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Conventions & Meetings
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Visitors
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Reunions & Weddings
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Press Room
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Tourism Industry
Travel Tips and FAQContact the Arlington Convention & Visitors ServiceBefore visiting the Washington, D.C. area, contact the Arlington Convention & Visitors Service for complete information about Arlington, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. Obtain a visitors information packet, which includes a Visitors Guide and an area map. Toll Free: 1-800-296-7996; Fax: (703) 228-0806Send an e-mail Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; offices are closed on weekends and government holidays. Plan to Stay in ArlingtonLook at Washington, D. C. on a map, and you'll be looking at Arlington. Directly across the Potomac River from the nation's capital, Arlington is minutes from the area's major attractions. Most hotels are within three miles of the White House, and are accessible via this country's most modern and safe transit systems, the Metro. Staying in Arlington is often much more affordable than hotels in Washington, D.C. Plus, a hotel in Arlington provides you with easy access to Arlington's friendly, safe neighborhoods, world-famous shopping and wealth of international restaurants.Visit in the "Off-Season"Washington, D.C. offers everything but crowds during its off-season: Thanksgiving through March 1. Weather is generally very moderate, and accommodations are a bargain, especially in Arlington. Visitors often find bargain rates during the week in July and August; although large crowds abound during the summer, most are limited to weekends. Fall weekends also offer lower rates and lower occupancy, as well as the best weather of the year.During the Spring, especially around the Cherry Blossom Festival, hotel rooms are at their most expensive and least available. Use MetroLeave the car (and a potential headache!) at your hotel and take advantage of the D.C. area's mass transit system - one of the finest in the world.Metrorail and Metrobus offer the fastest, cheapest way to get around, and allow you to avoid the hassles of traffic congestion and limited parking. The Metrorail subway system is clean, safe and efficient. Trains are quiet, comfortable and reliable. The Metro offers "front door" access to virtually all major points of interest throughout the region including the White House, Arlington National Cemetery, the U.S. Capitol Building, the Smithsonian Institution, National Zoo, the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, and much more. All Metrorail stations and trains are handicapped accessible. Smoking and eating are not permitted on escalators, elevators, in stations, on trains or buses. Metrorail stations are marked above-ground with brown pylons bearing a large white "M". For more information on the Metro system, visit the Metro Page Avoid Rush-hour and CrowdsDuring the summer, avoid crowded conditions by reducing travel during rush-hour, typically from 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM and 3:30 to 6 p.m. on weekdays. To avoid crowds at Museums, visit just after they open at 10 AM. Museums become very crowded just before lunch through the afternoon. You might try museums that are not on the Mall (such as the National Building Museum, Renwick Gallery, National Postal Museum) during these times. Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best time of year to come to the Washington/Arlington area?D.C. is much less crowded from Thanksgiving through March 1 (except around inaugurations held every four years). Weather is generally very moderate, and accommodations are a bargain (especially in Arlington). There are many activities including theater, exhibits and more this time of year (many of them free) -- especially around the winter holidays of Christmas, Hannukah and Kwanzaa.Hotel rates are also lower during July and August; largest crowds are on weekends. Fall weekends generally offer lower rates and lower occupancy, as well as the best weather of the year. During the Spring, especially around the Cherry Blossom Festival, hotel rooms are at their most expensive and least available. What's the best time of day to tour downtown Washington attractions?Avoid Rush Hours: During the summer, to avoid crowded conditions, do not use roads and Metrorail from 6:30 to 9 a.m. or 3:30 to 6 p.m. on weekdays.Avoid Crowds at Attractions: To avoid crowds at the Smithsonian Museums on the Mall (Air and Space Museum, Natural History, American History, etc), visit just after they open at 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m. (if they are open). Museums become very crowded from just before lunch through the afternoon. You might try museums that are not on the Mall (such as the National Building Museum, Renwick Gallery, National Postal Museum) during the afternoon. For a good introduction to the Smithsonian museums, visit the Smithsonian Castle which opens at 9 a.m. (1 hour before museums). Visit monuments and memorials in the evening. They are very attractive when they are lit up and they are less crowded. The Washington Monument is open until midnight, and is less crowded after 6 p.m. During the summer, Arlington National Cemetary is open until 7 p.m. and is less crowded during the early evening. What's the best Way to get tickets for the White House?The only way to get advance tickets for White house tours is to contact your Congressional Representative or your Senator's Washington or local office. These advance tickets are for guided tours scheduled from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. Otherwise, tickets for self-guided tours are available from the White House Visitor Center at 15th and E Streets beginning at 7:30 a.m. for the current day's tour (maximum of 4 per person). No advance tickets are available for these tours which are timed from 10 a.m. to noon. Telephone Calls:Though all area calls require area codes, there is no long distance charge for local calls. When in Arlington, to call in Virginia, you must dial "703" first; to call D.C., you must dial "202" first; to Maryland, dial "301". You do not need to dial "1" first for calls in these areas.How can I find out about accommodations for visitors with disabilities?All Arlington hotels are ADA compliant and have rooms designed for maximum accessibility available. We are currently collecting information that is more detailed about amenities for persons with disabilities and plan to have this on our Web site soon.Regarding area wide accessibility, there is not a comprehensive guide. However, ACVS staff has collected the following information:
What time zone is the Washington, DC, area in?The entire National Capital Area is within the U.S. Eastern Time Zone. The U.S. Eastern time Zone is 6 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time; one hour ahead of the U. S. Central Time Zone, two hours ahead of the U.S. Mouontain Time Zone; and three hours ahead of the U. S. Pacific time Zone. From the 1st Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October, all U. S. time zones observe Daylight Saving Time by forwarding their clocks ahead one hour.What will the weather be like when we visit?The following chart is based on information from 1993 local climatological data, annual survey with comparative data for Washington, D. C./National Airport printed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admistration.
For more up-to-date information about the local weather, check the Weather Channel pages for the Washington, DC area.
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