If you’re even remotely thinking about making the trip from New York to Washington DC for President Obama’s inauguration, now would be the time to book.
NewYorkology was in DC this past weekend and can report the inauguration stage is already under construction, several hotels are cranking up their renovations and the buttons are already on sale with phrases that start out “I, Barack Obama, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of the President of the United States of America. …”
If you enjoyed the crazy infectious enthusiasm that hit NYC on Election Day, you can count on the same for DC on Inauguration Day. At the base of the Lincoln Memorial this past weekend, kiosks were set up for people to sign good wishes to the president elect. Pretty much all the spaces were filled Sunday morning, with people lining up to write on top of what was already there.
The inauguration is Tuesday, January 20; the day before is also a holiday: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Here are some of the links you’ll need to book a cheap trip to DC by bus, plane or train, as well as how to find a hotel and maybe inauguration tickets.
Planes Delta Shuttle - One-way tickets as little as $64 one-way on January 19 from LaGuardia to Washington-Reagan (DCA). JetBlue - One-way fares from $209 on January 19 from JFK to Washington Dulles (IAD). American - JFK to DCA from $104 one-way on January 19. US Airways - LaGuardia to DCA from $149 one-way on January 18, 19 or 20.
United - $169 one-way on a number of routes, including JFK to Washington Dulles and LaGuargia to Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Train Amtrak - NYP (New York Penn Station) to Washington’s Union Station (WAS) are mostly sold out for inauguration morning, but there are some seats left for as little as $103 one-way.
Buses BoltBus has a Jan. 20 $1 ticket on sale, but you won’t get in until the evening. The Jan. 19 buses are $18 and $20. MegaBus - currently booking for tickets no later than January 11, but those tickets start at $5 one way. Vamoose - Always $25 one way; accepts reservations 60 days in advance of travel date. Peter Pan Greyhound DC to NY Apex Bus Washington Deluxe Today Bus
Picture and video credits: Amy Langfield/NewYorkology
