Motorcoach

WASHINGTON, DC
All motorcoach routes, parking and drop-off/pick-up spaces in the District are depicted in the Truck & Bus map.

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES
List of the drop-off/pick-up and parking locations
PDF map of the routes, restrictions and parking
Motorcoach Guide

ARLINGTON, VA
Arlington County, Virginia, has six tour bus zones with 44 parking spaces in areas convenient to local tourist attractions. These spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved. Click here for more information.

ALEXANDRIA, VA
The City of Alexandria, Virginia, allows motorcoach parking at designated locations. Some spaces in historic Old Town Alexandria require a free parking permit which must be obtained in advance; paid short-term parking is also available. Additional free, unreserved parking locations are available within three miles of Old Town. Click here for more information.

• Please check posted signs before parking since some short and long-term parking is subject to change.
• All buses must turn their motors off when parked. This is city law enforced by the Metropolitan Police Department. The fine is up to $1000 for a violation.
• Don’t embark or disembark passengers in “Loading Zones” or at Metrobus stops.
• Don’t park in any area posted “No Parking” or “No Standing.”
• Don’t park adjacent to any residential property, school, playground, hospital, church or park. (A standing vehicle that is not loading or unloading passengers is considered to be “parked” regardless of whether the engine is on.) Fine for violation is $250.
• Don’t park in metered areas when the meters are in effect – unless the meters are designated for motorcoach parking.
• No tour bus parking or standing on H Street, between Madison & 17th Street, NW.
• Information regarding street closings can be obtained from the DC Government website here or by phone from the Office of Emergency Preparedness at 202.727.3159.
• All motorcoaches providing city tours must have a licensed DC Guide on board at all times. Tour guides should make specific pickup time arrangements with drivers.

Certain locations within the District are more sensitive to bus parking due to the number of tourist attractions in an area. Bus parking is not permitted in these areas with the exception of Independence Avenue between 15th and 17th Streets. Violators will be ticketed and fined. These high impact zones are:

• 10th Street between E and G streets
• Ford’s Theatre
• Madame Tussauds
• Old Town Trolley Visitor’s Center
• National Mall — Independence Avenue between Ohio Drive and 3rd Street; Constitution Avenue between 23rd Street and 3rd Street
• Georgetown — K Street between 30th and 31st Streets.

Guides to motorcoach parking in the District of Columbia.

• L’Enfant Plaza
• Frontage Road
• The White House
• Museum of the Bible

Do not park in the following areas or you will be ticketed.

• H Street
• Pennsylvania Avenue
• Water Street

Motorcoach operators should prepare and be aware of the tour bus parking and loading/unloading along the National Mall and Memorial Parks. Tour bus loading/unloading is located in designated drop-off and pick-up zones that are indicated by appropriate signage throughout the park. Click here for a map and listing of these locations on NPS property and throughout Washington DC. More information is available on the National Mall and Memorial Parks webpage at www.nps.gov/nacc.

Please show consideration for our environment and the District’s anti-idling law. Motorcoaches may idle for up to three minutes in the District of Columbia, and may idle for up to five minutes if the temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit (32oF) or below.

DDOT and DDOE have produced a short video to inform commercial vehicle drivers about the idling laws in DC, and to gain support of the Diesel Idle Reduction Campaign. Visit the Idle Reduction Campaign webpage for more information or to nominate a driver who exhibits positive idle reduction behavior.