President Joe Biden’s inauguration in Jan. 2021 may have been scaled back due to COVID-19, but Washington, D.C., is now preparing to welcome a tremendous influx of visitors for the monumental event this year for President-elect Donald Trump.
Elliott Ferguson, II, Destination DC president and CEO, told Fox News Digital, “The public hasn’t been able to participate in the inauguration since 2017, so we expect significant interest.”
Typically, first-term presidents have larger inaugurations, according to Destination DC’s data partners.
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Kristin Petersen, a travel adviser at Travelmation in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, told Fox News that she encourages clients to avoid the rush hour when flying into the Washington, D.C., area.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Virginia are the airports nearest to the nation’s capital.
The Washington, D.C., travel industry is gearing up for crowds ahead of Inauguration Day for President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 20, 2025, which will bring Americans to the nation’s capital in celebration of democracy. The event for President Biden, shown above, was scaled back due to COVID. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
“Your commute during rush hour will be jam-packed and slow,” said Petersen.
So “I recommend flying in the middle of the week because most people are coming and going from the city on the weekends.”
Petersen said she anticipates that hotel rates will continue to rise and rooms fill up.
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“The ideal location is a hotel within walking distance of Capitol Hill,” she said.
“A lot of the city will shut down and many locations will be gated, so it’s extremely difficult to move around the city.”
Donald Trump was inaugurated as 45th president of the United States on Jan. 20, 2017. His inauguration as 47th chief executive will take place on Jan. 20, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Petersen said she advises visitors to consider staying at destinations that are located outside the district on metro stops if hotel costs in the area are outside people’s budgets.
Travelers should check the weather prior to their trip, ensuring proper clothes are packed.
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“We have had a snowy start to 2025 and the temperatures have been below normal …Travelers should anticipate freezing temperatures and the potential for snow,” she said.
President-elect Donald Trump is shown taking the oath of office in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 20, 2017. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“You can always remove layers if temperatures increase,” said Petersen.
Heavy coats, insulated walking shoes, gloves, hats and even hand-warmers are helpful to pack.
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The inauguration takes place on Jan. 20 on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
Flags are placed on the National Mall, with the U.S. Capitol behind them, just ahead of the last presidential inauguration in Jan. 2021. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The parade will begin at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Inauguration Day, lasting 60 to 90 minutes, according to Destination DC’s website.
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The public viewing areas for the parade start at 3rd Street, extending to Pennsylvania Avenue near the Canadian Embassy.
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