A few local notes

Travel & getting around

Fly into the DC area, celebrate with us in Frederick, and leave yourself a little time to explore.

Choosing an airport

DC first? DCA is the closest option. Coming from farther away? Compare flights into Dulles. Heading to Frederick? Compare fares and rental-car costs at all three—BWI is another useful option.

Rough road-distance estimates from our planning notes—not live routing. Travel times depend on traffic, route and your exact destination.
Airport	To central DC	To Ceresville Mansion	Into DC without a car
Reagan National DCA	About 4 miles	About 52 miles Allow roughly 60–80 minutes before traffic delays	Metro Blue or Yellow Line
Dulles International IAD	About 28 miles	About 43 miles Allow roughly 50–60 minutes before traffic delays	Metro Silver Line
Baltimore/Washington BWI	About 32 miles	About 53 miles Allow roughly 55–70 minutes before traffic delays	Airport shuttle to BWI Rail Station, then MARC Penn Line or Amtrak to Union Station

These estimates are for comparing airports, not choosing your wedding-day departure time. Check live navigation and allow time for baggage and collecting a rental car.

Official airport-to-transit guide · DCA airport · IAD airport · BWI airport

Regional orientation: Frederick is northwest of Washington; BWI is northeast, Dulles west, and Reagan National south. Airports connect to DC by rail; travel to the venue is by road. — Regional orientation—not to scale. Lines show travel options, not actual routes.

Do you need a rental car?

Staying in Frederick

A car is the flexible choice.

Downtown Frederick is walkable, but the hotel, venue and other stops are spread out. A rental car can make the weekend easier. Check your hotel’s parking arrangements before booking.

Staying in downtown DC

Explore by Metro; plan the venue trip separately.

You may not want a rental car for every day. Hotel parking can add substantially to your bill and is not always included. Use Metro around DC, then arrange a car or ride to Frederick.

The last leg

Ceresville Mansion

8529 Liberty Road
Frederick, MD 21701

The wedding is in Frederick, not downtown Washington. There is no Metro stop at the venue; plan the final leg by road. Use the wedding schedule on Zola for arrival timing, and confirm parking or accessibility questions with the venue before traveling.

Open venue directions Official venue contact

A quick DC driving primer

The area’s diagonal avenues, traffic circles and changing lane patterns can take a little getting used to. Give yourself time and let current signs—not an old route description—be your guide.

Reversible lanes and one-way streets. Some routes change operation by time of day. Follow overhead lane signals, barriers and posted signs, especially around parkways.
Traffic circles. Decide on your exit before entering, stay in the marked lanes, and obey each circle’s signals and signs. Their layouts are not all the same.
Parking and cameras. Read parking restrictions carefully and follow posted speed limits. Do not assume a short stop or a small amount over the limit is exempt from enforcement.
Traffic and closures. Commuter periods and major events can add time. Check live traffic on the day, including your route out to Frederick.

District transportation information · Rock Creek Park conditions

What the heck is the Metro?

WMATA’s Metro is the region’s rail system, with both underground and above-ground stations. It is often the simplest way to explore DC without worrying about driving and parking.

Plan the journey. Check your route, transfer and any service notices. For mobility needs, also check elevator status before leaving.
Choose a payment method. Contactless payment and SmarTrip are supported. Use the same card or device to tap in and tap out—a physical card and that card in a phone wallet are not interchangeable for the same trip.
Tap out at your destination. Rail fares depend on your trip and when you ride. The current structure distinguishes weekday daytime from evenings/weekends; use WMATA for your exact fare.
Leave a little room. Let riders off before boarding. On escalators, stand to the right and keep the left clear for people walking.

Ways to pay & current fares · Trip planner & service information

Where to stay

Our Zola travel page lists Hilton Garden Inn Frederick and the current accommodation details. Please use that page for booking information rather than assuming a rate, block deadline or shuttle arrangement.

Accommodations on Zola

Official transit and venue information checked September 26, 2026. Recheck before your trip; services and conditions may change before May 2027.