ?

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: deftron
Unless youre familiar with driving downtown, I'd take the Metro.

DC is probably one of the most confusing cities to drive in.
The layout is pretty crazy.



You'll proably be ok, however, if you get directions and a map off the web or you have GPS


Traffic shouldn't be too bad after 700



BTW... if you're driving "up" from VA, dont you mean taking 395 into the city (from 95) ?

It would be convenient to be able to take the metro but I'd have to find a good place to park and ride and then figure out what routes to take to get there, and then figure it out from hoof to club..hmm..

I do have a GPS, so hopefully that should help.

I-81 to I-66 then getting into the city is what the map says.

 

[dbk]

i-81 to i-66 to vienna metro
take it into the city

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: deftron
Unless youre familiar with driving downtown, I'd take the Metro.

And if you are familiar with driving downtown, we dont need to tell you to take the Metro.

Seriously, I dont drive there EVER!
Take 66 to the Vienna/Fairfax metro station, park car in garage, and hop on.
Make sure you have a SmartTrip card when you come back so you can leave the garage.

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: shortylickens

Originally posted by: deftron
Unless youre familiar with driving downtown, I'd take the Metro.

And if you are familiar with driving downtown, we dont need to tell you to take the Metro.

Seriously, I dont drive there EVER!
Take 66 to the Vienna/Fairfax metro station, park car in garage, and hop on.
Make sure you have a SmartTrip card when you come back so you can leave the garage.

Questions! Why do I need a SmartTrip card to get out of the garage?

Is the metro exact change only?

It looks like U Street is right down the block a very short distance from where I want to go...hmm.

When it asks me to pick a destination on the trip planner though it lists:

U Street
U Street M
U Street Metro Station
U Street-Cardozo Metro

What's that all about?

You guys seem to think the metro is the easiest route so I'm curious.

 

[shortylickens]

There is no cash.
There is no change.
There is no bus driver.
There is no toll booth dude.

You use an electronic card for everything.
You will need to pickup a map or print one out from home (ideally in color) to effectively use the Metro.
There are also maps scattered around each of the stations and on the cars themselves.

 

[kg4icg]

take 66 east to constitution Ave, make a left turn on 7th st, follow it all the way up to U ST and make a left. It is north of the DC Convention Ctr. And if you decide to ride on the Metro, you can get on from the Vienna station which does have parking. 9th ST below New York Ave is one way southbound so you'll have to use 7th to go north.In DC all streets run in alphabetical and numerical order with the capitol being the demarkation for the NE,NW,SE,SW boundaries. streets running north to south are numerical, east to west are alphabetical and names, diagonal running streets are named after states. Truck Driver for the last 23 years and have driven 75 foot Lowboys thru DC delivering equipment. If I can do it with big rigs, then someone else can do it in a car.

 

[bucwylde23]

Metro is def your best bet. When I have to go to DC i take the metro from vienna and it couldn't be any easier.
You just stop by a vending machine just before the gates to the train that let you buy a pass.

IF you go to the metro website, you can plan a trip and it will tell you which stops to take.

http://www.wmata.com/

 

[randomlinh]

I only see U Street when I use the planner. regardless, they're all the same station. It's now officially U Street/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo I think, heh.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: kg4icg
take 66 east to constitution Ave, make a left turn on 7th st, follow it all the way up to U ST and make a left. It is north of the DC Convention Ctr. And if you decide to ride on the Metro, you can get on from the Vienna station which does have parking. 9th ST below New York Ave is one way southbound so you'll have to use 7th to go north.In DC all streets run in alphabetical and numerical order with the capitol being the demarkation for the NE,NW,SE,SW boundaries. streets running north to south are numerical, east to west are alphabetical and names, diagonal running streets are named after states. Truck Driver for the last 23 years and have driven 75 foot Lowboys thru DC delivering equipment. If I can do it with big rigs, then someone else can do it in a car.

heh, but that's your job, you could probably do it blindfolded. for visitors... it's daunting. and there are a lot of visitors, haha

 

[bucwylde23]

Oh and if you do take the metro definitely make sure you have the smart trip card when you leave the garage! My first time I had to back up from the exit and go back inside to put more money on my card to be able to leave.

I could drive DC in my car easily, but normally the places I go are hard to park at and it's just easier to not have to worry about your car.

 

[zzuupp]

Metro because:
Parking is either non-existent or expensive downtown.

If you've never driven near downtown DC before, there are lots of one-way streets.
It always seems that I've had to drive past wherever & loop back.

U Street
U Street M
U Street Metro Station
U Street-Cardozo Metro

Those are just different ways to name the same station

 

[Linflas]

Have a look here:

Metro Ride Guide

Metro Parking

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: Linflas
Have a look here:

Metro Ride Guide

Metro Parking

And I would also urge you to consider Metro. DC parking laws and signage are designed to produce maximum revenue for the city, not to be in any way helpful to residents or tourists.

Sorry for double post, hit quote instead of edit

 

[vudood]

i dont think driving into dc is going to be as bad as everyone says, especially at around 8pm. traffic won't be that bad and u can park at the metered parking for free after like 7 i think. just be sure to read the signs.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: vudood
i dont think driving into dc is going to be as bad as everyone says, especially at around 8pm. traffic won't be that bad and u can park at the metered parking for free after like 7 i think. just be sure to read the signs.

Yep just read the signs

 

[vudood]

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: vudood
i dont think driving into dc is going to be as bad as everyone says, especially at around 8pm. traffic won't be that bad and u can park at the metered parking for free after like 7 i think. just be sure to read the signs.

Yep just read the signs

what's so confusing about that sign? seems pretty clear to me....

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: vudood

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: vudood
i dont think driving into dc is going to be as bad as everyone says, especially at around 8pm. traffic won't be that bad and u can park at the metered parking for free after like 7 i think. just be sure to read the signs.

Yep just read the signs

what's so confusing about that sign? seems pretty clear to me....

No standing or parking anytime followed by a range of times for no standing and no parking followed by a range of times parking and standing is permitted is clear to you? Are you a politician?

 

[vudood]

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: vudood

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: vudood
i dont think driving into dc is going to be as bad as everyone says, especially at around 8pm. traffic won't be that bad and u can park at the metered parking for free after like 7 i think. just be sure to read the signs.

Yep just read the signs

what's so confusing about that sign? seems pretty clear to me....

No standing or parking anytime followed by a range of times for no standing and no parking followed by a range of times parking and standing is permitted is clear to you? Are you a politician?

do u not see the arrows? no standing or parking to the left at all times... no standing or parking or parking to the right from 4pm to 630pm... parking allowed for only 2 hrs to the right from 7am to 4pm... again what is so unclear???

 

[acheron]

Take the metro x1000.

 

[TruePaige]

Okay guys..I think I'll take the metro, because it just sounds less stressful and I want to have a fun time. =)

So...a few more questions.

Where exactly (like a google map or something address) is this U Street Station going to spit me out? I want to know where to walk to when I get out, because this place is right at the intersection of U Street and 9th St...so if I can figure that out this will be easy.

Also is parking expensive at the metro station or free?

Thanks for all your help, AT!

 

[bucwylde23]

It's not free, I can't remember exactly but it's at least 5 bucks i think..