For a straight-to-the point, text-based approach, Local Co-chair Paul Arveson has helpfully provided this text-based travel guide.
He suggests that you bookmark this guide so that you can use it on your phone once you're in DC.
In this section, you'll find useful information about traveling to
Washington, D.C., ASA's ride-sharing forums, and where to go after arriving
at the Catholic University of America (CUA).
We've also included general information about the location and
tourism.
Summertime temperatures in Washington, D.C. are typically hot and humid with a July daily average of 79.8 °F (26.6 °C) and average daily relative humidity around 66%.
(see the 10-Day Forecast here) with moderate to high humidity (see
Hourly Forecast). (See also the forecast at
The Weather Network, 7 Day
and Hourly.)
CUA has a July daily average of 79.8 °F (26.6 °C).
If you are travelling from outside of the country,
Remember to check that you have
the appropriate travel documents to enter the USA (passport, visa,
etc.).
Remember to check your cell phone
plan to determine if any additional coverage is needed during your
trip. If you have a compatible smartphone, you can add a short-trem
USA line to your phone using an eSIM. E.g., US Mobile offers affordable,
short-term plans that use the Verizon network.
Traveling to Washington, D.C.
As ASA members, we believe our carbon footprint matters. Please
consider low-emission transportation.
As ASA members, we believe our carbon footprint matters. Please
consider transportation options that reduce carbon emissions. If you
plan to drive, please consider ride sharing, which will save you
energy and money. Before you leave, you can request a ride or
offer a ride to ASA colleagues using our
Ride-Sharing Forums.
Values for CO2 emissions per passenger have been reported in
various places, but they vary widely depending on assumptions.
Nevertheless, the ranking is consistent: from low to high they are as
follows:
Train
Electric car
Plug-in hybrid car
Coach
Gas car
Plane flight
Please choose a method of travel below for information and advice about that form of travel:
Amtrak's system of routes brings travelers to Union Station (WAS),
which is about 3 miles from CUA. Union station is a soaring Beaux-Arts
masterpiece in the center of the nation's capital, at 50 Massachusetts
Avenue NE. The huge terminal has ample restaurants and shops, plus ATM,
accessible restrooms, waiting rooms, elevators and wheelchair lifts.
Paid parking is available on site. Ticket sales are available at kiosks
and the sales office. The station is staffed and open 24-7.
Taxis are available at the front entrance. Free Cell Phone Waiting and
Kiss & Ride lots are available for easy drop-off and pick-up. Lots are
located inside the Union Station parking garage accessible from H
Street, NE. (more info & booking)
Amtrak also offers a number of discounts for seniors, students, kids, military groups,
and more.
Once you have arrived at Union Station, follow the instructions below to
transfer to the Metro and arrive at CUA.
Post-Conference Departure
Amtrak trains leave from Union Station, which you can easily reach by a short
Metro ride.
At Union Station, exit the gate and ride up the escalator to the station. Walk to the lobby on the left to the tracks and ticket office.
If you get a car ride to the station, you may enter from the drop-off location at the front entrance.
Parking lots also are located inside the Union Station parking garage accessible from H Street, NE.
Coach
Both local (buses) and long-distance (coaches) stop at Union Station in Washington.
The main coach companies that serve the station are Greyhound, Ourbus, Bestbus, and Peter Pan.
Modern coaches are often equipped with larger, more comfortable seats than buses.
Though they differ between makes and models, coaches commonly include features such
as a toilet, TV, air conditioning, and wifi.
A typical fare on Greyhound from Chicago to Union Station is $88,
and the journey takes 18 hours. For comparison, Amtrak takes about the same time but
the fare is 2-4 times higher. (However, the carbon footprint is lower).
Coach rates are often cheaper if purchased in advance.
Tickets can be purchased on website such as:
A typical fare on Greyhound from Union Station to Chicago is $88, and the journey takes 18 hours.
For comparison, Amtrak takes about the same time but the fare is 2-4 times higher.
(However, the carbon footprint is lower).
Car
By car, CUA is about 11 hours from Chicago and Nashville.
CUA campus is an eleven-hour drive from Chicago and Washington DC.
It takes about nine hours coming from Toronto and Ottawa. However, keep in mind
to add time for border crossings and that not every border crossing is open
twenty-four hours.
If you're thinking about driving to the conference, please see our
Ride-Sharing options as soon as possible.
