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Parking in DC is not recommended unless you know where exactly you want to go to. You don't want to park your car then drive somewhere else and find another parking spot. Waste of gas, money and time. Just take the metro from Bethesda to Metro Center then transfer to the blue/yellow line McPherson Sq (where the White House is) and start your trip from that area.
There are 3 totally FREE lots withing walking distance to 3 major memorials.
A generation ago, it was easy to park free in the large lot on the East side of the U.S. Capitol. In recent years, however, the whole neighborhood is cordoned off with Jersey concrete barriers and security gates that open only for employees. The parking spaces to the West side of the Capitol, near the Reflecting Pool, have signs posted "for Congressional Staffers only" at all times, 24/7, which I always felt is unfair, since on weekends they are empty and pretty much unused. They should be made available say, to families attending the evening military band concerts on the Capitol steps.
I've lived in the District for about 25 years and I call the Mall part of downtown. Capitol Hill is separate, but there is no logical division that separates the monuments and museums from the downtown area.
As a lifelong resident, I agree - and it's only nitpicking and only distracts from the original question, to make an issue of this. I mean, you can walk out of the Natural History Museum and into the Old Post Office Pavilion in 5 minutes.
This same type of question about transportation/parking, by the way, has been discussed HUNDREDS of times on the "District of Columbia" forum on http://www.tripadvisor.com.
Take the Metro. DC Parking Enforcement will write a ticket on your car(or rental) ONE SECOND after the time expires. Also there are a lot of contradictory signs downtown, esp. near the Verizon Center.
There are a lot of free parking spots available if you know how to look for them. Back alleys, store lots, and "employee only" spots (most are vacant on weekends) are among a few choices. I've never been towed or gotten a ticket parking in one of these, but you have to be smart about your choices..
Pull up any map of DT DC and it will encompass the Mall. I have lived here basically all of my life and the locals consider the Mall, Constitution & Independence Avenues as DT DC.
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