UPDATE: DC people, is this in any way workable?

[scm1011]

I'll be in DC weekend after next for a marathon and DS and I are flying in that Friday morning (with DH & DD to follow Saturday). We arrive at DCA at 10:45am and there is a 11:30am White House tour available (the only time all weekend). I know DS would love it, so I snagged the tickets for now. Assuming the flight arrives a on-time/early, it looks like 15 minutes from the White House to DCA. We'd have to ditch our bags in a storage locker in Lafayette Sq first (unless anyone else has a better idea). Is there any universe I could make this work? Is it worth the sprint?




Update: We made it work! Flight got in 15 minutes early so I decided to give it a go. Dumped the bags at a sketch bookstore one at the GW campus and RAN to the White House. Wasn’t the most exciting tour for a 7 year old but he is still very excited to tell his buddies he went there! Photo in replies.

[karinothing]

I think it would be very optimistic that you could make that. I mean you land at 10:45am but have no idea what time you actually get off the plane. I have sat at DCA for 45 plus minutes before we were allowed to exit the plane. I don't think it is worth trying. Sorry

[4speedy]

If everything goes right, it is totally doable. Have you looked to see if that is a hard time on your tour ticket. A lot of stuff around DC will let you arrive 15-30 minutes either side of the printed time.

Disclaimer, my DD lives 4 blocks from the White House and has made it from last class on Friday ending at noon to DCA for a 1:30 flight twice. So going in the opposite direction as you but at the exact same time of day and as long as she hustles to check in, she makes it.

[gerberdaisy]

I'm always shocked how quick the drive is from DCA. If you get in on time, think this is totally doable. I don't know anything about bag storage though, that would be my potential hiccup.

[scm1011]

Oct 15, 2024 11:09:53 GMT -5 gerberdaisy said:

I'm always shocked how quick the drive is from DCA. If you get in on time, think this is totally doable. I don't know anything about bag storage though, that would be my potential hiccup.

Agreed. If we could store bags at the White House I think we could absolutely make it work, but the offsite locker angle is a wrinkle. Whyyyy did I book non-changeable flights?? I could have just moved the flight to the one an hour earlier. 

[wildrice]

I don't think so. I bet you won't even get out of the airport for 30 minutes at a minimum, and then the bag storage is a block or two away and there could be a line. When I was there last year I had a tiny purse and had to check it, and I think it took a good 15-20 minutes of extra time to go over there, wait for help, and then head back. I am sorry, but I really doubt this will work out for you.

I guess you could get the tickets and just see what happens, but go into it expecting that it won't work out.

[basilosaurus]

I'd probably just store at DCA if it's not a huge inconvenience to go back and get it rather than waiting at lafayette sq. I think it's a daily rate so you can have some freedom to race to your time and then be leisuirely before picking up and moving to hotel. Or another spot on your route that wouldn't have lines.

I lived on the DCA line, a couple stops away (opposite direction), and I don't remember any long holdups at the airport, but I also didn't ever check luggage except to move there. Getting into the district was also pretty easy and fast, but that's assuming no delays like exploding transformers on the tracks. Or are you planning on uber/lyft?

[candreco]

I might consider not waiting for your luggage and going back for it later (DH has done this when he's gotten in late) so you can skip the storage step.

You could also arrive early and check in with a gate agent, and see if they'll move you to an earlier flight. They often are able to on those hourly commuter flights.

[simpsongal]

I did a WH tour this summer - I don't think they were militant about the start times, but we were not late. Worst case scenario, you could be late in arriving and just no show. Second worst case, you could haul into town as fast as possible and get turned away for being late (I suspect that won't happen).

My impression of the tour line was that it was A LOT more people than I thought, and timed tickets wouldn't be as crucial to monitor and maintain as they would for something like the Washington Monument, which has pretty limited capacity.

[scm1011]

Oct 15, 2024 11:42:57 GMT -5 candreco said:

I might consider not waiting for your luggage and going back for it later (DH has done this when he's gotten in late) so you can skip the storage step.

You could also arrive early and check in with a gate agent, and see if they'll move you to an earlier flight. They often are able to on those hourly commuter flights.

That's an interesting idea, but it will have everything I need to run my marathon that weekend and that feels like a bold gamble lol (I wasn't planning on even checking the bag). 

simpsongal, that was kind of my thought too. There's no harm in seeing how it plays out I suppose, I'd just hate to get DS' hopes up and then get turned away. 

[scm1011]

Oct 15, 2024 11:40:22 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

I'd probably just store at DCA if it's not a huge inconvenience to go back and get it rather than waiting at lafayette sq. I think it's a daily rate so you can have some freedom to race to your time and then be leisuirely before picking up and moving to hotel. Or another spot on your route that wouldn't have lines.