More generally, Google Maps is useful for planning a route,
and GasBuddy has a helpful
Trip Cost Calculator for both estimating
the cost of fuel and locating the least expensive fill-up locations
en route. Also, ChatGPT
can be very helpful for suggesting an itinerary for road trips!
Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are becoming a more viable option
for long-distance travel in recent years. A map of EV charging stations
in North America is available here.
Metro is the fastest and most convenient way to get from the airport to our meeting.
For general information, please refer to the Metro section below.
The DCA Metro station is on the upper level platform of Terminal 2
(Metro stations are marked with a large "M" sign).
If you flew on Southwest, Air Canada or Frontier, you will arrive at Terminal 1.
To reach the Metro station you will need to take a 5-minute walk from
baggage claim North to Terminal 2, through the empty, historic part of the terminal.
Alternatively, you can exit the Terminal 1 to the streetside curb, and
board any “Airport Shuttle” bus. At the stops for Terminal 2 or North/South Parking 1 & 2,
you can access an enclosed bridge which connects to the Metrorail station.
At a SmarTrip vending machine, purchase a Metro fare card for at least $10.00 ($2 plus $8 in stored value).
Enter and go to the escalator that is marked "Yellow Line to Mt. Vernon Sq" OR
"Blue Line to Downtown Largo." Both lines arrive at this platform frequently,
but the Yellow Line trip is shorter. Walk toward the destination end of the platform if you have time.
Yellow Line (25 min): Ride to Gallery Place Metro stop, then transfer to the Red Line on the upper level toward Glenmont.
Blue Line (40 min): Ride to Metro Center, then transfer to the Red Line on the upper level toward Glenmont.
Exit at the BROOKLAND-CUA Metro stop.
When you exit the turnstiles, go left. When you reach the top of the escalator,
you'll be on John McCormack Road (which runs parallel to the tracks).
Cross Michigan Ave. and walk past the large parking lot, then turn left.
Follow our ASA signs to the Pryzbyla University Center for ASA registration.
DCA to CUA by Car
ASA Ridesharing
First, please take note of ASA's ride-sharing forums which can be
especially helpful for coordinating a shared ride from the airport.
For rides departing Reagan National, customers should use their
smartphone to select the appropriate pick zone and coordinate directly with their driver.
Pickup zones are ONLY located at the farthest curb from the terminal!
Green flags located outside on the outer terminal curb designate the appropriate pick-up loading zones.
Taxi Cab
A DCA Taxi Dispatcher is available at designated taxi stands to ensure you are placed with a taxi.
From the Southwest Airlines Terminal (no. 1), proceed out the exit doors at baggage claim and turn right.
The taxis are located on the curb closest to the terminal.
From the main terminal (Terminal 2) at baggage claim (lower level),
exit through Doors 5 or 6 then proceed outside to the terminal curbside.
You will find the taxi dispatch location clearly marked.
Authorized taxis have a red and gray color scheme. All taxicabs accept cash or credit card.
Fare to Catholic University should be about $25.
Rental Car
Rental car shuttles can be boarded at several stations on the terminal road at the lower level.
On-airport rental car counters are located on the first floor of Parking 1,
across the road from the main terminal (Terminal 2). You can walk there in 10-15 minutes.
Rental car counter shuttle buses are available at Curbside 1 (nearest to baggage claim)
for Alamo, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Thrifty and Sixt.
Board the Airport Shuttle to “Rental Car/Parking”: Get off at the Parking 1/Rental Car stop.
The shuttle trip is slow; be patient.
The Avis and Budget rental car shuttles are available at Curbside 3
(farthest from baggage claim) at each end of the main terminal.
The shuttle goes to their off-site facility at 2600 Richmond Highway, Arlington VA.
Please view the airport maps
for Terminal 1 (Southwest) and Terminal 2 to locate your company's shuttle pickup location.
Note that Terminal 1 (Southwest Airlines) has three concentric roads.
The outer one next to the terminal is for taxis only. The middle one is for airport shuttles.
The inner circle is for pickup and dropoff only.
Destination Address
The nearest dropoff point by car is in front of McMahon Hall.
McMahon Hall
Catholic University of America
620 Michigan Ave NE
Washington, DC 20064
Follow our ASA signs to the Pryzbyla University Center for ASA registration.
Return Trip
At the conference, there will be a way to exchange information with
other attendees about sharing rides back to the airport(s).
Metro is the fastest and most convenient way to get from the airport to our meeting.
For general information, please refer to the Metro section below.
You can ride the Metro (rail) line directly to the ASA meeting site at CUA in about an hour.
