Baltimore to DC
 

Does anyone have any experience on getting from BWI to the Washington Mall? I am looking for a quick way in to DC on a Saturday morning. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Oh, and Using the Metro is fine if that helps.

I rode the Metro in the mid-90's from a suburb of Baltmore directly into the mall area, and it was no problem. I have no idea if it runs from BWI though. Sorry. I would plan on at least an hour ride if I remember correctly.

Be advised of panhandlers immediately finding you at the top of the stairs when you get into the mall area. Not a big deal but gets annoying after 3 days of it.

It's too long ago since I lived there, but I used to use the BW Parkway/MD 295 and follow it to the Whitney Young Bridge. Just keep going and you'll get to the mall area.

We also used to do a maneuver at the Pennsylvania Ave Bridge, so we could jump onto I-395. You exit Pennsylvania Ave, but then you do a U-Turn and cross the bridge. From I-395, 7th puts you right in the middle of the mall.

The return is easier, since you can go toward Baltimore after crossing the Pennsylvania bridge.

I used to live just off I-395 at Duke and our office was in Laurel, MD. I hardly ever went there, since I lived at a PEPCO site.

Take the AMTRAK from BWI to Washington DC, Union Station. The NE Regional Service leaves BWI towards DC every half hour, IIRC.

Amtrak - Stations - BWI Airport, MD - BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

When you arrive at Union Station, go to where the Metro rail platform is and take the Red Line towards Shady Grove. Get off at Metro Center and go to the Orange/Blue Line platform heading in the direction of New Carrollton (Orange) or Largo Town Center (Blue). Take either Orange or Blue line train and get off at the Smithsonian exit. That's it. When you travel on the Metro, you need to use a fare card. You can purchase one with various $ amounts at any of the Metro rail stations.

Ok, please forgive the ignorance but WTF is BWI?

edit: Never mind, googled it. Baltimore Washington International airport.

No

On a Saturday, if you are getting a car, the whole thing is a no brainer. If not, Jim's advice is sanitary.

You will, however, need to get the f out of town Sunday unless you want to rent an apartment. The traffic here is stupid.

that

An alternative to the whole Metro rail thing is just grab a taxi from Union Station to the Washington Mall. It's not far at all.

Metro-

Take the B30 bus to Greenbelt Station- Greenblet is serviced by the Greenline. Greenline goes to L'Enfant Plaza about a block from the Mall. At L'Enfant you can transfer to the Blue or Orange lines that travel along the National Mall.

I enjoyed walking from the Navy Memorial (Greenline Stop) to the Mall myself.

Metro maps here: Metro - Home page

I would just cab it.

Or, when are you coming in? I'm ~15 min from bwi.

If coming into union station, and like to walk, just walk over to the capital and down on the mall. Its about 1mi from the capital to the washington monument (and all the museums are inbetween those two), another .5 miles from monument to Lincoln memorial.