President Joe Biden’s January 2021 inauguration may have been cut short due to COVID-19, but Washington, DC is now preparing to welcome huge influx of visitors for this year’s monumental event for President-elect Donald Trump.
Elliott Ferguson, II, president and CEO of Destination DC, told Fox News Digital, “The public hasn’t been able to participate in the inauguration since 2017, so we expect significant interest.”
According to partner Destination DC, first-term presidents tend to have bigger inaugurations.
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Kristin Petersen, a travel consultant at Travelmation in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, told Fox News that she encourages clients to avoid rush hour when he runs into Washington, DC area.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Virginia are the closest airports to the state capital.
The travel industry in Washington, DC is bracing for crowds ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day on January 20, 2025, which will bring Americans to the nation’s capital for a celebration of democracy. The event for President Biden, pictured above, was scaled back due to COVID. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
“Your commute during rush hour is going to be crowded and slow,” Petersen said.
So, “I recommend to fly midweek because most people come and go from the city on the weekend.”
Petersen said she expected that hotel prices it will continue to grow and rooms will fill up.
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“The ideal location is a hotel within walking distance of Capitol Hill,” she said.
“Much of the city will be closed and many locations will be closed, so it’s extremely difficult to get around the city.”
Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States on January 20, 2017. His inauguration as the 47th CEO will take place on January 20, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Petersen said she advises visitors to consider staying in out-of-district destinations at metro stations if hotel costs in the area are out of people’s budgets.
Travelers should check time before traveling, ensuring that the appropriate clothing is packed.
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“We had a snowy start to 2025 and temperatures were below normal … Travelers should anticipate cold temperatures and the possibility of snow,” she said.
President-elect Donald Trump is shown taking the oath of office in Washington, DC on January 20, 2017. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“You can always remove the layers if the temperature goes up,” Petersen said.
Heavy coats, insulated walking shoes, gloves, hats, and even arm warmers are useful to pack.
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The inauguration takes place on January 20 on the West Lawn US Capitol.
The flags were flown on the National Mall, with the US Capitol behind them, just before the last presidential inauguration in January 2021. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Parade will begin at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Inauguration Day, lasting 60 to 90 minutes, according to the Destination DC website.
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Public viewing areas for the parade begin at 3rd Street, extending to Pennsylvania Avenue near the Canadian Embassy.
