Arlington United States
Arlington is a densely developed urban county in Northern Virginia, sitting across the Potomac River from Washington DC. Unlike most American suburbs it is genuinely walkable and Metro-connected - the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor and the Crystal City and National Landing strip are both high-density urban environments that function as extensions of the city rather than typical commuter suburbs. The county is home to the Pentagon, Amazon’s HQ2 at National Landing, and Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus, making it one of the most significant technology and government-adjacent locations on the East Coast. Reagan National Airport (DCA) sits within Arlington’s own boundaries, making it one of the most convenient airport-to-conference connections in the country - the Metro ride from DCA to Crystal City takes about three minutes. The Georgetown waterfront, the National Mall, the Smithsonian museums, and the rest of central DC are all 15-25 minutes away by Metro. The Crystal City and National Landing neighbourhoods have transformed rapidly over the past five years following the Amazon HQ2 announcement, with new hotels, restaurants, and office buildings continuing to open. Clarendon and Ballston, a few Metro stops north, offer the most concentrated restaurant and bar scene in the county.
- National Landing and Amazon Sphere - The Amazon HQ2 development at National Landing includes The Spheres, a distinctive botanical attraction open to visitors on selected days; the surrounding neighbourhood has excellent new restaurants and bars.
- Pentagon Memorial - The outdoor memorial to the 184 victims of the September 11 attack at the Pentagon is a 10-minute walk from the Pentagon Metro station; open 24 hours.
- Rosslyn waterfront and Key Bridge - Walk across Key Bridge from Rosslyn for one of the best views of the Georgetown waterfront and the Potomac; the Custis Trail runs along the river.
- Clarendon neighbourhood - Arlington’s most vibrant dining and bar district, 10 minutes by Metro from Crystal City; Wilson Boulevard has an excellent range of independent restaurants.
- Day access to DC museums - All Smithsonian museums on the National Mall are free and 20 minutes by Metro; the National Air and Space Museum, National Gallery, and National Museum of African American History are all easily reachable.
- Mount Vernon Trail cycling - A dedicated paved trail runs 18 miles from Rosslyn south along the Potomac to George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate; rentals available at multiple points along the route.
Reagan National Airport (DCA) is inside Arlington - the Blue and Yellow Metro lines connect the terminal to Crystal City in 3 minutes and to downtown DC in 15-20 minutes (~2.25 USD). This is one of the best airport-to-city connections in the US. Dulles (IAD) is 45 minutes by Silver Line Metro (~7.50 USD) or 40-50 USD by rideshare. BWI is 45-60 minutes by MARC train or rideshare.
The Metro is the backbone of Arlington - the Blue, Yellow, Orange, and Silver lines all run through the county with frequent service into DC. A SmarTrip card (reusable, ~2.25 USD per ride) works across all Metro lines. Crystal City and Pentagon City stations are the most useful for National Landing venues. Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) is reliable throughout. The county is very bikeable along the Custis and W&OD trails.
Spring (April-June) and fall (September-October) are ideal at 16-24C with low humidity and comfortable evenings. Summers are hot and very humid (30-35C) though indoor venues are heavily air-conditioned. Winters are mild by northeast standards (2-8C) with occasional snow. Conference season in late September hits the sweet spot of autumn weather.
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1 upcoming conference in Arlington
Our picks in Arlington
A curated selection of hotels chosen for location, value, and fit for conference travellers.
Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport
1999 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202
Four-star Marriott steps from the Crystal City Metro and a short walk from National Landing; one of the most convenient options for...
DoubleTree by Hilton Washington DC - Crystal City
300 Army Navy Dr, Arlington, VA 22202
Reliable four-star Hilton in the Crystal City corridor with an outdoor pool and a complimentary shuttle to Reagan National Airport - a...
Hampton Inn & Suites Arlington/Crystal City DCA
2000 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202
Budget-friendly Hampton Inn steps from Crystal City Metro with hot breakfast included - the most cost-effective option in the National Landing area...
Hyatt Place Arlington/Courthouse Plaza
2401 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201
Modern three-star Hyatt in the Courthouse neighbourhood with complimentary breakfast and easy Metro access via the Orange and Silver lines - a...
Residence Inn Arlington Pentagon City
550 Army Navy Dr, Arlington, VA 22202
Extended-stay Marriott suite property near Pentagon City Metro with full kitchenettes and complimentary hot breakfast - well suited for attendees staying the...
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