National Harbor

The questions people ask first about National Harbor, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

• Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
• SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
• Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
• TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
• Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
• SafetyThe waterfront is well lit and busy until late; the main annoyances are event-night traffic, paid parking and the unlit walk up to MGM after dark.

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

• Coffee$4–7
• Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, main course$22–45
• Street or quick mealCrab cake sandwich$18–28
• BeerDraught beer at a waterfront bar$8–12
• Budget bedBudget chain room (Alexandria or Oxon Hill), a night, per roomUS$90
• Mid-range bedBudget chain room (Alexandria or Oxon Hill), a night, per roomUS$140
• High-end bedBudget chain room (Alexandria or Oxon Hill), a night, per roomUS$220

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$80 · Mid US$140 · High US$260

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Airports

DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National (Closest airport, about 12 km (7.5 mi); taxi or rideshare, no direct rail link) · IAD Washington Dulles International (About 57 km (35 mi); mostly international and long-haul domestic) · BWI Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (About 61 km (38 mi); domestic and some international)DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National (Closest airport, about 7.5 mi (12 km); taxi or rideshare, no direct rail link) · IAD Washington Dulles International (About 35 mi (57 km); mostly international and long-haul domestic) · BWI Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (About 38 mi (61 km); domestic and some international)

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Budget

$60–100 excl. bed

Mid

$100–180 excl. bed

High

$180+ excl. bed

• Parking garages charge by the hour and fill on event nights: check the rate board before you enter.
• The Circulator is the only easy link to MGM and the outlets; walking means a hill and no pavement in places.
• Waterfront restaurants add Maryland sales tax and expect 18–22% tipping on sit-down bills.
• Summer afternoons on the plaza are hot and shadeless; the wheel and boat rentals queue longest after 13:00.Summer afternoons on the plaza are hot and shadeless; the wheel and boat rentals queue longest after 1:00 PM.