Washington DC Hotels With Free or Cheap Parking: Where to Stay If You’re Driving
Quick answer for drivers: true free parking at downtown Washington DC hotels is rare. If a hotel is near the National Mall, White House, Convention Center, Penn Quarter, or the Wharf, assume parking may be $50-$75/night unless the hotel page clearly says otherwise. The cheaper strategy is usually one of these: Stay outside downtown near Metro in Alexandria, Arlington, Crystal City, Ballston, Rosslyn, College Park, or Greenbelt. Compare the hotel parking fee against nearby garages before booking, especially for downtown hotels. Use Metro station parking for some trips; WMATA says Metro parking is free on weekends and federal holidays for Metro riders. Do not book by room price alone. A $180 room with $65 parking can be worse than a $150 room with cheap parking near Metro. Short answer: if you are driving to Washington DC, do not compare hotels by room rate alone. A downtown hotel that looks reasonable can add about $50-$70 per night in parking. F...