Metro or drive?

Question

I will land at BWI on a Saturday around 10:30am. Plan to pick up rental car and go to National Mall. Which is more doable: 1) drive in and park in a garage (Union Station or somewhere) ; or 2) find a Metro station ( like Greenbelt per ChatGTP) then take the Metro? In the evening, I will need to drive to Fairfax VA for the night. Thanks

Answer

When deciding whether to drive or take the Metro from BWI to the National Mall in Washington DC on a Saturday, there are a few key considerations regarding convenience, cost, and timing.

Option 1: Driving and Parking in DC

Driving directly from BWI to the National Mall is possible, but keep in mind that traffic can be unpredictable, especially as you approach downtown DC. Parking garages near Union Station or around the National Mall are available, but they can be expensive (typically $25–$45 for the day) and may require a short walk to the Mall. Additionally, navigating city streets can be challenging if you are unfamiliar with DC, and traffic lights, one-way streets, and occasional road closures around the Mall need to be considered.

Pros: You have your car for evening travel to Fairfax; no need to transfer or carry luggage.
Cons: High parking cost, potential for heavy traffic, and stress of city driving.

Option 2: Metro from Greenbelt (or other station)

You could park at a Metro station like Greenbelt (or another station on the Green Line) and take the Metro into downtown. Metro is generally reliable, and you can avoid city driving. However, BWI itself does not connect directly to Metro—you would need to drive or take the MARC train/ride to a Metro station first. Taking the Metro directly from BWI is not an option unless using the BWI Rail Station to connect via MARC or Amtrak to Union Station.

Pros: Avoids city traffic and parking hassles; Metro is efficient and predictable.
Cons: You will need to transfer from BWI to a Metro-accessible station; less flexible if you have luggage; evening travel to Fairfax would still require driving or rideshare.

Recommendation:

Since you need to drive to Fairfax in the evening, it is usually simpler to pick up your rental car at BWI and drive into DC. Arrive a bit earlier to account for traffic, and plan to park in a nearby garage. Use apps or websites to check garage availability and pricing in advance. Once parked, you can explore the National Mall on foot without worrying about Metro schedules. If you want to minimize driving stress, consider arriving at Union Station or a garage slightly outside the Mall and walking or using a short rideshare to your destinations.

Metro or drive?

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