Where to park to go to the Smithsonian?

I am coming down from the north of DC for a sunday trip to the smithsonian museums.

On the smithsonian website they say that there is no parking at the Smithsonian, but there are many garages in the area.

Can anyone recommend a place to park when going to the Smithsonian, (particularly air and space), or if it would be easier to park at Greenbelt or College Park and ride the metro into smithsonian station?

Also, which would be the most cost effective way to get there?

Taking the Metro is the easiest and most economical. The Metro stations are clean and the map is easy to follow. A hint-- make sure you get one Metro card per person, don't try to combine everyone on one ticket. Also, be aware that you'll need to "slide" your ticket on the way in and again on the way out, with each trip. I think it's 1.65 each way during the week, and 1.35 on the weekend.

Most of the street parking has meters that only allow 2-hours of parking, which will not be enough time! It's 0.25$ per 15-minutes.

Enjoy your trip! There's lots to see in the Smithsonians...

I highly recommend using the metro, but if you want to park, just head down there; there is some on-street parking all around if you're lucky enough to find a space, and all around there are commercial garages. I don't think any one is any better than another, and you never know where you'll find space. Have fun, though.

I have family in D.C. and whenever we plan a day to go to the museums we usually ride the metro. It comes out right by the museums and it seems to be way cheaper than paying a fee to park or to take a taxi.

You can park at a meter or in a parking garage, but you will have to walk from there. The metro is always better. Then no matter what you don't have to worry about your car getting towed. It's not far from the metro. It's a nice walk. Very plesant. I used to go there every weekend until I moved! Have fun and don't spend too much at the vendors!

While I agree that using Metro is better, there are options if you wish to drive. If you arrive just before the museums open at 10am, you will likely find a spot on one of the streets that divide the Mall (many of the spots become legal parking at 10am and are completely taken within minutes). If you chose to use a garage, the one under L'Enfant Plaza (enter from Independence Avenue) is relatively close to the Air & Space Museum. On a Sunday there shouldn't be any problem getting a spot there.

Also, on a Sunday there shouldn't be a charge for parking on the streets with parking meters.

If you have a number of people in your party, you'd be better off to drive to the Mall and hope to find on-street parking, which may be free if it's on Constitution or Independence Ave. If not, just park in a commercial lot.

If it's only one or two people, then I'd take Metro, if walking a good distance does not bother you. Metro requires every rider to have his/her own farecard.

I live in Maryland and when we visit DC or the Smithsonian
we also take the Metro.
I was going to suggest the Metro and go into detail about
it but I can see you already have a couple of answers about
the benefits already.

METRO,all the way. free on the weekends, not crowded at all and way less stress.

I parked at L'Enfant Plaza which is about a 5 minute walk to the Smithsonian.