Where to stay outside of the city?

Hi Michael - I'd look on airbnb where you can likely find cheaper rates than for hotels and stay closer to the city. I live in Dupont Circle  and highly recommend this and the surrounding areas, all easily metro accessible to downtown. You could also look outside the city in Arlington (Virginia)or Bethesda, also metro accessible. 

Hi Michael! I would suggest Friendship Heights Chevy Chase D.C., which is right on the Maryland line. Try the Embassy Suites there. Many restaurants from casual to sit down are in the area. Dupont Circle in D.C.is a great area to stay with several hotels and many restaurants as you travel along Connecticut Avenue. This area would be the closest to the White House and the Monuments. The furthest out would be downtown Bethesda Metro Center Bethesda/Chevy Chase, MD where there are many hotels to choose from and there are 100's of restaurants in every price range. All three of these are on the Metro with convenient Metro access. All three of these are safe to walk around and really, the evening hours are filled with people walking and going to eat at the various restaurants. All three also have shops if you feel like window shopping as you walk and the Dupont Circle area has beautiful historic homes that make your walk even more interesting. Also, check out the D.C. Connector bus that does stop in Dupont Circle and goes to the Mall and some other areas you will be interested in. It is only $1.00 to ride. Check out their website.

Travel safe and enjoy your trip!

You have multiple options on where to stay, here is what I would suggest;

1) Rosslyn The Blue and Orange lines converge here, and there are numerous hotels & restaurants in this area. 

2) Crystal City The Blue line goes right through the middle of Crystal City, on it's way to Washington National Airport.  A number of hotel and restaurants are in this area.

3) Bethesda The Red line goes here, and there are a number of hotels and restaurants, fewer perhaps than Rosslyn or Crystal City.

4) Alexandria (Virginia) The Yellow line can be taken to King Street here, the main part of Alexandria is nice, but the outlying areas can be a bit "iffy" and the Metro Station is a hike from the downtown area.

You might want to use Yelp to look at each of the above, for restaurant suggestions. My personal opinion would be Rosslyn or Crystal City, as I lived in the DC area for 18 years.  There is nothing bad about Bethesda either, it is just that Crystal City and Rosslyn are closer to DC.

You have multiple options on where to stay, here is what I would suggest;

1) Rosslyn The Blue and Orange lines converge here, and there are numerous hotels & restaurants in this area. 

2) Crystal City The Blue line goes right through the middle of Crystal City, on it's way to Washington National Airport.  A number of hotel and restaurants are in this area.

3) Bethesda The Red line goes here, and there are a number of hotels and restaurants, fewer perhaps than Rosslyn or Crystal City.

4) Alexandria (Virginia) The Yellow line can be taken to King Street here, the main part of Alexandria is nice, but the outlying areas can be a bit "iffy" and the Metro Station is a hike from the downtown area.

You might want to use Yelp to look at each of the above, for restaurant suggestions. My personal opinion would be Rosslyn or Crystal City, as I lived in the DC area for 18 years.

You have multiple options on where to stay, here is what I would suggest;

1) Rosslyn The Blue and Orange lines converge here, and there are numerous hotels & restaurants in this area. 

2) Crystal City The Blue line goes right through the middle of Crystal City, on it's way to Washington National Airport.  A number of hotel and restaurants are in this area.

3) Bethesda The Red line goes here, and there are a number of hotels and restaurants, fewer perhaps than Rosslyn or Crystal City.

4) Alexandria (Virginia) The Yellow line can be taken to King Street here, the main part of Alexandria is nice, but the outlying areas can be a bit "iffy" and the Metro Station is a hike from the downtown area.

You might want to use Yelp to look at each of the above, for restaurant suggestions. My personal opinion would be Rosslyn or Crystal City, as I lived in the DC area for 18 years.

I've stayed near the Bethesda Metro Center, which is 25 minutes from Washington DC. Bethesda is a nice neighborhood with a few hotels and good places to eat.

Arlington (Virginia) and Alexandria (Virginia) are both great. Alexandria very picturesque, but pricier and further out. Alexandria, more sprawling, but less expensive. Could also try Roslyn. 

Tyson's Corner VA.  Very nice area.  Pick a hotel where you can walk to the metro (there are several).

Depends on when you are visiting. I live in the DC area and peak tourist season it's difficult to find inexpensive accommodations although they do exist. 

Days Inn 2 dbl beds will run you about 85.00/night

Comfort Inn Ballston/Arlington on N Glebe Rd will run you close to $200/night for no frills and a commute in to DC but for that price you should look into Hotel Harrington, less than $200/night has the basics they kinda clean it... i think, its clean-ish, bring lysol. But It's in steps from Penn Ave NW (about 4.5 blocks from White House) and a 5 min walk to Metro Center. 

Crystal City or Rosslyn or Alexandria (Virginia) (if you have a car towards Mark Center would be cheaper than Old Town)

Look on travelzoo and groupon for DC/Alexandria/Arlington area you could possibly find better rates, then just google surroinding area to see if there's a metro within walking distance. 

You might try the Arlington area on the Virginia side of things.  Towns like Clarendon and Rosslyn are just a few stops on the Orange line into DC and will be considerably cheaper.  Could also try Alexandria (Virginia) down on the blue & yellow metro lines.