All Roads Lead to Otakon!
The information on this page has been largely written by our amazing community. It contains consolidated tips from Otakon Members, Volunteers, and Washington-area transportation specialists. We hope this will serve as a useful guide for those of you new to the area. We make every effort to ensure accuracy.
However, be aware that the services listed are all outside of Otakon’s control. So watch for any last-minute changes (schedules, fares, highway conditions, etc.).
For the purposes of your Internet map services or GPS:
- The Walter E. Washington Convention Center (WEWCC) is where Otakon will take place and is your ultimate destination. The street address is: 801 Mount Vernon Place NW, Washington, DC 20001.
- There is a metro stop for Mt Vernon Sq 7th St-Convention Center on the green/yellow metro line that is at one of the convention exits.
- Most intercity trains (Amtrak), regional commuter rail, and major bus lines connect through Union Station. Located in downtown Washington, D.C. at 50 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002, it is approximately 1 mile east of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (at Arlington, VA 22202) is about 5 miles southeast of Washington, D.C., on the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
- Dulles International Airport is located about 27 miles west of Washington, D.C. at 1 Saarinen Cir, Dulles, VA 20166.
- BWI Airport (at BWI Airport, MD 21240) is about 30 miles northeast of Washington, D.C. at the south/east end of I-195.
Attendee Transit Tips & Advisories
Add a digital SmarTrip card to your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet before traveling. Tap your phone at any Metro turnstile and bypass station kiosk lines completely.
Take the Yellow Line from Reagan (DCA) directly to the convention center with no transfers. From Dulles (IAD), ride the direct Silver Line. From BWI, take the free shuttle to the MARC commuter train to Union Station.
The convention center has no on-site public parking garage. Reserve nearby garage spaces in advance online, or park at suburban Metro station lots for affordable weekend rates.
Metro typically closes at 11:30 PM weeknights (Mon–Thu) and 1:00 AM weekends (Fri–Sat), subject to WMATA service adjustments. Check wmata.com for live schedules and alerts.
Transit and commuter rail services operate on reduced or altered schedules on weekends. Always check operator timetables in advance.
Travel Advisory Disclaimer: Third-party transportation providers, flight routes, rail timetables, and parking operators operate independently and may adjust schedules, fares, or routes without notice. Otakorp, Inc. does not operate transit services and assumes no liability for travel delays, service cancellations, or external travel conditions. Always consult official carrier websites for real-time alerts.