Get in

 • Reagan National Airport (DCA) is in South Arlington, and is used by several major regional airlines.
 • Dulles International Airport (IAD) is also nearby and accessible via shuttle bus and taxi.
 • Union Station in Washington, DC is the closest railway, about 10-15 min. by taxi from Arlington, or 30 minutes by "Metrorail" subway. There is also a regional bus station several blocks away from Union Station, though less accessible to Metro.
 • Highways entering Arlington include I-395 from the Southwest, I-66 from the West, George Washington Parkway from the Northwest, and Route 1 from the South. All connect to the Washington beltway (I-495). In addition, there are several bridges (Key, Lincoln, Memorial, and 14th Street) cross over the Potomac River from Washington (D.C.) to the East.

Get around

Park your car and leave it parked. Arlington has an excellent public transportation system, and using an automobile can bring more troubles than it is worth, as many of Arlington's attractions suffer from a dearth of parking spaces. If you insist on driving, you'd better be an early riser, as parking is especially tough to find after 10am.

Attractions

 • Arlington National Cemetery Just across the Potomac River from Washington (D.C.), adjacent to the Pentagon. Metro: Arlington Cemetery. Closes at dusk. This national military cemetery includes John F. Kennedy's tomb and the house of General Robert E. Lee. Visitors can watch the changing of the guard ceremony in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
 • Iwo Jima Statue (Marine Corps War Memorial) Near Arlington Blvd. and Meade St. The closest metro stops are Arlington Cemetery and Rosslyn, but it's a bit of a walk from either stop. A statue depicts the raising of the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima island during World War II, and inscriptions around the base of the platform list all of the military campaigns in which the Marines have fought. This spot also provides an excellent view of the July 4 fireworks.
 • Pentagon. Just across the Potomac River from downtown DC. Metro: Pentagon. While lingering is not recommended for security reasons, you should know it is the largest office building in the world, and covers 4 zip codes. (Army, Navy, Air Force and Department of Defense.)
 • Theodore Roosevelt Island. A lovely nature walk though this small national park gives one glimpses of both the area's natural woods and the Georgetown (Washington, D.C.) waterfront. Also includes a surprising monument to President Roosevelt himself.

Shopping

 • Ballston Common, Pentagon City and Pentagon Row are popular shopping destinations within Arlington. While Tyson's Corner is technically not in Arlington, it is accessible via interstate I-66 from Arlington.

Dining

 • Crystal City has many fine restaurants for every budget. Some choices include Hamburger Hamlet, Bailey's, and Tapas. For those of you seeking risqué entertainment, a trip to Crystal City Restaurant on 23rd Street South, close to Jefferson Davis Highway. However, admittance to this bar is restricted to those at least 21 years of age. Some shopping malls, such as The Underground, also have full-service restaurants, as well as food courts.

Drink

There are many bars in Arlington. The drinks can get pricey, but are plentiful. In north Arlington, Ballston Mall includes several pubs, while the Clarendon-to-Courthouse corridor has enough watering holes for a bar crawl. The entire area also has a high density of coffee houses.

The gay and lesbian community might want to pay a visit to Freddie's, a gay-themed bar in South Arlington, close to the corner of 23rd and Fern Street (look for the beach-themed purple patio with big rainbow flags out front).