IMPORTANT ADDRESSES:

As a conference attendee, you are expected to do your best to arrange your own transportation to the conference, but the SSDP National Headquarters is here to offer assistance if you need it.  In addition to potential travel scholarships, we can help you find the most affordable transportation options if you are an inexperienced traveler.  If you need more guidance than what is offered below, feel free to contact SSDP's outreach director, Amber Langston, at amber@ssdp.org or (202) 293-4414.

This guide contains tips to get you started, as well as exact directions from major airports, highways, and train stations to the conference itself.

TRAVEL TIPS:

If you are in the eastern part of the U.S., you may consider carpooling or taking bus or rail. Try Amtrak, Mega Bus, Chinatown Bus Lines, or Greyhound. However, flying may be less expensive, so check all options before booking your travel plans.  

If you are flying, start by checking Kayak.com for the best rates (Kayak is a travel search engine that searches most of the major travel and airline websites for the best prices). You should also check to see if your area is serviced by JetBlue or Southwest Airlines, which usually do not come up on travel websites like Kayak, but often offer good rates. You can fly into any one of three nearby airports: Dulles International (IAD), Reagan National (DCA), and Baltimore International (BWI). Flying into BWI or DCA will be the most convenient.

The Clarion Inn is about a mile and a half from the College Park metro stop, so if you are carrying luggage you may want to take a bus or taxi.

Important: Please note the metro hours of operation:
    Monday - Thursday: 5 a.m. - midnight
    Friday: 5 a.m. - 3 a.m.
    Saturday: 7 a.m. - 3 a.m.
    Sunday: 7 a.m. - midnight

If your flight time conflicts with the metro schedule, you will need to take a SuperShuttle or Taxi.

Please visit the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Trip Planner page to best estimate your travel times and costs using public transportation:
(http://www.wmata.com/tripplanner_d/TripPlanner_Form_Solo.cfm) *List your airport under “travel from” and your hotel’s address under “travel to” along with your estimated time of travel.

DIRECTIONS TO THE HOTEL: Click one of the links below to find out how to get to the Clarion Inn Hotel.

From Dulles International Airport (IAD)
From Reagan National Airport (DCA)
From Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI)
Driving Directions
Via Amtrak/Metro/Union Station
 
From Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Recommended: Metrobus & Metrorail - Cost: $4.85    Time: 1hr 45min

   1. Go to the Dulles Airport Bus Stop at Curb 2E.
   2. Take the 5A Metrobus toward L'ENFANT PLAZA (you will need $3.10 cash, and exact change is needed.)
   3. Exit the bus at the L’ENFANT PLAZA metro station.
   4. Purchase a metro fare card for at least $1.85 (you may want to put a larger amount and re-use the same metro card for your trip.)
   5. Take a bus transfer ticket, located past the entrance to the metro, but before you board a train.
   6. Take the GREEN LINE toward GREENBELT.
   7. Exit the train at COLLEGE PARK/U OF MD METRO.
   8. Exit the station to the right. Have your bus transfer ticket ready, along with 35 cents exactly for bus.
   9. If you are staying at the Clarion Inn,
take BUS 83 toward CHERRY HILL, or,
take BUS 86 toward CALVERTON, or,
take The Bus 17 toward College Park Station and Ikea Rd.
   10. Exit bus at Baltimore Ave and Berwyn Road, and arrive at Clarion Inn.  

Check here for bus schedule:
Metrobus to Metrorail for IAD - Bus 5A (http://www.washfly.com/flyer_bus_schedule.htm)

If your flight time conflicts with the metro schedule, you will need to take a SuperShuttle or Taxi:

SuperShuttle – Cost: $39+ (Or group rate)   Time:  ~45 min            

SuperShuttle stops are clearly identified on the Ground Transportation Level roadway outside the Main Terminal at Dulles. Depending on how many people in your group traveling to the conference, your rates will vary in accordance.  Contact SuperShuttle (website) directly for arrangements.

