Alexandria, VA

Key Highlights

Hotels	38
Total Sleeping Rooms	6,175
Committable Sleeping Rooms*	319
Committable Meeting Rooms*	43
Largest Exhibit Space	4,845 Sq. Ft.
Largest Ballroom	10,200 Sq. Ft.
Average Hotel Room Rate	USD $201
Average Daily Meal Cost	USD $71
Average Weekly Car Rental	USD $392
*Maximum for a single hotel

Alexandria, VA Meeting Planning Overview

Located fewer than five miles from Washington, DC, and brimming with historic homes, churches and museums, Alexandria, Virginia presents a unique blend of past and present. Though cobblestone streets, wrought-iron lamp posts and free downtown trolleys characterize the streets of its downtown, the city is unmistakably forward-thinking. In fact, more than $400-million has been invested in new hotels and upgrades and recently opened, chef-driven restaurants. Not surprisingly, approximately three million people visit the city each year to tour Alexandria's historic attractions, dine at a waterfront eatery and take part in special events, weddings, corporate functions and other meetings that are held in the many venues in Alexandria.

Alexandria holds a strong business presence and is home to the 4th largest number of professional associations in the United States. The city is home to such associations and corporations as the U.S. Patent and Trade Office, American Diabetes Association, Drug Enforcement Administration, Meals on Wheels Association of America and the Salvation Army. Several universities and colleges, including Northern Virginia Community College, Virginia Tech, and Virginia Commonwealth University, have branch locations in the city. Also ranked as one of America's Top 50 Greenest Cities, Alexandria benefits from eco-friendly mass transit, high park density and city-wide sustainability programs. Add Green Seal and Virginia Green certified hotels and restaurants, and an abundance green group experiences.

Recently rebranded as "A Capitol Location," Alexandria is centrally located to the Capitol area: It is less than one mile from Ronald Reagan National Airport, 20 miles from Dulles International airport and 40 minutes away from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Located in historic Old Town, the Alexandria Station serves five Amtrak routes from its Federal Revival-style terminal. The Cardinal/Hoosier State, Carolinian/Piedmont, Crescent, Northeast Regional and Silver Service/Palmetto routes all stop at the station. From there, passengers can access the Metro King Street station as well as Alexandria DASH and WMATA bus lines. Once in Alexandria, groups will enjoy its walk ability, which has been lauded in AAA's travel publications, as well as Prevention magazine.

Alexandria's wealth of hotels offers more than 7,900 guest rooms and 170,000 square feet of function space. There are 23 meetings-friendly properties in Alexandria, accounting for 4,635 guest rooms. Of these, the largest is the 496-room Hilton Alexandria Mark Center. This 30-story hotel offers 55,000 square feet of meeting space, 32 meeting and breakout rooms and a 10,200-square-foot ballroom. Its International Association of Conference Centers (IACC)-certified Executive Meeting Center provides 8,000 square feet of dedicated meeting space. In addition to this venue, the distinctive hotel venues in Alexandria represent almost every major brand, from 4 Star boutique hotels. Other full-service meeting properties include the Hilton Old Town and Embassy Suites, located directly on the King St. Metro; the recently renovated Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Historic District and the Sheraton Suites Alexandria hotel. The most recent additions to Alexandria are three Kimpton properties that include the Hotel Monaco Alexandria, Lorien Hotel & Spa, and the stately Morrison House.

Search DC area event venues and find DC event planning information.

Alexandria, VA Area Destinations

Washington, DC	Annapolis, MD	Arlington, VA	Bethesda, MD
Capital Beltway, DC	Capitol Hill, DC	Chevy Chase, MD	Dulles Technology Corridor, VA
Dupont Circle, DC	Fairfax County, VA	Gaithersburg, MD	Georgetown, DC
Loudoun County, VA	Montgomery County, MD	National Harbor, DC	Old Town Alexandria, VA
Rockville, MD	Tysons Corner, VA	Washington, DC Convention Center	Woodley Park, DC

About Alexandria, VA / Additional Info

As a Washington, DC suburb, the small, 15-square-mile city of Alexandria runs the risk of being dwarfed by its political and commercial giant. However, this is anything but the case. In fact, Alexandria is held in high regard for its distinct, strong economy, historical significance and its lower crime rate. The National Trust for Historic Preservation selected Alexandria as one of the 2011 Dozen Distinctive Destination. Alexandria, nominated by the Alexandria Convention & Visitors Association with input from the Office of Historic Alexandria, was chosen for its urban charm that blends an extraordinary early American past with modern flair and its citizens' strong commitment to protecting and celebrating their history.

