Capitol Hill to Crystal City

[OneEighth]

Probably easiest to take either the bike lanes down Pennsylvania Avenue or ride along the Mall to pick up the bike path across the 14th Street Bridge (by the Jefferson Memorial) and then take the Mount Vernon Trail south toward National. There is a trail off the Mount Vernon Trail at National that goes towards Crystal City, but I haven’t ridden that way, so someone else will have to give input on that.

[Justin Antos]

Hi Lacey! I am also a Hill resident and was a bike commuter to Arlington for years. After trying a bunch of different ways to Arlington, here’s my favorite! Thankfully, between the nice bike lanes on the Hill, Madison/Jefferson Drives on the Mall, and the Mt. Vernon Trail, you can bike most of the way on lanes, and dedicated trails, with very little riding in mixed traffic. There’s a nice path from the Mt Vernon trail under the train tracks and the Parkway at Crystal City, and it puts you out right on Crystal Drive.

I prefer this way no matter where I am on the Hill, even if on the south side. It is do-able to go south from Seward Square towards the ballpark, across on I St, and out by the fish market and SW waterfront, but the traffic isn’t as calm. It is also do-able to cross on the Memorial Bridge,but I dislike the crossing of the GW Parkway and the crowds on the Mall, and it’s further out of your way for Crystal City.

Let me know if you ever want a ride guide!

http://tinyurl.com/3h3otvv

[Author]

Posts