Bring toilet paper and hand warmers

Harriet Baskas Travel writer

If you’re among the millions of people that will be in Washington, D.C., when Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, then here are some last-minute tips to help you make the most of this historic occasion.

You won’t be alone
For awhile, officials were speculating that up to 5 million people would be showing up in D.C. for the festivities on and around January 20th. After calculating how many people can physically enter the city by Metro buses and subways, charter buses and other forms of transportation, estimates have been scaled back to a bit to somewhere between 2 and 3 million people.

There’s no way to calculate how many other people might descend on the city by car, bike or foot. — especially if nice weather prevails. While D.C. is preparing to welcome a larger-than-usual crowd, you’ll need to arrive prepared with strategies for getting to and from town, staying warm, getting through security and keeping an eye on your friends and family. You’ll also need a plan for staying nourished and using the restroom.

Staying there
If you don’t already have a hotel reservation in D.C. or anywhere in the region, you may be out of luck.

For last-minute accommodation options, try making arrangements on Craigslist or some other informal Web site. Of course, it never hurts to check back with relatives, friends and friends-of-friends for any last-minute openings.

Get there and back
Consider yourself lucky if you already have a reasonably-priced airline ticket to and from the D.C. area. Many airlines, including JetBlue, Virgin America, Air Tran, Southwest and US Airways, are adding extra flights and, in some cases, larger airplanes, for inauguration week, so last-minute reservations may be an option. And because airline schedules seem to be in constant flux, reconfirm your travel plans before heading to the airport.

On a special Inauguration Day travel page, Amtrak describes the expanded services and ticket restrictions in place for inauguration week and includes links for the Maryland Transit Administration’s Commuter Rail service (MARC) and the Virginian Railway Express (VRE). Festivity-goers should also note that D.C.’s Union Station has limited restroom facilities (Amtrak suggests you go on the train) and that on Inauguration Day, all food and retail outlets in the station will close down in the middle of the afternoon.

Thinking of taking the bus? Earlier this week, the Web sites of Greyhound, Vamoose, Boltbus and the Chinatown Bus Co, still showed some available reservations for rides during inauguration week. Rideshare boards are also another option.

• Bonus tip: If you purchased your plane ticket back in November, check back to see if the fare has dropped. If it has, ask your airline to refund the difference.

Getting around
Forget driving. Forget taxis. The streets will be closed around the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue and, outside that area, parking could be a nightmare. Walking, biking or riding on a Metro bus or train will be your best bet for getting in and out of the city.

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On Inauguration Day, buses will run on a modified Saturday schedule. Metrorail trains will run from 4 a.m. until 2 a.m. on a rush hour schedule well into the evening, but officials advise travelers to set out as early as 4 a.m. to avoid having to wait hours to simply get into a Metro station. Remember, too, that people will be crowding the stations after the inauguration ceremony and the parade, so D.C. insiders suggest making a reservation in town for lunch or dinner and making your way home after the big rush is over.

Metro has information on a special Inauguration Day Web page, which includes a free downloadable commemorative walking guide and a map showing the closest Metrorail stations to the day’s events. (Note: the Smithsonian’s Metrorail station will be closed on Jan. 20th.)

• Bonus tips: Buy a Metro farecard before January 20th so you don’t spend extra hours waiting in line just to purchase a ticket. Farecards are available online or in Metro rail stations. Everyone will need their own card to enter and exit the system.
• Bicyclists should consult the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) for recommended trails into the city and check their bikes — for free — at one of the two Inauguration Day bike valet stations. (Some hotels have bikes to loan and there are also bike rental shops in and around D.C.)

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