help with hotels or metro

Question

hi, I think I already asked but couldn't find my thread. Coming to DC with daughter Wed-Frid, going to Zoo & Museums for a short trip. I'm not a fan of driving in city so was thinking of staying in suburb and taking metro in. Planning on walking a lot. Is it best to stay near monuments downtown or outside of DC and take metro? Don't need nightlife but will like to park the car for the few days and rely on metro or foot til we leave. Would like to keep hotel under 250 if possible. I know we will have to pay for parking & would like to keep that under 50 if possible. Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Answer

Short answer: both options work — staying downtown near the National Mall is most convenient for walking to the museums and the Zoo-area metro stops, but parking there is often pricier. Staying in a suburb with a Metro station (Arlington/Rosslyn, Ballston, Bethesda, or Old Town Alexandria) will let you park the car and use the Metro easily — many suburban hotels offer free or lower-cost parking so you can keep that under \$50/day. Below I lay out the pros/cons, concrete neighborhood choices, how you’d use Metro to reach the Zoo and the museums, and practical tips to keep costs low.

Museums & Zoo — the useful Metro stops

The Smithsonian/National Mall museums: use Smithsonian station (served by Blue, Orange and Silver lines) — it drops you right on the Mall.
The National Zoo: use Woodley Park–Zoo/Adams Morgan (Red Line) — it’s the closest Metro stop for the Zoo and a short walk/bus from there.

Staying downtown / near the Mall — pros & cons

Pros: easiest walking access to many Smithsonian museums, short rides to other attractions, no transfers if you’re already on the Mall; good if you want to walk a lot with your daughter.

Cons: hotels that include parking in central DC are often expensive, and separately-purchased garage parking in downtown garages commonly runs \$20–\$30+ per day (and hotel valet rates frequently exceed that), so hitting your \$50 total parking budget is possible but not guaranteed — check each hotel’s parking policy carefully.

Staying outside DC & taking Metro in — pros & cons

Pros: quieter/suburban feel, many hotels in Arlington/Bethesda/Alexandria offer free or lower-cost parking (so you can often keep parking under \$50 for your whole stay), usually easier hotel parking in the suburbs, and a simple Metro ride into the Mall or a short transfer to get to the Zoo.

Cons: you’ll need to time Metro trips and transfers (but for Zoo + Mall it’s straightforward) and you’ll spend a little time each day on the train instead of walking everywhere.

Neighborhoods I recommend (safe, family-friendly, good Metro access, and realistic chances of parking ≤ \$50/day)

Rosslyn / Courthouse / Ballston (Arlington, VA) — 1–2 stops across the river on Blue/Orange/Silver (Rosslyn) or Orange (Ballston). Lots of hotel choices, several properties with free or low-cost parking, quick Metro ride to Smithsonian station (Blue/Orange/Silver). Good balance of quiet and easy access.
Crystal City / National Landing (Arlington) — easy access to the Yellow and Blue lines and close to Reagan National Airport; some hotels include parking or offer it at modest daily fees. Good if you want very short drives to/from the airport.
Old Town Alexandria — charming, safe, family-friendly, and a short drive to the Yellow/Blue lines at King Street–Old Town station; the city also runs inexpensive public garages and lots (many as low as \$5–\$10/day in public lots), so parking costs can be very reasonable. You can take Metro into the Mall or transfer lines as needed.
Bethesda (MD) — on the Red Line (direct to Woodley Park for the Zoo via a short ride), safe and walkable downtown with family-friendly restaurants; many hotels in the suburbs offer cheaper or free parking than downtown DC hotels. Good if Zoo is a priority.
Downtown / Penn Quarter / near the Mall — if you prefer to walk to the museums every day and not take the Metro, this is the most convenient spot. Expect somewhat higher hotel rates and parking fees — still possible to find hotels under \$250/night off-season or with deals, but verify parking cost separately.

How long / what to expect on Metro (typical)

Rosslyn → Smithsonian station: usually a few minutes on the Blue/Orange/Silver lines (1–2 stops) — very quick.
Bethesda (Red Line) → Woodley Park/ Zoo: a short Red Line ride (one or two stops depending on origin) to reach the Zoo stop.

Budget tips to keep hotel < \$250 and parking < \$50

Search suburban hotels (Rosslyn, Ballston, Crystal City, Old Town, Bethesda) and filter for “free parking” or “self-parking” — many chain hotels in Arlington advertise free or low-cost parking.
If you want to stay inside DC, look for hotels that partner with nearby garages that show daily rates (some will be \$20–30/day) — factor that into your \$250 target.
Book a hotel with in/out parking privileges so you can use the car without paying additional event fees; ask about in/out and overnight rates when you reserve. (Hotel parking policies vary widely — always confirm the daily rate.)
Consider parking in a suburban hotel and buying a SmarTrip card or using mobile pay for Metro fares — it’s easy and saves the hassle of driving in the city each day. (WMATA accepts SmarTrip; mobile options available.)
Check Alexandria public garages if you pick Old Town — the city-run garages often have the cheapest public daily rates.

Practical day-of tips

Arrive at Metro during non-rush windows if possible (mid-morning is easier). For popular stops like Smithsonian and Woodley Park, trains run frequently; bring a stroller or small backpack for museum necessities. If you plan to use the Zoo and many Mall museums in one day, start at the Zoo (Red Line) in the morning then transfer to the Mall in the afternoon, or vice versa — routes are straightforward and well-signposted. Always keep a small printed map or the Metro app handy for any service advisories before you travel.

Quick summary / recommendation

If you really dislike driving in the city and want to keep parking low, pick a suburban hotel in Arlington (Rosslyn/Ballston/Crystal City), Old Town Alexandria, or Bethesda — park there and take Metro in each day. If you want to maximize walking and minimize train time, stay near the National Mall but be prepared to pay more for parking or choose a hotel without parking and use a nearby public garage.

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