Here are some travel tips and information for getting to the park.
On weekend days with nice weather during peak season (late spring through early fall) arriving before noon will help you to avoid long lines to get into the park.
Because of heavy traffic in the greater D.C. area, allow yourself plenty of extra time to get to the park, especially if you are planning to meet people at a certain time.
The times of heaviest traffic in the D.C. area are from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays. On weekends, heaviest traffic times can vary dependent on weather and events.
Be aware that I-66 inside the beltway is HOV-2+ (high-occupancy vehicle, two or more passengers) from 5:30 - 9:30 a.m. going East and from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. going West, Monday through Friday. Solo drivers will need to pay a toll to use I-66 during these times. Outside the beltway, there is a single restricted HOV lane on weekday mornings and afternoons.