Alexandria is home to more than 250 18th-century buildings and a staggering 4,000 19th-century buildings within city limits. Founded in 1749, Alexandria's colorful past has included everything from serving as a vital seaport during Colonial times to being home to first U.S. President George Washington to remaining the Confederacy's longest-occupied city during the Civil War. Part of DC as late as 1852, Alexandria was re-chartered as a separate city in 1852 Today, it remains f the third-oldest and most intact of the District's original neighborhoods.

Lucky for visitors, a number of Alexandria's historic treasures can be explored by the public (and many rented for private functions). The Athenaeum, once home to the Bank of the Old Dominion, and the Carlyle House, built in 1753 by city founder John Carlyle, are both open for tours and private events. Learn about the inventions that have shaped our lives through history at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office Museum, or explore medicinal bottles, pill rollers, prescription books and other related artifacts at the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, whose clients included Martha Washington and Robert E. Lee.

Undoubtedly one of the most popular historic attractions near Alexandria is Mount Vernon. Having served as home to George and Martha Washington for roughly 40 years, this historic estate and surrounding gardens offer an excellent insight into the former president's life and times. Guests can see artifacts such as a large globe commissioned for Washington's study and swivel chair used during his presidency in the home, or see a re-creation of Washington's 16-sided treading barn on the estate's current four-acre working farm.

Alexandria is certainly not a destination to be enjoyed by history buffs alone. Filling its streets is also a dizzying number of unique boutiques and creative art galleries. At the Torpedo Factory Art Center, visitors are invited to explore three floors of 82 open artist studios and six galleries, all of which showcase original pieces for purchase. Enjoy the best musicals, comedies and dramas of American contemporary theater at MetroStage, or catch a performance by country, folk and rock music performances at the legendary Birchmere.

Dining venues in Alexandria offer a stellar experience. According to the New York Times, "[In] recent years, young chefs and ambitious restaurateurs have planted their knives in Old Town" Alexandria now has more than 90 restaurants in the historic district, many with private rooms or available for buyouts.

Alexandria, VA Key Stats for Meeting Planners

Time Zone: Eastern Time (ET)

Hotel at Convention Center? No
Sleeping Rooms 1 Mile from Convention Center: 4,700

Airport(s):

Destination Type(s):

Smoke-free Restaurants
Historic Destination

Special Event Venues
37
Population
139,966
Restaurants
70
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
5.00%
Currency
U.S. Dollar
Standard Tipping Practice
10-20%
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Official Languages
English

Credit Cards and Travelers Cheques widely accepted? Yes

All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Cities Near Alexandria, VA

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Richmond, VA	103 mi	1 hr 58min	40 min	USD $315+
Philadelphia, PA	144 mi	2h 48 min	50 min	USD $199+
Norfolk, VA	189 mi	3h 28min	52 min	USD $259+
New York, NY	234 mi	4h 26min	1h 7min	USD $194+
Atlanta, GA	633 mi	10h 42min	1h 18min	USD $246+

Alexandria, VA Climate Information

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. High (°F)	42	46	57	67	76	85	88	87	80	69	58	47
Avg. Low (°F)	27	29	38	46	56	66	71	70	62	50	41	31
Rec. High (°F)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Rec. Low (°F)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Rainfall (in)	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.7	3.0	4.0	4.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0

Alexandria experiences four seasons, ranging from warm, humid weather from April to October to winters seeing temperatures dropping into the 20s. Alexandria summers are hot and humid with average temperatures in the high 80s. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 88°F, while the coldest month is January, with an average low of 28°F.

Alexandria's average annual precipitation is 40 inches evenly distributed throughout the year. Occasional heavy snowfalls occur during the winter, though light snowfalls are more common. Fall and spring are the best seasons to visit the city, as temperatures range from the 50s to 70s, the skies remain sunny and the humidity levels are lower.

Alexandria, VA Area Destinations

Washington, DC	Annapolis, MD	Arlington, VA	Bethesda, MD
Capital Beltway, DC	Capitol Hill, DC	Chevy Chase, MD	Dulles Technology Corridor, VA
Dupont Circle, DC	Fairfax County, VA	Gaithersburg, MD	Georgetown, DC
Loudoun County, VA	Montgomery County, MD	National Harbor, DC	Old Town Alexandria, VA
Rockville, MD	Tysons Corner, VA	Washington, DC Convention Center	Woodley Park, DC

Alexandria, VA Airport Information

Alexandria is served by three major airports: Ronald Reagan National Airport, Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Airport. All the airports are easily accessible from Alexandria from ground and public transportation, and most hotels offer shuttle services.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)

Approximate taxi fare: $15.62 USD

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Approximate taxi fare: $85.57 USD

Alexandria, VA Train Information

Alexandria Station

Located in historic Old Town, the Alexandria Station serves five Amtrak routes from its Federal Revival-style terminal. The Cardinal/Hoosier State, Carolinian/Piedmont, Crescent, Northeast Regional and Silver Service/Palmetto routes all stop at the station. From there, passengers can access the Metro King Street station as well as Alexandria DASH and WMATA bus lines.

