Where is the best place to park outside of DC to ride Metro bus or rail into mall for the day?|117222

We will be vacationing in Washington DC this spring, and have heard its best not to drive in and try to park. I would like to know the best place to park outside of the city proper to take Metro rail or bus in to see the sights each day. We will be staying North of the city. Also, any good, inexpensive places to eat near the mall- can be off the beaten path, one of those places tourists normally don_t know about. Would be welcome to any other suggestions for my family to get the most out of our trip. Thanks.

Yes, DC is definately not the best place to drive if you are not familiar with the area. I would recommend parking at one of the following locations. Odenton, MD rail station, or New Carollton, MD rail station. Odenton is a little farther north, but it offers free parking. At New Carollton you can take either the metro system or the MARC train(Penn Line). I have provided links to both below tranportation systems below. Enjoy your stay!

http://www.wmata.com/

http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/marc/

(note: the MARC trains do not operate on the weekends)

I always stay at the Embassy Suites-Tyson_s Corner, VA. The hotel is awesome and the suites are perfect for a family. The metro is just 2 miles from the hotel. You can drive to the Metro which has free parking at this site every weekend or you can take the hotel shuttle (free) to the metro The hotel also has a free shuttle to the Tyson_s Corner mall and the The Galleria mall which are both awesome. Lots of shopping and eating establishments. Driving into DC is a nightmare.