Ronald Reagan Airport to C&O Canal route

[tonythomson]

Hi can anyone give me a good route to get me from RR International Airport to the C&O Canal.  I would prefer not to got through central Washington.  And if there is a hotel along the way even better as not planning to go far after the flight from UK.
Thanks

[John Nettles]

I can't help with a hotel, other than to say there are several in the airport region. There is a bike path immediately outside of the airport that connects to the C&O.  Just look at Google Maps and select bicycling in the upper right section of the maps.  That said, several of the paths are actually on very wide sidewalks.

[Pat Lamb]

As John says, the Mt. Vernon bike path goes right by the Washington National airport.  However, you've got to cross the Potomac to get to the C&O.  I'd recommend going up the bike path to Rosslyn and crossing on Key Bridge -- it's a bit steep to climb up to the bridge, but once you cross the river, take a left, then another left, and you go right down to the canal and the river.

You can cross at Memorial Bridge, but then you've got to get out of downtown. 

Lots of hotels both at Crystal City and Rosslyn.  Crystal City is usually a bit more costly, but neither area is cheap.