The central hub of American politics, Washington, D.C. is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S. and one of the absolute worst places in this country to drive. But if you’re like those of us who just can’t leave our wheels at home when we go on vacation, then you’re going to love this pro guide to driving in D.C.

From the ongoing hustle and bustle of the busiest political downtown in the country to the chaos of the airport, D.C. is synonymous with the words “high traffic” in many peoples’ minds. Lots of folks commute here from Virginia or Maryland for work, which means lots of drivers all converging into a very old-school road design.

Whether you just moved to D.C. or you’re planning an upcoming road trip to our nation’s capital, we've got a brief rundown on how to navigate D.C.’s diagonal roads and world-famous rush hour. We’ll go over traffic conditions, local driving laws, and a few things you can do to ready yourself for a drive that’s historic for all the right reasons.

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What is driving in D.C. like?

Despite the fact that D.C. is considered the ultimate historical destination in America, it is certainly not the greatest place in the U.S. to find yourself stuck in rush hour traffic. A recent study found D.C. to be the 9th worst city in Americato drive in, due to its time-stopping evening rush hour traffic and insanely difficult parking

Here’s what you need to be aware of if you’re planning to take on the capital’s downtown traffic.

Roads

The roads in D.C. are configured in a system of broad diagonal avenues crossing over the foundational street grid. D.C.’s avenues are picturesque, wide, and lined with trees, weaving around the many historical sights and public areas downtown. The grid runs north-south and east-west with the Capitol as the starting point. Keep your eye out for the quadrant naming system (SE, SW, NW, NE).

Streets running north-south are numbered, while streets running east-west are lettered. There are two sets of each branching in either direction from the Capitol.

If you familiarize yourself with how D.C.’s grid system works before embarking, you won’t be taken by surprise or get lost.

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Parking

If you have to park in D.C., you’ll likely be looking for a space in a parking garage or on the street. Either of these options is only theoretical, however, as finding vacant parking will be your main worry, especially near the monuments. You should be prepared to pay somewhere between $4.60 and $5.10 per hour to park on the street in D.C.

A parking garage will likely cost you between $10 and $30, depending on how long you need to park. Some companies, such as Laz Parking or Colonial Parking offer valet services at various parking garages around the city. The parking downtown will fill up quickly, especially before special events, so make sure to plan your parking situation ahead of time.

If you do end up parking on the street, make sure you’re paying extra close attention to the posted signs. You don’t want to wind up with a hefty parking ticket on your windshield.

Weather

When it comes to weather, D.C.’s got it all—warm summers and snowy winters. Here are some of the things you might run into while driving in D.C., depending on the season:

Summer: As the weather heats up, droves of tourists take to the roads, on top of the large numbers of commuters already in the city. When the roads are already at their most congested, one little accident or a big event at the White House can cause intense traffic jams.

Winter: If you expect to spend any time driving in D.C. during the winter, make sure your car is equipped with non-freezing window washer fluid and a brush to clear snow and ice from your windows. It’s very common for temperatures to go below freezing, and you can expect snow, ice, and darker skies.

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Traffic and transportation options in D.C.

D.C.’s downtown streets are set up in a grid overlaid with diagonal avenues. This system is fairly straightforward to navigate, but congestion and stand-still traffic are still extremely common.

Here are the worst times to drive in D.C.:

6:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.:If you’re trying to get into the city, avoid rush hour, especially on highways.

3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.: Seriously, just don’t drive during rush hour in D.C. if you want to avoid headaches and costs of accidents.

Rush hour is the worst on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

In terms of the best times to drive in Washington D.C., any time well before or after rush hour is your best bet. Also, make sure you’re aware of any events that might be going on in the areas where you might be driving—there’s always something going on in D.C.!

You can tune into

WTOP-FM

(103.5 FM) for traffic updates in Washington D.C.

Should I rent a car in Washington D.C.?

Renting a car in a city like Washington D.C. can definitely have its benefits, but it can also end up being just another added stress—sure, you’ll be able to get yourself from point A to B as directly as possible, in theory, but you’ll also have to deal with traffic congestion and searching for open parking spots.

Instead, the best way to get around D.C. is by using its robustly maintained, efficient, and safe public transportation provided by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). If you don’t want to spend your time stuck in traffic, the Metro trains can get you to most main areas of the city. The bus system is also world-renowned, making buses perfect for hopping on and off to explore different parts of the city.

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Local driving laws in Washington D.C.

Before you hit the road in Washington D.C., it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the local traffic laws. Here are a few examples of what’s to be expected of you if you’re driving in the nation’s Capital:

It is illegal to use a handheld phone while driving in D.C. Hands-free and voice-activated features are fine to use, however.

When driving through a construction zone, you must slow down, yield to workers and work vehicles, and move into the far lane if safe to do so.

If an emergency vehicle is approaching, you must pull over or slow down safely to allow the emergency vehicle to go by. You are not allowed to take photos or use a cell phone within 500 feet of where emergency personnel are working.

Red light cameras and speeding devices are in effect.

Crime rate in Washington D.C.

The crime rate in Washington D.C. could have an effect on your driving experience as well as your

car insurance

rates.

In general, D.C. has a lower crime rate than the national average rate in 2020. However, Washington D.C. has quite high rates of motor vehicle theft; the odds of getting your car stolen are one in 203 if you’re a D.C. resident.

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How to report a stolen car

How to find car insurance in Washington D.C.

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