Washington DC

[Sharon_and_Larr]

Good morning all,
I m going to go up to DC the end of July in my rv and I will not be taking my car. I would like to know if I can get around with no trouble at the mall in my 23 ft class c and find parking so the other half and my dog can walk and see the sights. Also anyone know of a good pet friendly campground close.

[wgander]

We didn't have a motor home when we toured DC, but we parked the car and bought tickets for a tour bus. You could get off to tour sites/buildings, get another bus to ride to the next stop. It wasn't expensive and it was very convenient.

[Rangerider]

Here is quote from Metro Questions and Answers:

Can I bring my dog on Metrorail and Metrobus?

Service animals that assist people with disabilities are the only animals permitted to ride unconfined on Metrorail and Metrobus. However, a pet may be transported on Metrorail and Metrobus, provided it is carried aboard in a secure container from which it cannot escape.

You can Google WMATA for more info on the DC Metro.

[jeff92804]

Sharon and Larry wrote:
I do like all the response thank you. But I m confused are pets aloud on the metro and in the mall area. I will not leave my dog in a closed rv.

Why not? Don't you leave your dog in your house when you leave for the day?

[Sharon_and_Larr]

I do like all the response thank you. But I m confused are pets aloud on the metro and in the mall area. I will not leave my dog in a closed rv.

[DaCrema]

Agree with the others about Cherry Hill park. I agree with the others that you do not want to drive downtown. The parking garages are mostly to low and to tight for a RV. I live in the near by suburbs, and before retiring drove downtown to work. There are not many parts of the country that have worse traffic or that have roads as congested.

If you're determined to take your RV into town you might be able to find parking along either the National Mall (access to several Smithsonian Museums) or along Ohio Dr (near the river with access to several monuments) but the area fills fast. Check before you drive because some of the areas are closed to parking for special events (4th of July, National Folk Life Festival for example). I would suggest first visiting via metro and taking the RV the next day. I say this, but still stress you do not want to face DC traffic in an RV.
You need to get there about a half hour before parking opens and be prepared to move a ways when parking enforcement comes by. The parking enforcement is to protect the spaces for the tourist from the people who work near by. Parking opens after rush hour but I have not been down there for a while to see the posted times. (Before retiring I was one of the people that worked near by the mall). The mall and the area along Ohio drive are very nice places to walk a dog, many locals visit the area just for that.

Dog care. Washington DC gets very hot in the summer. In the later part of July and most of August it is not at all unusual to see temps with three digits along with the high humidity. Be careful leaving your dog in any inclosed area. You likely know about inclosed spaces but may not be aware of the summer heat in the DC area. We bought our RV to take our dogs places too. I figure you love your as much a I love mine.

[bgum]

Metro and tour buses only. You won't have a parking place if you drive.

[petersr58]

X3 Just came home and will go back when the weather cools

[mda]

Absolutely agree with staying at Cherry Hill. Take the bus and the metro. Forget about driving in DC.
Stayed for five days in May and can say that the the RV park is one of the best. Nice amenities, nice people.

[Jim_Shoe]

You do NOT want to drive anything in Washington DC if you intend to maintain your sanity. Not even a bicycle. Stay at Cherry Hill Park just north of the outer loop (I-495). They have a shuttle to the subway station.
The subway is clean, safe and fast and stops everywhere in DC.
BTW, pets are welcome and they have a dog walking service. (The park, not the subway).

[Bumpyroad]

I hated driving my Yugo into DC. 🙂
bumpy

[dahkota]

You are better off taking metro down rather than driving your class c. It can be done, but it isn't easy. If you really feel you need to, your best bet is to arrive before 9AM and do it on a Saturday or Sunday. Parking rules are quirky and strict. There are locations that you can park for more than two hours but they are very hard to find without local knowledge. You might also look for a surface lot rather than a garage, but it will be a long walk to the mall from the closest ones. If your dog is not a service dog, it cannot go inside the buildings so visiting early in the morning, around 7AM, is best. The heat and humidity are both low and the area is much less crowded. If the dog is a service dog, I suggest taking the metro down so you don't have to worry about parking.

Best of luck and enjoy your trip!