Washington, D.C./Transportation

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See also: FAQ#Transportation and Visas Get to DC Washington is a convenient site for an international conference, with numerous transportation options. Air travel: For information on airfare discounts of up to 13% from United Airlines or up to 10% from participating Skyteam airlines, email WikimaniaTravelwikidc.org Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is conveniently located in Arlington, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from DC and is Metro-accessible. National Airport has scheduled non-stop flights to 77 cities. Washington Dulles International Airport Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) has scheduled non-stop flights to 79 domestic and 43 international cities. Dulles has express bus services (Metro 5A, $6) that connect the airport with DC's Metro system. Metrobus 5A (pdf) to Rosslyn and Washington Flyer Coach has express service to West Falls Church Metro Station. Baltimore Washington International (BWI) Airport is located less than one hour away and has scheduled non-stop flights to 65 domestic and 5 international cities. The B30 Metrobus (pdf) ($6) connects the airport and the Greenbelt Metro station. Also, Amtrak and MARC commuter trains (with MARC operating only on weekdays) connect BWI with Union Station in DC. A map of Amtrak routes Private transportation from Washington, DC, airports: SuperShuttle, a company offering group shuttles and private transportations to and from Washington, DC, airports to the conference venue or hotels is offering a discount to Wikimania 2012 attendees. The discount can be accessed here. Rail: For information on the 10% train travel discount from Amtrak, email WikimaniaTravelwikidc.org Amtrak runs out of Union Station, served by the Acela Express, Capitol Limited, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, and Vermonter services. Regionally, Washington is accessible through MARC Train and Virginia Railway Express. Bus: There are numerous affordable, non-stop, wi-fi equipped bus services between Washington and New York City. Bolt Bus and DC2NY both pick up/drop off passengers near Union Station and DC2NY also has pick up/drop off at Dupont Circle. Tripper Bus and Vamoose pick-up/drop-off in nearby Bethesda, Maryland and Rosslyn, Virginia. Roads: Washington is also the hub of a national highway network, making it convenient for attendees to drive to Wikimedia. Interstate 495, the Capital Beltway, runs the perimeter of DC, and Interstate 95 connects DC with northeast corridor cities and the southeast United States. Cities within a 5 hour drive of Washington include Baltimore (1 hour), Richmond, Virginia (2 hours), Philadelphia (3 hours), Pittsburgh (4 1/2 hours), New York City (4 1/2 hours), Raleigh, North Carolina (4 1/2 hours). Get around Metro stations in DC are known for their high, vaulted ceilings Washington Metro: A convenient and fairly inexpensive way to get to the heart of DC. Fare ranges from $1.70 to $5.75, depending on the time of day and distance traveled. Metrobus: A bus system with stops throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area. Fare varies based on the bus route, $1.80 with cash and slightly less if you use a SmarTrip card (which must be purchased in advance, on-line). Express buses to the airport cost $6.00. DC Circulator serves the Georgetown neighborhood, with routes along M St and Wisconsin Ave NW, connecting with downtown DC. DC Circulator: A bus which connects various popular neighborhoods (Georgetown, Chinatown, Adams Morgan, ...), the venue (GWU), the hostel, and Union Station. Fare is $1.00. Capital Bikeshare: Capital Bikeshare is a bicycle sharing system with service in Washington, D.C. and Arlington County, Virginia. A one-day membership is $5.00, a five-day membership is $15.00, and usage fees range based on time per use. Taxis are readily available and meters are used for fares. The starting rate is $3.00 for the first 1/6 mile, and $0.25 per additional 1/6 mile. The maximum fare is $19.00. Numbers for two taxi services are (202) 387-6200 and (202) 829-4222. (Taxi Fare calculator) Walking is another good option for getting many places, as Washington is a very walkable city. References