Questions about travel relating to Washington, District of Columbia, the capital city of the United States.
Washington, D.C is the political capital of the usa, known for its monuments and museums, notably those of the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian Institution. It should not be confused for washington-state, in the Pacific Northwest.
Although historically known as a southeastern city, since the late 20th century it has commonly been considered part of the Mid-Atlantic, and the southern end of the northeastern U.S. (the Boston-New York-Washington corridor). The immediate vicinity has been dubbed the D-M-V, encompassing "the District" and its neighboring suburbs in maryland and virginia, or more formally as the National Capital Region or National Capital Area.
Washington is only 38 miles (62 km) to the southwest of baltimore, and the two have overlapping suburban rings and transportation networks. Their cultures and economies are notably distinct, however, and each city should be considered a destination in its own right.
Visitor information
- WikiVoyage: Washington, D.C.
- Destination DC, official tourism association site
- District of Columbia Government
Transportation
Washington is well-connected to domestic and international destinations by air, rail, and road. The ring road, Interstate 495, is known as the Capital Beltway, and gives rise to the expression Inside the Beltway referring to the insular world of the political class.
