IS IT LEGAL TO HANG OUT ON THE MALL IN DC ALL NIGHT???

[growlypants]

no drinking or anything.....just gonna stay there overnight (not sleeping, of course). Motels/hotels TOO EXPENSIVE. Anyone have any info on this?? Thanks

[ironman202]

1. they will run you off if you look like you're camping

[growlypants]

5. what if I look like I'm simply hangin out????

[jedr]

10. an other way I've done DC is;

To stay in Winchester VA... it's about an hour and a half drive to the closest metro station near DC ( Map quest it).. parking is free at metro station, and an all day pass on the metro is $6.50...you can get a cheap room in Winchester in the $50 range. ( or camp ground)

[1monster]

2. Take a prayer pillow to kneel on when anyone official looking comes around

and tell them you are holding an all night prayer vigil... (But that won't work very well if they find your head, rather than your knees resting on that pillow...)

[growlypants]

6. HAHAHAHA. I'll tell em Im a quadrapalegic and cant sit up to pray.

They wouldnt DARE hurt a handicapped person

[HereSince1628]

9. DON't bet on that

You could get a really rude lesson on the crowd control tactics of the national park police.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. There isn't any curfew, no law about going outside in the middle

of the night. Just be careful, that isn't exactly the safest place in the world.

[growlypants]

7. yeah, there are RUPBULICANS around. You're right!!!!!

[jedr]

4. Can do monuments or ride the metro ;but

Check expedia or other sites and borrow $50 from someone... even espresso coffee all night would cost more than that. Stayed at Tyson Corners Hilton for $85/night over Memorial Day weekend....booked it on expedia.

[ironman202]

16. metro stops running after midnight

[minerva50]

8. Try a Campgouund

There's Greenbelt Park at $14.00 a night. www.nps.gov/gree/

Friends of mine stayed at a campground that is near the junction of I95 and the beltway, Cherry Hill, it's more expensive, but they enjoyed it. www.cherryhillpark.com

[AnnInLa]

11. I know there are cheapie hotels on the outskirts, and then you can

ride the metro in to the demonstration. Or aren't there any hostels in DC? I think there is a Washington DC forum here on DU...why don't you go over there and ask them about hostels. I'm afraid the police would roust you for "hanging out" in the mall. You'd have to keep moving around...and then be dead on your feet the next day for the protest. And, like another poster noted, it's not safe once the tourists leave the mall.

[shraby]

12. Do the buses run all night in DC?

If they do, get on one, ride it to the end of the line and back then hop another one and do the same thing till morning. If they say something, tell them you want to see the whole town.

[jedr]

13. no buses....metro underground

[minerva50]

15. Limited Service

They claim Buses run 24 hours, but they get pretty scarce at night. Metro shuts down at midnight most nights, 3AM on Friday and Saturday.

[Tesha]

14. Depending on where you're coming from, ...

Depending on where you're coming from, taking "Red Eye" transportation may be
another alternative. For example, you may be able to take a bus or train through
the night, arriving in DC in the early morning.

The red-eye train has worked for us more than once.

The various peace groups are also sending buses. These too travel through the
night if you're coming from far away.

We've done this, too.

Tesha