Motorcoach, Tour Bus & School Bus Information

Alexandria welcomes motorcoaches, tour buses and school bus trips! Buses are allowed on most streets in the City except cobblestone streets or those posted with “no truck traffic” signs.

Quick Links

• October 16, 2012 Motorcoach Enforcement  Presentation
• Motorcoach Parking Reservation System
• Loading & Unloading Spaces
• Short-Term Permit Parking and Unreserved Parking
• Long-Term and Overnight Parking
• Traffic Rules and Regulations
• Motorcoach Task Force
• Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Motorcoach Information
• Printable Fact Sheet for Motorcoach Travel in Alexandria 

Questions?

If you need more information about motorcoach, tour and school bus travel in Alexandria, please call the Alexandria Visitors Center at (703) 746-3313 between 10 am and 8 pm.

A 24-hour information hotline is available at 703.746.4020.

To report motorcoach parking or traffic violations, call the Police Non-Emergency line at 703.838.4444.

Loading & Unloading

Tour buses should load and unload at designated locations only. Permits are not required to load or unload.
On-Line Map 
Printed Map 

There are six primary loading and unloading areas in Old Town Alexandria:

• For the Waterfront, the King St Trolley, or the Torpedo Factory Arts Center: Unit block of King St 
• For groups headed to walking tours, Market Square or the Visitors Center: 300 block of King St 
• For access to Christ Church, shopping & dining if traveling southbound on the George Washington Memorial Parkway: 100 block of N Washington St 
• For access to King Street, shopping & dining if traveling northbound on the George Washington Memorial Parkway: 100 block of S Washington St 
• For Gadsby’s Tavern Museum or Restaurant: 100 block of North Royal St 
• For The Lyceum: 200 block of S Washington St 

Short-Term Parking

Motorcoach parking in Alexandria is allowed at designated locations only. Some spaces in historic Old Town Alexandria require a free parking permit which must be obtained in advance; paid short-term parking is also available. Additional free, unreserved parking locations are available within three miles of Old Town. Idling while parked is not allowed.

Short-Term 4 hour parking with a free permit is available at the following locations:

• Five spaces near the waterfront in the 500 block of North Union Street 
• Three spaces in north Old Town in the 900 block of North St. Asaph Street 

Short-term 10 hour parking before 11:00 pm for a flat-fee of $10 is available at the following location:

• 25 spaces at the George Washington Masonic Memorial (101 Callahan Drive)

7 Unreserved, free (first-come, first-served) parking spaces are available within 2 miles of historic Old Town on the 400 block of Swann Avenue.

Long-Term/Overnight Parking

All motorcoaches staying for a period of 24 hours or more are required to park at the George Washington Masonic Memorial (101 Callahan Drive). Overnight parking at the Masonic Memorial requires a $35 permit and must be obtained in advance on-line or from the Alexandria Visitors Center at (703) 746-3313.

Long-term (4 to 14 hour) parking is available at the Masonic Memorial for a  flat fee of $10 and must be obtained in advance on-line or from the Alexandria Visitors Center at (703) 746-3313.

Traffic Rules and Regulations

The City of Alexandria enforces several simple rules for motorcoaches, tour buses and school buses:

• Buses that idle longer than 15 minutes while actively loading or unloading are subject to a $50 fine. Buses parked in designated spots must turn off their engines.
• Double parking, stopping so as to obstruct traffic and stopping to load or unload passengers in the traveled portion of any street are prohibited and subject to a $200 fine.
• Motorcoaches, tour buses and school buses parked in any locations other than designated parking spaces are subject to a $100 fine.

Media Coverage

• Alexandria Gazette Packet - 3/26/09
• WAMU 88.5 FM - 3/26/09
• News Channel 8 Video - 4/9/09 
• News Channel 8 - 4/9/09
• Alexandria Times - 6/4/09
• Alexandria Times Editorial - 6/4/09