Alexandria Station is open daily from 6 AM to 9 PM.

Alexandria, VA Public Transportation

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)

Metrobus

Metrobus serves passengers 24 hours a day, seven days a week with 1,500 buses covering 150 square miles in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. In 2007, Metrobus provided 131.5 million trips.

Metrobus schedules vary based on route and location. Fares are $1.35 using cash and $1.25 using SmarTrip, Metro's permanent, rechargeable plastic cards. Express fares are $3.10 using cash and $3 using SmarTrip. Exact fare is required.

MetroRail

The second busiest rapid transit system in the nation, Metrorail serves 86 stations and operates on 106 miles of track, both above and below ground. Its five color-coded lines service the Washington, DC downtown area and extend into Fairfax County, Arlington County and the City of Alexandria in Virginia, and into Montgomery County and Prince George's County in Maryland. Alexandria has four Metro stations: King Street (with blue and yellow line service), Braddock Road (with blue and yellow line service), Eisenhower Avenue (with yellow line service), and Van Dorn (with blue line service).

Metrorail schedules vary based on time and day, with high frequency service being offered during peak hours weekdays from 5 to 9:30 AM and from 3 to 7 PM. Metrorail fares vary based on distance traveled. Regular fare, in effect weekdays from opening to 9:30 AM and from 3 to 7 PM and weekends from 2 AM to closing, is set at $1.65 minimum and $4.50 maximum. Reduced fare, applicable all other times, is $1.35 minimum and $2.35 maximum. Reduced fares are available for seniors. Children ages 4 and under ride free with each adult paying full fare.

DASH Bus Service

Operated by the Alexandria Transit Company, the safe, reliable DASH bus service operates on 10 routes throughout Old Town Alexandria and the surrounding vicinity. Carrying more than four million passengers per year on its 64-bus fleet, DASH connects to Washington, DC Metrobus stops and to all four Alexandria Metrorail stations.

DASH schedules vary based on route and location. DASH charges a base fare of $1.25 per person. Passengers ages 4 and under ride free. All transfers are free. Passengers can also pay via SmarTrip. DASH also offers a free Lunch Loop service through Old Town, operating Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM to 2 PM.

King Street Trolley

Run by the City of Alexandria, the free King Street Trolley operates on the one-and-a-half-mile-long route from Alexandria's King Street Metrorail station to the Potomac River waterfront. Serving nearly 700,000 riders since April 2008, the bright red trolley makes 20 stops along King Street, providing direct access to accommodations, restaurants, entertainment and shopping.

The trolley runs seven days a week from 11:30 AM to 10 PM. It departs from the Metrorail station and waterfront every 10, 30 and 50 minutes past the hour.

Rental Cars

Avis, Alamo, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty service all three airports in the Alexandria area. On-site rental car counters at Reagan National are located on the first floor in Parking Garage A. At Baltimore/Washington International, the car rental facility is accessible by a free shuttle departing from the lower level terminal.

Taxis

Taxis are located near the baggage claim exits of each terminal at Reagan National. Fares average $12 to Alexandria.

Dulles International's Washington Flyer taxis are located on the lower level of the Main Terminal. Charges are $2.80 for the first quarter mile and $0.45 for each additional quarter mile. Average fare to Alexandria is $55; to Washington DC, $50; to Arlington, $45; to Tyson's Corner, $27; and to Reagan National, $58.

The taxi stand at Baltimore/Washington International is located outside of baggage claim. Average fare to Alexandria is $70. Once in Alexandria, taxis can be hailed on the street or called from hotel front desks. Taxi fare from Alexandria to downtown Washington, DC averages $15 to $20.

Distance To...

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Richmond, VA	103 mi	1 hr 58min	40 min	USD $315+
Philadelphia, PA	144 mi	2h 48 min	50 min	USD $199+
Norfolk, VA	189 mi	3h 28min	52 min	USD $259+
New York, NY	234 mi	4h 26min	1h 7min	USD $194+
Atlanta, GA	633 mi	10h 42min	1h 18min	USD $246+