Trip to DC

[Rayax23]

I'm planning a trip to DC from North East Ohio and wasn't sure what the grades on the turnpike and stuff are. Just wanna be prepared before I set out etc.. Thanks!

[clr]

Interstate 68 has some good grades but nothing very severe. The 80/90 interstate 67 path has less grades but there are tolls. Tolls pulling a camper are rather steep in my opinion.

[aeblank]

Not helpful, but parking in DC sucks. My Sierra hd is apparently 1-2" less than the 6'4" parking garage we were able to find. Holy frack it was close. Drove in with most of my body out the window, watching the clearance bar.

[Black-ripley]

Do not drive in DC, find a spot near the metro and use the subway! The roads in DC are tricky on a good day with one-ways, and roundabouts. It is easy to all sudden find yourself in the wrong place.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by Black-ripley

Do not drive in DC, find a spot near the metro and use the subway! The roads in DC are tricky on a good day with one-ways, and roundabouts. It is easy to all sudden find yourself in the wrong place.

The key to easier navigation for a newcomer to DC is to avoid using any road with a State name. Also, using a GPS — especially WAZE — in DC is a big help. A GPS that uses satellites works well because there are no really tall buildings to block satellite signals like there are in most other big cities. Any cell phone-type GPS will work well, also, because there’s not a carrier I know of that doesn’t cover all of DC.

I have been driving in DC for forty years, so I know the streets like the back of my hand, but it is still easy to get into a jam where I have to make last-minute changes that add thirty minutes onto a trip that would otherwise take a total of only five minutes. Last-minute road closures are common the closer you get to the area of the White House, the Mall and the Capitol due to police and Secret Service caravans escorting important people through there, but they are usually not long-lived and it is best to wait it out and stick with your planned route.

Bruce

[Rayax23]

Thanks for the help guys. I'm planning on camping outside of DC and using the metro etc.. Mostly trying to get info on steepness of hills etc.. Most of my travels are on flat to long uphill/down hill slopes etc..

[BillbeeRx]

Headed to DC also... any RV Resorts near metro or near capitol hill worth visiting? 35ft forest river Trailer here.. Thanks!!

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by BillbeeRx

Headed to DC also... any RV Resorts near metro or near capitol hill worth visiting? 35ft forest river Trailer here.. Thanks!!

See if this helps:
https://learntorv.com/washington-dc-...ound-round-up/

[DaGrinch]

Originally Posted by clr

Interstate 68 has some good grades but nothing very severe. The 80/90 interstate 67 path has less grades but there are tolls. Tolls pulling a camper are rather steep in my opinion.

I live off I-68 and I can atest to some decent grades, but nothing my Sunseeker pulling my toad can't handle at 55mph.

[F.R.O.G.]

Originally Posted by BillbeeRx

Headed to DC also... any RV Resorts near metro or near capitol hill worth visiting? 35ft forest river Trailer here.. Thanks!!

I highly recommend Cherry Hill Park in College Park, MD. It's only a few minutes drive from one Metro stop, or there's a bus that will pick you up right by the park office and take you to the Metro (although it takes longer by going through College Park and to the University of MD).

We've held two FROG rallies there during the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC, and they could not have treated us better.

[Rayax23]

Thanks!

[david_reaves]

Originally Posted by F.R.O.G.

I highly recommend Cherry Hill Park in College Park, MD. It's only a few minutes drive from one Metro stop, or there's a bus that will pick you up right by the park office and take you to the Metro (although it takes longer by going through College Park and to the University of MD).

I second this recommendation. We were at Cherry Hill for a few days in June. Wasn't nearly long enough to see the DC area. We drove and parked in the garage at the Metro station. It is a short drive, and parking is cheaper than riding the bus if there are more than two people.

Cherry Hill has activities in the park for kids, including splash pad for the littles. The snack bar/grill is small, but serves excellent burgers. The restrooms and showers were well maintained, too.

My only caution would be the time of day you drive into town. We came from I-81 in Virginia. We were forced by circumstance to arrive in the evening (after a flat) and spent at least two hours navigating the final 10 or so miles of I-66 and then the Beltway (I-495). If we'd arrived in early afternoon as we'd planned, the same distance should have been less than 30 minutes.