Howdy, the wife and I are planning on traveling to DC to catch the home opener of the Nationals. Is DCA (Reagan) the best airport to fly into? I'm also open to recommendations on hotels to stay. I'm not super worried about staying close to the stadium, but that would obviously be a plus. Just looking for something nice.

We are also planning on staying a couple nights before the games. Is there anything we NEED to see or do before we leave?

Reagan will be the closest to downtown. Dulles is probably an hour drive at least depending on the time of day. I've been to Nationals Park a couple of times. Nice little park. I'll let others chime in with recommendations of places to stay as I've only stayed with my brother out in the 'burbs. Plenty to do in the area though... from the numerous Smithsonian museums surrounding the Mall to just walking around and visiting the monuments.

Reagan is what you want. Metro station right there makes things easy

Speaking of DC Metro, did they ever finish the line out to Dulles?

cr06gis said:

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Reagan is what you want. Metro station right there makes things easy

Speaking of DC Metro, did they ever finish the line out to Dulles?

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Now that you mention that, I believe they have. There were signs in baggage claim directing you to the Metro when I was there in December. Sure a local can confirm.

Living in Arlington, VA and work in DC. Metro is available from DCA and Dulles now.

Reagan is what you want if you can get a flight to there (they limit direct flights to DCA in a 1200 mile radius only special airports have exclusions to this rule).

The only reason you would want to fly in to Dulles is to catch visit UdvarHazy Center either before you fly out or when you fly in (Think Air and Space Museum but 10x larger and better). They have lockers you can check bags into while you visit but see website for details.

Restaurants Near Stadium:
Blue Jacket-- good food, craft beer, pretty cool place
Salt Line-- around the stadium (1st base entrance) is great for fresh oysters and stuff pregame/post game. Patio will get packed on a nice day.

If its fire work night on the day you go to Nats Park you will want to consider getting tickets on the 3rd base line. (They go off above 1st base and people from that side will move after game to get a look at them).

Feel free to message me for any other questions!

texasaggie18 said:

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Reagan is what you want if you can get a flight to there (they limit direct flights to DCA in a 1200 mile radius only special airports have exclusions to this rule).

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Interesting. I looked and the only airports with direct flights between DCA and Texas are Love, DFW, Hobby, and IAH. Surprised Austin and SA don't.

Yeah it drives me nuts that Southwest will fly direct to Reagan from Love but they won't go direct to Dulles. Maybe that's part of the deal?

Good rec on the Air and Space Museum Annex that's out near Dulles. My brother took me to that on my first trip out there and it was really great. When he told me it was the "annex" I was thinking "oh this is the stuff that didn't make the main museum" but wasn't like that at all. Really cool.

Keeping an eye on this thread before I hijack it in a few days.

Planning a trip to DC for the summer and need food and hotel recs. And someone to tell me if my daily schedule is too much or not.

AUS/DCA has one non stop per day on SWA

leaves noonish from AUS

leaves 530ish from DCA

taken this probably 25 times in the last 10 years