East Falls Church Metro Parking Lot | Informal Campsite

Best decision if you're in town to checkout the Smithsonian and Mall. Its safe, fairly quiet, and much easier to navigate some of the other spots nearby (particularly if your rig is 20+ feet).

We stayed Fri - Sun. It did not cost us anything on the weekend. We stayed at the back of the lot. No one parked near us all weekend.

100% would stay here again.

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Metro cop was not as nice to me. I got kicked out after an hour. Very full on COP protocol (keep your hands out of your pockets; stand in front of your car (in the rain). Had both of these orders barked at me multiple times while trying to be very respectful and cooperative).
Not sure if there's anything I could've done to not get their attention, except not parking so far in the back..😫

Looked like the perfect spot if he'd given me a break

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Huge open lot, as long as a highway and buses and trains don’t bother you great location close to everything and also can just catch a train or bus for the day. Stayed parked here for 2 days without issue only cost me 5$. Definitely would come back here

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Came in on sunday and stayed two nights.
Subway station just besides which is really nice.
Police car are regularly parked at end of lot.
Went to talk to policeman who said that parking is for 24 max so he said to move to another parking space in the lot and should not be a problem. And said it was a safe neighborhood too.

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Do not try to park a trailer at this location, the entry is too narrow and the lot is only designed for individual vehicles. Also, I saw one car with a parking ticket on the windshield so it is monitored (at least occasionally). We parked here over Saturday night and the entrance was open. Had to lift the arms at the entrance a bit higher to get through with a trailer.

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As described. Stayed here with no problems. Had the lot to myself by the time I got back to my car around 9:30. Very easy to get to if coming east on 66.

Also, if planning to take multiple trips into the city (evening and then in the morning) be aware the one-day metro pass is just the day, not 24 hours. Paid a bit more than expected to stay here.

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Officially it is $5 Monday-Friday, Sat-Sun free. There are 3-400 parking spaces here, maybe 1/4 full. It's like having a parking lot to myself.

There is no parking attendant in the booth, the gate is automatic. Drive in, the gate auto-rises, with the expectation that payment is given upon exit.

I grilled the metro attendant, he's seen cars parked for weeks on end here, no one tows them away, as this is an affluent-safe neighborhood, so Transit Police leave it be.

He also says officially it is $5 per day, a day being 24 hours. But there is no time ticket given upon entry, so one can stay inside the lot for a week (or longer), depart and pay only $5.

Metro entrance is a 1 minute walk. Orange and Silver metro lines run to DC, one way $3.80 to the Smithsonian stop. 20 minutes.

Freeway off to the side is a dull roar, background noise. No services here. Come with a fully stocked car camper as no in/out (unless Sat-Sun).

Update: I stayed Thurs & Fri, drove out Sat morning and the gate was up, didn't pay a dime. I love this place.

Update: stayed another 2 days, left the lot, paid $5. And again, 2 more days, paid $5.

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