I lived on the DCA line, a couple stops away (opposite direction), and I don't remember any long holdups at the airport, but I also didn't ever check luggage except to move there. Getting into the district was also pretty easy and fast, but that's assuming no delays like exploding transformers on the tracks. Or are you planning on uber/lyft?

Apparently you cannot store bags at US airports anymore! And yes, we planned to uber/taxi.

[wanderingback]

I’m probably just lucky but I’d say about 60% of my flights arrive early. Regardless, I think there’s a possibility you could make it. I assume you’re not checking your bags so can get off the plane quickly.

[livinitup]

Oct 15, 2024 11:42:57 GMT -5 candreco said:

You could also arrive early and check in with a gate agent, and see if they'll move you to an earlier flight. They often are able to on those hourly commuter flights.

This is absolutely an option. Gate agents will let you fly standby for earlier flights on the same day.

[candreco]

Oct 15, 2024 11:47:00 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Oct 15, 2024 11:42:57 GMT -5 candreco said:

I might consider not waiting for your luggage and going back for it later (DH has done this when he's gotten in late) so you can skip the storage step.

You could also arrive early and check in with a gate agent, and see if they'll move you to an earlier flight. They often are able to on those hourly commuter flights.

That's an interesting idea, but it will have everything I need to run my marathon that weekend and that feels like a bold gamble lol (I wasn't planning on even checking the bag). 

simpsongal, that was kind of my thought too. There's no harm in seeing how it plays out I suppose, I'd just hate to get DS' hopes up and then get turned away. 

Yeah, it would require a definite commitment to taking minimal carryons. Like nearly none 😬

[Susie]

That sounds tight.  I think it's possible via Uber, but probably too tight if you rely on Metro.

I'm not familiar with which side of the WH the tours start from, but if you took the metro blue line to MacPherson Square, you're looking at roughly: 

10 min to deplane, any bathroom stops, and get to main terminal.  You will probably need more than 10 min if you come into one of the wee little gates (f/k/a 35X) that has you getting off onto the tarmac, collecting bags plane side, and walking in.  YMMV.

5 min to get to Metro platform, assume you have added Smartrip to Apple Wallet or android equivalent in advance so you don't have to stop at a kiosk

20 minutes for any platform wait time + ride to your stop + any delays + getting up escalator to street level. 

7 mins to walk ~1/3 mile
_____
42 mins

With Uber you're still looking at 10+ min to deplane, get to arrivals, and find your Uber driver, and another 15-ish to get to the WH.  Possible but rushed.  It would also mean you'd have to bring a low back booster, which you would potentially be able to avoid otherwise if you were going to use the metro for the weekend.

I'm not getting into DCA until late afternoon, otherwise I'd help you out with expediting/stuff wrangling!

If you decide to try it, you can always pack super light and have your H bring the rest the next day?

[scm1011]

Oct 15, 2024 11:57:17 GMT -5 Susie said:

That sounds tight.  I think it's possible via Uber, but probably too tight if you rely on Metro.

I'm not familiar with which side of the WH the tours start from, but if you took the metro blue line to MacPherson Square, you're looking at roughly: 

10 min to deplane, any bathroom stops, and get to main terminal.  You will probably need more than 10 min if you come into one of the wee little gates (f/k/a 35X) that has you getting off onto the tarmac, collecting bags plane side, and walking in.  YMMV.

5 min to get to Metro platform, assume you have added Smartrip to Apple Wallet or android equivalent in advance so you don't have to stop at a kiosk

20 minutes for any platform wait time + ride to your stop + any delays + getting up escalator to street level. 

7 mins to walk ~1/3 mile
_____
42 mins

With Uber you're still looking at 10+ min to deplane, get to arrivals, and find your Uber driver, and another 15-ish to get to the WH.  Possible but rushed.  It would also mean you'd have to bring a low back booster, which you would potentially be able to avoid otherwise if you were going to use the metro for the weekend.

I'm not getting into DCA until late afternoon, otherwise I'd help you out with expediting/stuff wrangling!

If you decide to try it, you can always pack super light and have your H bring the rest the next day?

Aw, you're sweet to even offer. 
I think my best bet is to show up for the earlier shuttle (I'm chronically early anyway) and see if we can get in an hour earlier. If not, oh well. I won't mention it to DS until I see how things shake out. 

[sonrisa]

Canyou ship thr luggage you need to the hotel so you are on the plane with only what you can walk into the White House with?

I usually expect 20-30 minutes to get from touch down to airport doors if I’m not carrying anything so that sounds crazy tight timing, but I’ll leave that to the locals to figure out.