The newly opened Metro station at Dulles is connected to the main
terminal by an indoor pedestrian tunnel with moving sidewalks. From
baggage claim, follow the signs down to the indoor pedestrian walkway.
It is a 5-minute walk to the Metro terminal.
At a SmarTrip vending machine, purchase a Metro fare card for at least $10.00 ($2 plus $8 in stored value).
Ride the Silver Line to Metro Center.
Transfer to the Red Line on the upper level toward Glenmont.
Exit at the BROOKLAND-CUA Metro stop.
When you exit the turnstiles, go left. When you reach the top of the escalator,
you'll be on John McCormack Road (which runs parallel to the tracks).
Cross Michigan Ave. and walk past the large parking lot, then turn left.
Follow our ASA signs to the Pryzbyla University Center for ASA registration.
IAD to CUA by Car
ASA Ridesharing
First, please take note of ASA's ride-sharing forums which can be
especially helpful for coordinating a shared ride from the airport.
Rideshare Apps
App-based rides are available, but they will be
expensive because the trip to the ASA meeting location is about 32
miles and takes 55 minutes or more depending on traffic. There are
also some toll roads on the route.
66expresslanes.org provides information concerning rush hour
tolls on nearby Virginia Route 66.
Dulles International Airport has a dedicated pick up and drop-off curb
for app-based ride services (Uber,
Lyft and
ALTO) or private vehicles.
The 3rd curb is located on the ground level outside of Baggage Claim,
accessible via Doors 2, 4 or 6. Signs show numbered and lettered pickup
zones (3A-3H). Customers will be notified of their pickup zone through
in-app messaging.
Taxi Cab
Taxis are available, but they will be
expensive because the trip to the ASA meeting location is about 32
miles and takes 55 minutes or more depending on traffic. There are
also some toll roads on the route. 66expresslanes.org provides information concerning rush hour
tolls on nearby Virginia Route 66.
Washington Flyer Taxicabs serve Washington Dulles International
Airport exclusively with 24-hour service to and from the Airport.
Follow the signs for Ground Transportation or Taxi to the lower level
of the Terminal, DOWN the ramp to Door 2 or Door 6. A taxi dispatcher
is available 24 hours a day.
Free shuttle buses operated by each rental car company will take customers
between the rental car facility and the Terminal. From the Terminal Baggage Claim Level,
exit DOWN the ramp to Door 2 or 4. Rental car shuttle buses pick up at Curb 2C or Curb 2D.
Some rental car brands use a shared bus
(for example, Enterprise/National/Alamo and Hertz/Dollar/Thrifty),
so make sure you look for your brand before boarding the bus.
Please check with your rental car company concerning your planned routes to and from Dulles Airport,
and whether you might be impacted by tolls on nearby roads.
66expresslanes.org
provides information concerning rush hour tolls on nearby Virginia Route 66.
There is a MARC train from BWI to Union Station in Washington. From
there you can transfer to Metro for a short ride to CUA. This is the
most affordable option to get to the ASA meeting.
At the airport terminal you will need to get a shuttle bus to the nearby train station.
It stops at four designated locations on the lower level outside baggage claim.
The train fare is $8.00 one-way (seniors over 65 can get a 50% discount).
To check schedules, see the MARC train schedule.
You may also use the real-time MARC Tracker.
The MARC train arrives at Union Station (WAS), near the Capitol in downtown Washington.
First, please take note of ASA's ride-sharing forums which can be
especially helpful for coordinating a shared ride from the airport.
Rideshare Apps
App-based rides are available, but they will be expensive
because the trip to the ASA meeting location is about 32 miles and takes
50 minutes or more depending on traffic.
Uber, Lyft, etc. or
private vehicles should pick up and drop off passengers at the terminal
curbs on the Upper Level/Departures. Confirm the location with your
driver based on the terminal door number.
Taxi Cab
Taxis are available, but they will be expensive
because the trip to the ASA meeting location is about 32 miles and takes
50 minutes or more depending on traffic.
Washington Flyer Taxicabs serve Washington Dulles International
Airport exclusively with 24-hour service to and from the Airport.
Follow the signs for Ground Transportation or Taxi to the lower level
of the Terminal, DOWN the ramp to Door 2 or Door 6. A taxi dispatcher
is available 24 hours a day.
Rental Car
BWI Marshall Airport provides a rental car facility at Stoney Run Road and New Ridge Road.
Free shuttle service carries customers to and from the airport approximately every ten minutes.
