Accessible Travel: Washington, D.C.

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Washington, D.C., one of the nation’s most accessible cities, is also one of the most popular for tourism. We’ve highlighted some of D.C.’s top attractions, hotels and restaurants, as well as travel tips for visitors with special needs, and accessible vacation destinations in neighboring Virginia.

National Mall skyline at dusk.

National Mall skyline at dusk. Photo by Destination DC.

GETTING THERE AND AROUND
About a sixth of the U.S. population—more than 48 million people—lives within a five-hour drive of Washington, D.C. Its three airports, Reagan National, Dulles and BWI, offer accessible ground transportation, including lift-equipped buses, and Reagan National has a wheelchair-accessible walkway to the Metro station. Amtrak serves D.C.’s Union Station, one of the Metro’s hubs.

D.C. Metro rail system

D.C. Metro rail system. Photo by Destination DC.

Metro
The D.C. Metro system serves 86 stations in D.C., Virginia and Maryland. The Washington Metro Disability I.D. Card entitles riders to discount fares on the Metro and to Baltimore on MARC. The card must be purchased three to four weeks in advance and cannot be purchased at kiosks. For more information go to www.wmata.com/accessibility/metrorail.cfm

Parking and Taxis
On every D.C. block with government parking meters, there are two dedicated ADA meters, and the National Mall has dedicated drop-off zones. Consider saving money on hotel parking or time searching for parking by using Union Station’s public parking garage, which connects to the station via elevators. It’s open 24/7 and costs $22 for 12 to 24 hours, while hotel parking can easily be twice that. You can take the Metro from Union Station, and if you’re staying on Capitol Hill, a number of hotels, including the Hyatt Regency and Hotel George, are within a few blocks. Two companies offer wheelchair-accessible taxis in D.C. You can call or reserve a taxi online at:

Royal Taxi: 202-398-0500;
www.dctaxionline.com

Hotels
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
400 New Jersey Avenue, N.W.
202-737-1234
The Hyatt Regency Washington features 23 ADA-compliant rooms, some of which have roll-in showers. Other accessible features include front door alerting devices and the hotel’s restaurants, lounge, fitness center and indoor pool. The hotel is three blocks from Union Station, and near many of the Smithsonian museums and the National Mall. For more information go to http://washingtonregency.hyatt.com/en/hotel/our-hotel/accessibilty.html

Hotel George
15 E Street, N.W.
Hotel: 202-347-4200
Reservations: 800-546-7866
www.hotelgeorge.com
One block from Union Station, presidential-themed, pet-friendly Hotel George features accessible guest rooms (some with roll-in showers), gym, meeting space and business center. Just off the lobby, the hotel’s excellent and accessible Bistro Bis serves modern
French bistro fare.

Hotel George lobby

Hotel George lobby. Photo by Isaac Maiselman.

Restaurants
Carmine’s
425 7th St., N.W.
202-737-7770
www.carminesnyc.com/locations/washington-dc
This spacious, easy-to-navigate Italian restaurant near the National Mall and Newseum serves super-hearty family-style portions designed to serve four to six people. Carmine’s is a good option for those in wheelchairs, with food allergies like gluten intolerance, and groups and families.

Carmine's

Carmine’s. Photo courtesy of Carmine’s.

Equinox
818 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
202-331-8118
http://equinoxrestaurant.com
President Obama and the First Lady have dined at this accessible, contemporary power spot near the White House. The menu focuses on seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients, with gluten-free and vegan options.

Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian

Attractions
The Smithsonian Institution
Museums and Galleries
The Smithsonian Institution’s 17 D.C.-area museums and galleries, including the Air and Space Museum, the African Art Museum, the American Indian Museum, and the National Zoo, are free and offer free manual wheelchair loans on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, go to www.si.edu/Visit/VisitorsWithDisabilities

D.C. SUMMER TRAVEL TIP
If you’re planning on enjoying one of D.C.’s many outdoor festivals, remember that the city can be very hot in the summer. Make sure to have an umbrella for shade and plenty of water to prevent dehydration. For more information on accessibility in Washington, D.C., go to http://washington.org/DC-information/washington-dc-disability-information

QUICK TRIPS FROM D.C.
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia, 150 miles south of D.C., draws visitors with its Revolutionary War-themed tours, activities and architecture, much of which is accessible. (Williamsburg’s Amtrak station has an accessible platform.) Nearby Busch Gardens theme park is accessible, with wheelchair rentals for a fee. For more information, go to www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/plan/accessibility.

Hotel
The Fife and Drum Inn
441 Prince George Street
Williamsburg, Virginia
1-888-838-1783
www.fifeanddruminn.com
Williamsburg offers dozens of modern, accessible hotels, but if you want to stick with the colonial theme, the Fife and Drum Inn is just two blocks from the Amtrak station in Williamsburg’s historic section. The inn’s Drummers Cottage is wheelchair-accessible and sleeps up to six.

Virginia Beach
Boasting the world’s longest pleasure beach, Virginia Beach is a popular family destination 208 miles south of D.C. and 62 miles south of Williamsburg. Although peak seasons can be extremely crowded, a three-mile-long concrete boardwalk, flat, wide sidewalks and spacious curb cuts make Virginia Beach easy to navigate by wheelchair or scooter.

Grommet Island

Grommet Island. Photo by Virginia Beach CVB.

At the Virginia Beach boardwalk and 2nd Street, Grommet Island is the country’s first beach playground designed for children and adults of all physical capabilities, and is completely accessible. The playground has drawn visitors from all over the country, with 15,000 square feet of ramps and decking, soft play areas and sculptures, accessible play equipment, a shaded play area, picnic areas, and beach wheelchairs. For more information go to www.grommetisland.org.

Catering to children and adults with special needs, 70-acre Camp Grom is scheduled to open in Virginia Beach in spring 2016 as an accessible state-of-the-art beach-style adventure camp emphasizing rehabilitation through recreation.

Camp Grom activities will accommodate a range of abilities and will include wheelchair-accessible adventure trails, cable wakeboarding on a man-made lake, indoor boogie boarding, and ziplining. It will also feature a rehab pool and a wave simulator. For more information go to www.jtwalk.org/grom-camp.asp

—Eva Leonard

Caring Voice Coalition

Caring Voice Coalition is dedicated to improving the lives of patients with chronic illnesses. Our organization continues to accomplish its mission by offering outreach services that provide financial, emotional and educational support.

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