911Carrera said:
Thanks for all the great info!
Is parking at the Metro stop going to be a problem? Plastic Metro card?
Is there a Metro Station near Route 4 and the Beltway? Would that be a better Metro station to leave from going to the Smithsionian?
Thanks!
I forget what they call the plastic card (smart card or something like that). It's basically something you have to sign up for. I think it was stupid to require that, as so many tourists might use the metro for DC transportation vs. trying to find their way around town via car. But they changed it a year or so ago where you had to have it to park all day at the metro. But I believe they still have a metered parking section. Just pay close attention to the signs when you park.
There is the New Carrollton metro station just off Rt. 50. I'm not sure what the parking situation is like there though, but I imagine it's the same as others.
Only problem you might run into at this time of day is finding a spot to park in, since so many folks use the metro to go to/from work. Then again, not everyone does, so I'm sure as the morning rolls on, someone will have come and gone and they'll be a spot for ya.
Another option, if you can do it tomorrow instead, would be to catch a Keller bus into town if you're making it an all-day adventure. You can get their bus schedule at
www.kellerbus.com.
It's Auth Road ... you go down about 3/4 mile, go half way around the round-about then straight and there are parking lots down on the left side. 
Might wanna opt for parking in the metered section so you don't have to screw around with it.