Passengers arriving on flights should take the free shuttle from the lower level terminal for a
ten-minute ride to the facility. When returning a vehicle, look for highway directional signs to the facility.
The facility has counters for Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National,
Nextcar, Sixt, and Thrifty companies. Counter contact information is
here.
The Car Rental Facility is located at 7432 New Ridge Rd., Hanover, MD 21076.
Destination Address
The nearest dropoff point by car is in front of McMahon Hall.
McMahon Hall
Catholic University of America
620 Michigan Ave NE
Washington, DC 20064
Follow our ASA signs to the Pryzbyla University Center for ASA registration.
Return Trip
At the conference, there will be a way to exchange information with
other attendees about sharing rides back to the airport(s).
Getting Around D.C.
Using the Metro
This 6-minute video is helpful to familiarize yourself with the Metro system in Washington.
(It is slightly out of date: the Yellow Line now terminates at Mt. Vernon Square, not Greenbelt,
and the Metro now provides free WiFi service.)
The DC Metro system is a low-cost, efficient way to get around to many attractions in the city and airports.
Union Station is three Metro stops from CUA. To reach the
Metro station inside Union Station, walk to the west end of the terminal and
follow the signs to the escalator.
At a SmarTrip vending machine, purchase a Metro fare card for at least $10.00 ($2 plus $8 in stored value).
The fare depends on the time of day and distance traveled. The maximum that Metro charges is $6 on weekdays.
Take the Red Line toward Glenmont. Exit at the BROOKLAND-CUA Metro stop.
When you exit the turnstiles, go left and when you reach the top of the escalator
you'll be on John McCormack Road (which runs parallel to the tracks).
Cross Michigan Ave. and walk past the large parking lot, then turn left.
Follow our ASA signs to the Pryzbyla University Center for ASA registration.
Departure: Campus to Union Station (WAS)
Amtrak trains leave from Union Station, which you can easily reach by a short Metro ride.
From the CUA campus, walk to the BROOKLAND-CUA Metro stop at Michigan Ave. and McCormack Road.
If you don't have one, you can purchase a Metro fare card for at least $10.00 ($2 plus $8 in stored value).
The fare depends on the time of day and distance traveled. The maximum that Metro charges is $6 on weekdays.
Take the Red Line toward Shady Grove. Union Station is three Metro stops from Brookland-CUA.
At Union Station, exit the gate and ride up the escalator to the station.
Walk to the lobby on the left to the tracks and ticket office.
If you get a car ride to the station, you may enter from the drop-off location at the front entrance.
Parking lots also are located inside the Union Station parking garage accessible from H Street, NE.
Amtrak ticket sales are available at kiosks and the sales office. The station is staffed and open 24-7.
For travel to and from CUA campus once you have arrived in Washington,
DC, Local Co-chair Paul Arveson has helpfully provided this online
interactive tool:
Washington, D.C. provides a number of convenient means of travelling
within the city. In addition to the following details, the "Off-Campus
Carpooling Forum" below may be helpful.
Once you register, the ASA staff will give you printed maps, tour
guides and other materials to make your travel plans easier. But a GPS
is essential for navigating around DC, even if you live here! The
street layout is a combination of a rectangular grid (like NYC) and a
radial grid (like Paris)—both together! This results in lots of
irregular triangles and one-way streets. Plan your trips with Google
maps or a GPS similar service.
Washington, D.C. has a number of electric scooters that provide a
great, low-cost way to get around. If you plan to use a scooter, you may wish to be
prepared by downloading their apps and setting up accounts ahead of time.
Begin the conversation early by ride-sharing with other attendees.
There are three ASA ride-sharing forums. In order to use one of them,
please click the corresponding below, and you
can read posts. In order to write a post, read the forum's first post
(about “how to post”), sign in (as a member of ASA, or register for
free) and reply.
Road-Trips to & from ASA 2024
Please visit this Road Trip Forum if you are:
planning to make a road trip to Washington, D.C. (instead of flying)
and you want to offer a ride to share costs, or
Note: posting in the these forums ASAP is the best way to help others make their
plans efficiently. For instance, if another attendee frequently checks the forum and discovers they can
ride with you, they may do this instead of buying a ticket for a plane
or train or coach. But if you post too late, this opportunity for savings,
conversation, and making a new friend may be missed!
When You Arrive on Campus
Once you arrive on campus, visit our Info & FAQ section
for specific instructions on where to find the registration desk,
what to do if you arrive after hours, etc.
Highlights: Free admission to museums like the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of American History, and the National Museum of Natural History.
