Carderock Park, MD

Check the trip announcement or check with the trip leader on which Carderock parking lot to meet at. Most leaders prefer the first parking lot on your left after you turn right at the T-intersection; but some prefer the third and last parking lot, about 0.5 mile farther. Both have restrooms.

FROM DC : go out Canal Road, which becomes Clara Barton Parkway as you pass Chain Bridge.  After several more miles pass under the Beltway and continue on the Parkway another 0.8 mile, and take the first possible exit, marked by a brown sign saying "Carderock/Carderock Division NavSurWarCen."  At the top of the exit ramp turn left and cross over the Parkway, then continue straight.  The road winds down, curving right, then left, passes under the C &O Canal, and comes to a T-intersection.  Turn right and then immediately left into the parking lot.  

FROM VA : come around the Beltway and cross the American Legion Bridge into Maryland.  On the bridge get into the right-most lane and take the exit at the far end of the bridge, signed as "Exit 41 - Clara Barton Parkway - Carderock - Glen Echo."  On the exit ramp, within 0.2 mile come to a Y-junction, and take the left fork, curving left onto Clara Barton Parkway.  Go 0.8 mile and take the first possible exit, marked by a brown sign saying "Carderock/Carderock Division NavSurWarCen."  At the top of the exit ramp turn left and cross over the Parkway, then continue straight.  The road winds down, curving right, then left, passes under the C &O Canal, and comes to a T-intersection.  Turn right and then immediately left into the parking lot.  

FROM MD : come around the Beltway heading west toward Virginia, and take the last exit before the American Legion Bridge - Exit 41.  Curve right onto the Clara Barton Parkway.  Go 0.8 mile and take the first possible exit, marked by a brown sign saying "Carderock/Carderock Division NavSurWarCen."  At the top of the exit ramp turn left and cross over the Parkway, then continue straight.  
The road winds down, curving right, then left, passes under the C &O Canal, and comes to a T-intersection.  Turn right and then immediately left into the parking lot.  

Edwards Ferry, C &O Canal Towpath m. 30.8, near Poolesville, MD:

A. from the Beltway (I-495) via River Road, Rt. 112, and Rt. 28:
 From the Beltway take River Road west for 3.5 miles into Potomac Village. Continue on River road west another 8.3 miles to a T-intersection.  Turn right onto Rt. 112. Go 2.8 miles to a T-intersection with a traffic light; turn left onto Rt. 28 west. Go 3.4 miles on Rt. 28 to a Y-junction; go left onto Rt. 107, Whites Ferry
Road. Go 5.0 miles on Rt. 107 into the center of Poolesville; continue straight another 2.2 miles on Rt. 107 and turn left onto Edwards Ferry Road. Go 4.3 miles to a T-junction; turn left and go 0.2 mile, crossing the Canal, to the Edwards Ferry parking lot.
Distance from the Beltway: 29.7 miles.

B. from the Beltway via I-270 and Rt. 28:
 From the Beltway take I-270 north for 6 miles, and take Exit 6B, Rt. 28 west. Go 11.5 miles on Rt. 28 west to a fork in the road.  (This fork is 0.5 mile beyond the bridge over Seneca Creek.)  Take the left fork, onto Rt. 107, Whites Ferry Road.
Go 5.0 miles on Whites Ferry Road into the center of Poolesville.
Continue straight ahead on Whites Ferry Road for 2.2 miles.  Turn left onto Edwards Ferry Road. Go 4.3 miles to a T-junction; turn left and go 0.2 mile, crossing the Canal, to the Edwards Ferry parking lot. Distance from the Beltway: 29.2 miles.

C. From the Beltway via River Road (uses obscure narrow roads that change their names; recommended only if you're good at following directions):
From the Beltway take River Road west for 3.5 miles into Potomac Village. Continue on River Road another 8.3 miles to a T-intersection.  Turn left, still on River Road, and continue another 6.7 miles to a mandatory right turn, where the road is now signed as Mt. Nebo Road.  Go 1.6 miles to a junction where West Offutt Road comes in from the right, and the road is now signed as West Offutt Road.  Go another 0.8 mile to a T-junction, and turn left onto Edwards Ferry Road. Go 1.1 mile to a T-junction; turn left and go another 0.2 mile to the Edwards Ferry parking lot.
Distance from the Beltway: 22.2 miles.

D. From Virginia via car ferry at Whites Ferry:
From Leesburg proceed north on Rt. 15; approximately 4 miles northeast of Leesburg turn right onto Whites Ferry Road, and wind down about one mile to the ferry.  Take the ferry across the Potomac River, $3 one-way.  The ferry runs continuously from 5 am to 11 pm.  After getting off the ferry proceed on Whites Ferry Road for 4.2 miles in the direction of Poolesville.  Turn right onto Edwards Ferry Road and go 4.3 miles to a T-junction; turn left and go another 0.2 mile to the Edwards Ferry parking lot.  

Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro Parking Garage, MD

From VA: Take the Beltway (I-495) and cross the American Legion bridge into Maryland. Go another 5 miles on the Beltway and take Exit 36, Old Georgetown Road, Rt. 187. Go 0.4 mile up the exit ramp to a traffic light and turn left onto Old Georgetown Road north. Go 1.5 miles on Old Georgetown Road and turn right onto Tuckerman Lane.  (This is the first right turn after you cross over I-270.)  Go 1.2 mile on Tuckerman Lane to a traffic light at Rockville Pike. Continue  straight across the intersection for 0.2 mile and take the second right, at a traffic light, at the sign "Music Center Event Parking," then immediately turn right again and enter the parking garage. From MD (Silver Spring and other points to the east of Rockville Pike): Go west on the Beltway (I-495) and take Exit 34, Rt. 355 north, Rockville Pike. Go 0.9 mile north on Rt. 355 and turn right at the third traffic light onto Tuckerman Lane, after seeing the Metro station on the right. (Ignore the first right onto Tuckerman Lane at the second light, just north of the Beltway. Tuckerman Lane is a semicircle that crosses Rockville Pike twice). Go 0.2 mi and take the second right, at a traffic light, at the sign "Music Center Event Parking," then immediately turn right again and enter the parking garage.

NOTE: some leaders prefer to meet in the open parking lot behind the parking garage. If so, you can drive through the garage to get to the parking lot. Check the trip announcement to see which place your leader prefers.

Oakton Shopping Center, Oakton, VA

From the Beltway(I-495): Take I-66 west from 495, drive 4 miles to Route 123 North (exit 60). Continue on 123 for 1.1 mi north to the 5 th light and turn left into Oakton Shopping Center with a big parking lot and "Giant" food store at the end. Verify with the hike leader if the meeting point is in front of the CVS/McDonalds or in front of Starbucks.

Shady Grove Metro, MD

From the Beltway(I-495): Take I-270 north 8 miles to I-370 east 3 miles to Shady Grove Metro. Verify with the hike leader if the meeting point is in parking lot #1 or at the old garage near Lot #2. just inside the entrance.

Vienna Metro North Parking Area, VA

From the Beltway(I-495): Take I-66 west 2 miles to Route 243 north - Nutley St. From Nutley turn left in 0.1 mile onto Virginia Center Blvd. Go 0.3 mile and turn left into the first Metro parking entrance "North Parking Lot". Go through the gate and park in the area directly ahead of you.