[minzy]

If you were to use Metro, wmata.com has you on the blue line from DCA to Metro Center for 19 minutes. The blue line train should leave DCA that day at 10:45, 10:57, 11:09. Does your son like to run too? You could probably hussle the three-ish blocks from Metro Center to the White House and get pretty close to 11:30. The bag is just the complicating piece so maybe wear the shoes and have your husband bring the rest later? If I were still working in my old office I could have met you downstairs and seriously would have held your luggage for you for an hour or two to make it happen! 😝

[wildrice]

Oct 15, 2024 12:22:03 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Oct 15, 2024 11:57:17 GMT -5 Susie said:

That sounds tight.  I think it's possible via Uber, but probably too tight if you rely on Metro.

I'm not familiar with which side of the WH the tours start from, but if you took the metro blue line to MacPherson Square, you're looking at roughly: 

10 min to deplane, any bathroom stops, and get to main terminal.  You will probably need more than 10 min if you come into one of the wee little gates (f/k/a 35X) that has you getting off onto the tarmac, collecting bags plane side, and walking in.  YMMV.

5 min to get to Metro platform, assume you have added Smartrip to Apple Wallet or android equivalent in advance so you don't have to stop at a kiosk

20 minutes for any platform wait time + ride to your stop + any delays + getting up escalator to street level. 

7 mins to walk ~1/3 mile
_____
42 mins

With Uber you're still looking at 10+ min to deplane, get to arrivals, and find your Uber driver, and another 15-ish to get to the WH.  Possible but rushed.  It would also mean you'd have to bring a low back booster, which you would potentially be able to avoid otherwise if you were going to use the metro for the weekend.

I'm not getting into DCA until late afternoon, otherwise I'd help you out with expediting/stuff wrangling!

If you decide to try it, you can always pack super light and have your H bring the rest the next day?

Aw, you're sweet to even offer. 
I think my best bet is to show up for the earlier shuttle (I'm chronically early anyway) and see if we can get in an hour earlier. If not, oh well. I won't mention it to DS until I see how things shake out. 

I think that's your best bet, too.

I don't know if it was clear earlier in the post, but they literally won't let you bring in anything - not even a small purse. So unless you carry literally nothing with you on the plane, you are definitely going to be stuck using a locker to store things. They are very strict so unless it fits in your pocket, you can't bring it in. 

DC traffic is also typically horrendous so regardless of what it is supposed to take, I don't see how anyone can get anywhere in 15 minutes TBH. I live 30 miles away and it took almost 3 hours to drive home a couple of weeks ago, lol. It's not usually THAT bad but I would always add an extra 15-30 minutes onto whatever you expect it to take to get somewhere. 

[shauni27]

scm1011, do not mention it to C at all; do your best to get there and if you get there way too late and they don't let you in, you can at least show him the white house from outside!

Are you and Susie going to do a H&F meetup before or after the race? I wish you both so much luck! You guys are going to crush it.

[karinothing]

As a heads up the MCM kids fun run is the day before. It is based out of the pentagon but there is a TON of kids/parents etc around that area so there may be more traffic on the metro or roads.

[scm1011]

Oct 15, 2024 13:28:51 GMT -5 shauni27 said:

scm1011 , do not mention it to C at all; do your best to get there and if you get there way too late and they don't let you in, you can at least show him the white house from outside!

Are you and Susie going to do a H&F meetup before or after the race? I wish you both so much luck! You guys are going to crush it.

Yes! The plan is to meet up the morning of the race to distract each other from pre-marathon nerves  

karinothing, and yes, I know about the kids race! I tried to convince DS to run but he's not interested in doing it without DD and she won't get in in time. 

[karinothing]

Oct 15, 2024 13:36:44 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Oct 15, 2024 13:28:51 GMT -5 shauni27 said:

scm1011 , do not mention it to C at all; do your best to get there and if you get there way too late and they don't let you in, you can at least show him the white house from outside!

Are you and Susie going to do a H&F meetup before or after the race? I wish you both so much luck! You guys are going to crush it.

Yes! The plan is to meet up the morning of the race to distract each other from pre-marathon nerves  

karinothing , and yes, I know about the kids race! I tried to convince DS to run but he's not interested in doing it without DD and she won't get in in time. 

aw bummer. Our school has a big group running every year. It is a ton of fun. 

[scm1011]

Update in OP

[scm1011]

[shauni27]

Oct 25, 2024 12:35:58 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

gah!!! C is so cute with all his freckles! I am SO glad it worked out for you guys

Kick ass this weekend with Susie! Cannot wait to see pictures!

[RockNVoll]

Oct 25, 2024 12:35:58 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Love this so much!

Good luck with the marathon!

[livinitup]

I love a good update !!!

I am shocked it worked out and so happy for you.

[sdlaura]

So glad it worked out!

I'm originally from DC and ran the MCM twice - it is such a fun race! Good luck!

[bee20]

lol, warm-up run! Glad you made it and good luck to everyone running this weekend!