surf&turf August 31, 2015 August 31, 2015 (edited) I'm considering riding metro in and have a few questions since this will be my first time. What time do trains start leaving the Vienna Metro station? How much will it cost to get to the Woodley Station? How do I get a ticket? I think i read that parking is $5. Edited August 31, 2015 by surf&turf
Bruleyii August 31, 2015 August 31, 2015 (edited) If you use their site http://www.wmata.com/ you can plan out your trip. Weekend parking is free. Prices vary depending on time but you can plan it out with the site to find out the exact amount if you want. I normally just throw $10 on a card and use that. If it runs out I fill it up, if not I reuse it. Keep in mind that DC metro is different than a few others and your ticket is only good for 1 rider, not multiple. Edit: To use the parking garage, in the past you needed a Smartrip card. I'm not sure if that is needed anymore beings I have one and just always use it. I think they changed it but I'm not a 100% sure. Edited August 31, 2015 by Bruleyii
FirstContact August 31, 2015 August 31, 2015 Get a discount by purchasing a smart card and have the funds on there needed for the entire weekend. Parking is about 5 and change from the station I am using.
Bruleyii August 31, 2015 August 31, 2015 Here is the link to find out how much parking is too. http://www.wmata.com/rail/parking/
davidm August 31, 2015 August 31, 2015 http://wmata.com/ has a timetable - just plug in when you want to arrive (at Woodley Park metro) and it will tell you which orange line train you need to catch at Vienna - and which red line train to transfer to at Metro Center. It's less complicated than it sounds. Metro parking is ~$5 a day during the week - but is free on the wkends. the metro trip itself costs different amounts that depend on the time (peak hours) vs non-peak and wkend - that site will tell you the cost too. It's a $1 a ride cheaper if you buy a metrocard (not papercard) and that's well worth it - there are machines that will allow you to purchase the metrocard, and add value to it, at the vienna metro stop (looks like an ATM).
surf&turf August 31, 2015 Author August 31, 2015 So it looks like $5 to park and appox. $7 both ways. So $19 round trip. Squishy said the hotel offered $19 parking just not over night. How do you get $19 parking?
dave w September 1, 2015 September 1, 2015 How do you get $19 parking? Welcome to the big city. They'd charge an arm and a leg if there were an aftermarket for them.
dave w September 1, 2015 September 1, 2015 I'm going to help with the swag bag packing Tuesday afternoon, starting around 1:00. I can only help for a few hours. If anyone wants to carpool and split the hotel parking fee instead of taking Metro, I'll be happy to drive. Just let me know before late morning tomorrow, Tuesday. I'm on the Rt. 95 corridor near Lorton and Woodbridge, but could also go via Fairfax and I-66 as easily.
mling September 1, 2015 September 1, 2015 I'm considering riding metro in and have a few questions since this will be my first time. What time do trains start leaving the Vienna Metro station? How much will it cost to get to the Woodley Station? How do I get a ticket? I think i read that parking is $5. I have used the Vienna Metro to go downtown for over 20 years so let know any questions you may have that is not already answered by fellow WAMAS. One thing to note. Parking can Vienna can fill up very quickly. When I used to park there, few years ago, it would fill up by 8am. Think it is better now that the mega parking garage at Dunn Loring is completed. The Fairfax connector (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/ ) has many buses to Vienna and only cost about $1. That's what I use now. No longer have to deal with traffic on I66 and save on gas and parking to visit the local LFS !
Bruleyii September 1, 2015 September 1, 2015 One thing to note. Parking can Vienna can fill up very quickly. When I used to park there, few years ago, it would fill up by 8am. Think it is better now that the mega parking garage at Dunn Loring is completed. +1 Good point! I dont know if they still do it but there was reserved parking in the garages until 10 am. After that those spots opened but then they also fill very quickly, or used to.
YHSublime September 1, 2015 September 1, 2015 My complex (right by Dunn Loring) just sent out the weekend is $5 parking I think.
Bruleyii September 1, 2015 September 1, 2015 My complex (right by Dunn Loring) just sent out the weekend is $5 parking I think. That sucks. I have never heard of the metro charging parking over the weekends. I guess it's to pay for the new garage.
