When I was 13… My family of four drove from California to Washington DC. One of the highlights of the trip was my mother panicking to find a restroom with toilet paper. She had to settle for an out house next to the Washington monument, and we had to hand her maps and brochures, because there was no toilet paper. Maybe she is the reason they have so many bathrooms now🤷🏼♂️😂
Oh, two more suggestions, one from a friend is the student center at George Washington University near Foggy Bottom. And from me is the GWU Hospital near Foggy Bottom. Most hospitals have public restrooms and allow you to walk in.
Fair warning...the bathrooms on the National Mall are closed and locked up during the late evening hours...especially during the fall and winter months. No joke...a few years ago i was walking around at night and needed to go number 2. To say the least i had to do my business near the FDR memorial and cleaned with leafs. You gotta do what you gotta do. Always a good memory 😂
When you mention walking in with confidence totally brings back memories from when I was a kid going places with my family. These were also funny and good memories. Thanks for the video
In Georgetown, there are restrooms on the lower level of the building that contains the DMV service center at 3270 M. I believe that building is accessible much longer hours than the DMV is open.
Thanks a lot for the video Rob. As a heavy user, i appreciate it :). I walked around DC for about 15 days in two trips, and if i managed it means that DC's T supply is good enough.
I've been trying to make it a point to go to DC at least once a month now since July 4th of 2023. I used to go a lot more often, then got out of the habit. My girlfriends and I are all older ladies and making sure we know where the open restrooms are at is of upmost importance. 😂 Great video Rob!! I used the W. Falls Church Metro station restroom back in September. You have to ask the attendant (like you said, very nicely), however, it is a "customer restroom" and has that signage on it. It was down a locked hallway. Same thing years ago when I used to visit my Aunt in DC, but I don't remember which metro station it was at except it was either in MD or DC, not VA. Another place near Georgetown, requires a little walk, is the Kennedy Center. It's open late in the evening and you can walk in to the lobby areas even if you're not seeing a show. Nice restrooms there. Thanks for all the tips!!
Some bookstores and supermarkets have public restroooms. I live in Northwest DC, and Politics and Prose as well as our local Giant has a public restroom. By the way, this area also has the National Zoo which is free and has bathrooms. The National Cathedral on Wisconsin Avenue is obviously free and has bathrooms.
One of my favorite public restrooms in DC is the Pentagon City Mall. In Georgetown, I ate at 90secpizza, which was delicious! But they have one too! I also used the restroom at the Potomac Yard Metro station as well! Lol
Personally I use Smithsonian restrooms, normally the Renwick, but I've used one at Washington Monument when I've been walking through the National Mall.
We traveled to DC for the very first time this last August. I was able to use the Metro bathrooms twice, by nicely asking the attendant in the booth. One person was pleasant, the other seemed very annoyed, but they both allowed me to use the bathroom. 👍
I once made the mistake (back in 2017) to drink a large bottle of water 30 minutes before getting on the metro. As soon as I got off the metro, I felt like I was going to have an accident, but thankfully we were on the silver line (Tysons Corner) which had a bathroom. Lesson learned, don’t drink too much water or any other beverage before getting on the metro, because most stations do not have public restrooms.
VERY useful info, Thanks! I have 2 sons, one lives in DC and the other in Poland. I appreciate all of the free public toilets while visiting in DC and the rest of the US, but in Europe it is so often "pay to pee"
Best by far, is the restrooms at the Library of Congress...clean and huge. 10/10...would use again!
Excellent choice
When I was 13… My family of four drove from California to Washington DC. One of the highlights of the trip was my mother panicking to find a restroom with toilet paper. She had to settle for an out house next to the Washington monument, and we had to hand her maps and brochures, because there was no toilet paper. Maybe she is the reason they have so many bathrooms now🤷🏼♂️😂
Oh, two more suggestions, one from a friend is the student center at George Washington University near Foggy Bottom. And from me is the GWU Hospital near Foggy Bottom. Most hospitals have public restrooms and allow you to walk in.
