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What’s the best way to drive around Washington, D.C.?

Getting around D.C. is easy once you recognize that streets are on a grid pattern. The US Capitol is in the center, and the east-west streets extending from it are lettered. The streets running north and south from the Capitol are numbered. The system makes it much easier to find what you are looking for—just remember there is no J street!

Try to avoid the morning and evening rush hour, when commuters head to and from their D.C. jobs. That’s usually from 7-10 in the mornings and 4-7 in the evenings, but traffic can be unpredictable. Otherwise, driving in D.C. is no different than driving in other cities, so you’ll have no problem visiting all the historical sites and eating at the best restaurants.

Best short, one-day road trips from Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. is a great starting point for day trips along the east coast. You can be in Baltimore in less than an hour; Richmond, VA is just 2 hours south; and New York City is only a 4-hour drive northeast. There are so many wonderful cities to visit, so pack an overnight bag, grab a map, and get a move on. 

Road trip from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia

Once you’ve had your fill of D.C.’s rich history, you can head to Philadelphia for a little more. Hit the I-95 and in about 2.5 hours, you can be eating a fantastic cheesesteak and admiring a certain famous cracked bell.