YHSublime September 1, 2015 September 1, 2015 That sucks. I have never heard of the metro charging parking over the weekends. I guess it's to pay for the new garage. Still free in the lots I believe, but those probably fill up fast with Halstead Square right there.
BowieReefer84 September 1, 2015 September 1, 2015 (edited) My philosophy with DC is get there very very VERY early in the morning, and park in a garage. Some garages even have early bird specials. Spend a couple hours eating breakfast and reading the news. Your day will start out great, and you won't be stressed. Honestly, I would rather sit in afternoon traffic than deal with the red line. Been there. This assumes the closest metro is 30+ minutes. If I lived near a metro it would be a different story. Edited September 1, 2015 by BowieReefer84
surf&turf September 1, 2015 Author September 1, 2015 Thanks for all the advice everyone, I'm going to drive.
YHSublime September 1, 2015 September 1, 2015 My philosophy with DC is get there very very VERY early in the morning, and park in a garage. Some garages even have early bird specials. Spend a couple hours eating breakfast and reading the news. Your day will start out great, and you won't be stressed. Honestly, I would rather sit in afternoon traffic than deal with the red line. Been there. This assumes the closest metro is 30+ minutes. If I lived near a metro it would be a different story. I agree with this 100%, and I live by a metro. I would rather sit in my car in traffic than sit on the metro (or most likely stand.)
AlanM September 1, 2015 September 1, 2015 Metro does seem to only move in one direction. Worse and worse each day. Yesterday my wife was trying to come home on the red line. Operator comes on the PA to say that there is a car ahead of them and they have to wait. So he proceeds to wait by just hitting the throttle and brakes repeatedly over and over, bump bump bump bump every 10 seconds for 15 minutes. No thought at all for the 500 people in the train behind him who are mostly standing and falling down every single time he tosses the train 2 feet forward, then rocking back. The AC has been out at Dupont for the entire summer. When it went out they put up a really nice sign that was well designed apologizing for the discomfort. It seemed like a nice gesture for them to have put the effort and thought into making the sign. 4 months later it's now obvious that they put up the stinking sign because they had no intention of fixing the AC during the summer and will wait until it cools off to take the sign down. I could just keep going with stories...
dave w September 1, 2015 September 1, 2015 I drove in today but would be happy to carpool with someone Thursday and Friday. If you're in Fairfax County and want to carpool, let me know.
YHSublime September 1, 2015 September 1, 2015 I hate to slam the metro before we have a huge event that we are essentially relying on to deliver a good portion of our volunteers and attendees. That being said, if all volunteers who are metro'ing, take extra time to be at your shifts on time! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
surf&turf September 1, 2015 Author September 1, 2015 Is there anything special we need to do to get the reduced parking rate at the hotel?
Reefer_Madness September 1, 2015 September 1, 2015 My philosophy with DC is get there very very VERY early in the morning, and park in a garage. Some garages even have early bird specials. Spend a couple hours eating breakfast and reading the news. Your day will start out great, and you won't be stressed. Honestly, I would rather sit in afternoon traffic than deal with the red line. Been there. This assumes the closest metro is 30+ minutes. If I lived near a metro it would be a different story. +1 and I actually live in DC. Go early grab breakfast and relax. DC government people don't get out of bed to drive their cars until after 9am. Anytime before that and DC is a ghost town.
smallreef September 2, 2015 September 2, 2015 It'll be my first time on the metro solo.. So all this redline talk is worrying me! Worst case scenario is I guess I'll be late for my volunteer shift Thursday night?lol
BowieReefer84 September 2, 2015 September 2, 2015 It'll be my first time on the metro solo.. So all this redline talk is worrying me! Worst case scenario is I guess I'll be late for my volunteer shift Thursday night?lol It's really not that bad, and no need to sweat my post. I would say I have personally had only 2-3 bad metro experiences ever. I grew up in the area as well, so that's a long time. Also, I am claustrophobic so things like stopped trains in tunnels for periods of time, and walls of people probably bother me more than most.
Matt LeBaron September 2, 2015 September 2, 2015 My wife and I will be taking the metro in friday afternoon. The DC metro is not great but it will eventually get you where you need to go.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now