Taxi – Cost: $75+    Time: ~45 min            

No reservation is required. Simply come to the "Taxi Passengers" area on the lower level of the Main Terminal, where a Taxicab Dispatcher is on duty 24 hours a day.  Inform the driver that you are going to the Clarion Inn Hotel on Hwy 1/Baltimore Ave in College Park. Approximate one-way fares to College Park are $75 plus fees for additional passengers, luggage, etc. (http://www.washfly.com/Taxi_rate.htm.)

From Reagan National Airport (DCA)

Recommended: Metrorail - Cost: $2.70   Time: 50 min         

   1. Look for signs pointing to the National Airport Metro Station. It is located within the airport.
   2. Purchase a metro fare card for at least $2.70 (you may want to put a larger amount and re-use the same metro card for your trip.)
   3. Board the YELLOW LINE toward FT TOTTEN.
   4. Exit train at FT TOTTEN Metro Station.
   5. Transfer to the GREEN LINE toward GREENBELT Station.
   6. Exit train at COLLEGE PARK/UMD Metro Station.
   7. Exit the station to the right. Have your bus transfer ticket ready, along with 35 cents exactly for bus.
   8. If you are staying at the Clarion Inn,
take BUS 83 toward CHERRY HILL, or,
take BUS 86 toward CALVERTON, or,
take The Bus 17 toward College Park Station and Ikea Rd.
   9. Exit bus at Baltimore Ave and Berwyn Road, and arrive at Clarion Inn.  

If your flight time conflicts with the metro schedule, you will need to take a SuperShuttle or Taxi:

SuperShuttle – Cost: $28+ (Or group rate)    Time: ~45 min
            Upon arrival proceed to the outside curb and contact the SuperShuttle representative.  After hours, call 1-800-258-3826 and press 1 for dispatch or 2 for reservations.  Inform the driver that you are going to the Clarion Inn Hotel on Hwy 1/Baltimore Ave in College Park. Depending on how many people in your group traveling to the conference, your rates will vary in accordance.
Contact SuperShuttle (website) directly for arrangements.

Taxi: Cost: ~$35    Time: 25 min
Taxicab stands are conveniently located near the Arrivals (baggage claim) exits of each terminal. Dispatchers at each stand will help you select a taxicab based on your destination. Inform the driver that you are going to the Clarion Inn Hotel on Hwy 1/Baltimore Ave in College Park. No advance reservations are required—service is on a first-come, first-served basis.  Visit the Taxi Fares/Rates page to calculate prices.

From Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI)

Recommended: Metrobus & Metrorail - Cost: $4.35    Time: 1hr

 The BWI Express/B30 is located at two stops: on the lower level of the International Pier, and the on the lower level of Concourse A/B. You will need $3.10 cash and exact change is needed.  

Click here for B30 bus schedule: (pdf)

   1. Take the B30 toward the GREENBELT.
   2. Exit the bus at GREENBELT METRO STATION.
   3. Enter the station and purchase a farecard for at least $2.35.
   4. Take the GREEN LINE train toward BRANCH AVE.
   5. Exit the train at COLLEGE PARK/UMD
   6. Exit the station to the right. Have your bus transfer ticket ready, along with 35 cents exactly for bus.
   7. If you are staying at the Clarion Inn Hotel,
take BUS 83 toward CHERRY HILL, or,
take BUS 86 toward CALVERTON, or,
take The Bus 17 toward College Park Station and Ikea Rd.
   8. Exit bus at Baltimore Ave and Berwyn Road, and arrive at Clarion Inn.  