Another idea I do is when eating at a restaurant
I always go before leaving the building or the table.
Yes great tip.
Fair warning...the bathrooms on the National Mall are closed and locked up during the late evening hours...especially during the fall and winter months. No joke...a few years ago i was walking around at night and needed to go number 2. To say the least i had to do my business near the FDR memorial and cleaned with leafs. You gotta do what you gotta do. Always a good memory 😂
When you mention walking in with confidence totally brings back memories from when I was a kid going places with my family. These were also funny and good memories. Thanks for the video
So Practical! Awesome!
someone would have a successful channel just about this in every city.
🤔🤔🤔
In Georgetown, there are restrooms on the lower level of the building that contains the DMV service center at 3270 M. I believe that building is accessible much longer hours than the DMV is open.
Thanks a lot for the video Rob.
As a heavy user, i appreciate it :). I walked around DC for about 15 days in two trips, and if i managed it means that DC's T supply is good enough.
Thanks for sharing!
I've been trying to make it a point to go to DC at least once a month now since July 4th of 2023. I used to go a lot more often, then got out of the habit. My girlfriends and I are all older ladies and making sure we know where the open restrooms are at is of upmost importance. 😂 Great video Rob!! I used the W. Falls Church Metro station restroom back in September. You have to ask the attendant (like you said, very nicely), however, it is a "customer restroom" and has that signage on it. It was down a locked hallway. Same thing years ago when I used to visit my Aunt in DC, but I don't remember which metro station it was at except it was either in MD or DC, not VA. Another place near Georgetown, requires a little walk, is the Kennedy Center. It's open late in the evening and you can walk in to the lobby areas even if you're not seeing a show. Nice restrooms there. Thanks for all the tips!!
What were the apps?
Some bookstores and supermarkets have public restroooms. I live in Northwest DC, and Politics and Prose as well as our local Giant has a public restroom. By the way, this area also has the National Zoo which is free and has bathrooms. The National Cathedral on Wisconsin Avenue is obviously free and has bathrooms.
One of my favorite public restrooms in DC is the Pentagon City Mall. In Georgetown, I ate at 90secpizza, which was delicious! But they have one too! I also used the restroom at the Potomac Yard Metro station as well! Lol
New Metro stations like Potomac Yard have restrooms. Pretty nice!
Personally I use Smithsonian restrooms, normally the Renwick, but I've used one at Washington Monument when I've been walking through the National Mall.
Renwick is a good one 👍
Im going to be in washington dc in new year's eve. Can you make a video/comment on what to in new year's eve at Washington dc?? Thanks!!!
We traveled to DC for the very first time this last August. I was able to use the Metro bathrooms twice, by nicely asking the attendant in the booth. One person was pleasant, the other seemed very annoyed, but they both allowed me to use the bathroom. 👍
Thanks for the report. It's good to know who has had success or not.
Can we go to Mount Vernon estate using water taxi?
Thanks for this valuable information. It is more valuable than the 'don"t use your car' or 'avoid chain restaurants' type of advice.⁰
I once made the mistake (back in 2017) to drink a large bottle of water 30 minutes before getting on the metro. As soon as I got off the metro, I felt like I was going to have an accident, but thankfully we were on the silver line (Tysons Corner) which had a bathroom. Lesson learned, don’t drink too much water or any other beverage before getting on the metro, because most stations do not have public restrooms.
I definitely need to spend a day walking around DC updating the mobile app restroom locators. They are good but could be much better.
Are all of these restrooms free?
Yes but some places that are for customer use only (like in restaurants) you might have to buy some low cost item.
Just got back from 3 days in DC plenty of public restrooms no problems.
The museums are the best restrooms not that big of deal for security.
Glad to hear it 👍
VERY useful info, Thanks! I have 2 sons, one lives in DC and the other in Poland. I appreciate all of the free public toilets while visiting in DC and the rest of the US, but in Europe it is so often "pay to pee"
It's interesting to compare USA vs Europe on this question.