If your flight time conflicts with the metro schedule, you will need to take a SuperShuttle or Taxi:

SuperShuttle - Cost: $35+ (Or group rate)    Time: ~45 min
            SuperShuttle ticket counters are located in two locations, at the Lower Level near Baggage Claim #1 (Southwest Airlines Terminal - Pier A) and at the Lower Level near Baggage Claim #10 (Pier C) and are open between 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. Inform the driver that you are going to the Clarion Inn Hotel on Hwy 1/Baltimore Ave in College Park, MD.  Depending on how many people in your group traveling to the conference, your rates will vary in accordance.  Contact SuperShuttle (website) directly for arrangements.

Taxi
            The BWI taxi stand is located just outside of the baggage claim area of the Lower Level of the BWI Airport Terminal. Inform the driver that you are going to the Clarion Inn Hotel on Baltimore Ave in College Park, MD.  Approximate one-way fare to Washington, D.C. will cost around $75.00.  


Driving Directions

From the North:
Take I-95 South toward Washington, DC
At Exit 27, merge with I-495 East/Capital Beltway
Take Exit 25A-B south toward College Park onto US 1/Baltimore Ave
Drive approximately 1½ mile to Clarion Inn – intersection Baltimore Ave and Berwyn Rd

From the South:
Take I-95 North toward Washington, DC
At Exit 170B, merge with I-495 North/Capital Beltway towards Tysons Corner
Take Exit 25A-B south toward College Park onto US 1/Baltimore Ave
Drive approximately 1½ mile to Clarion Inn – intersection Baltimore Ave and Berwyn Rd

From the West (I-70):
Take I-70 East toward Washington, DC
At Exit 53 (just past Hagerstown, MD) merge onto I-270 South towards Washington, DC
Merge onto I-495 East/Capital Beltway
Take Exit 25A-B south toward College Park onto US 1/Baltimore Ave
Drive approximately 1½ mile to Clarion Inn – intersection Baltimore Ave and Berwyn Rd

From Amtrak/Metro/Union Station

Recommended: Metrorail - Cost: $1.90-$3.90 Time: ~1 hour

When you arrive at Union Station on Amtrak -

1. Follow signs (downstairs) to the UNION STATION METRO
2. Enter the metro and purchase a fare card for at least $2.90.
3. Get a bus transfer ticket AFTER you enter the station through the turnstyle, but BEFORE you get on the train.
4. Take the RED LINE towards SILVER SPRING or GLENMONT
5. Exit metro at RHODE ISLAND AVE. Have your bus transfer ticket ready, along with 35 cents exactly for the bus.
6. Take Bus 83 towards CHERRY HILL
7. Exit bus at Baltimore Ave and Berwyn Rd, and arrive at Clarion Inn

Alternatively, you may reach the hotel this way:

1. Follow signs (downstairs) to the UNION STATION METRO
2. Enter the metro and purchase a fare card for at least $1.65
3. Get a bus transfer ticket AFTER you enter the station through the turnstyle, but BEFORE you get on the train.
4. Take the RED LINE towards SILVER SPRING or GLENMONT
5. Exit train at FT TOTTEN METRO - do not exit metro station
6. Change trains to the GREEN LINE at FT TOTTEN METRO
7. Take train to COLLEGE PARK/UMD METRO
8. Exit the station to the right. Have your bus transfer ticket ready, along with 35 cents exactly for bus.
9. If you are staying at the Clarion Inn Hotel,
take BUS 83 toward CHERRY HILL, or,
take BUS 86 toward CALVERTON, or,
take The Bus 17 toward College Park Station and Ikea Rd.
10. Exit bus at Baltimore Ave and Berwyn Rd, and arrive at Clarion Inn.

If your train arrival time conflicts with the metro schedule, you will need to take a taxi:

Taxi – Cost: $30+ Time: ~25 min
When you arrive at Union Station, leave main (south) exit on the ground floor. There will be a taxi stand with several taxis lined and dispatchers to direct you. Inform the driver that you are going to the Clarion Inn Hotel on Hwy 1/Baltimore Ave in College Park. No advance reservations are required—service is on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you have any further questions about travel to the conference,
please contact Amber Langston at (202) 293-4414 or amber@ssdp.org