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Visiting Wash DC and Blue ridge pkwy?

Travel Info
I will be in Wash Dc for 4 days then going to Blue ridge pkwy. Can anyone offer any tips? I really just want to drive through but are there any spots I should really make an effort to stop at? How about a CHEAP hotel in teh area?

Travel Tips

I stayed at a Spring Hill Suites in Manassas for $59 a night - 20 minutes from Vienna Metro Station.

The Blue Ridge Parkway begins where Skyline Drive ends - if you're planning on driving the entire Blue Ridge Parkway, there are hotels in Roanoke, Galax and Asheville.
Others

I am going to assume that you understand that these are two separate places. I am not sure whether you are looking for a cheap hotel in DC or along the Blue Ridge. So I'll answer both.

In DC, hotels are very expensive, with few exceptions. There are several ways around this.

Since you have a car, one solution is to stay way out in the suburbs, drive into a Metro Station and then take the subway in (avoid driving in washington, both traffic and parking are horrendous). I live here, so I don't stay in hotels much, but I know there are some inexpensive ones along Arlington Blvd in Fairfax City - that may be called Fairfax City Blvd now.

In the city, I know of two lesser priced hotels. The Hotel Harrington has prices as low as $89 a night for one person. This is a huge bargain in DC. However, there is a stiff parking fee also, $12 or $15 a day, so if you can find an alternative place for the car, that is, not bring it into the city, you would be benefitting. The Harrington is right downtown, just minutes by foot to the major sights. It's an older hotel, but clean and comfortable. An alternative, about $30 a night more is the Red Roof Inn in Chinatown.

And if you really need Very Very cheap, and are by yourself, you might consider the Youth Hostel - where you can sleep for $30 or so a night.

On the Blue Ridge, the opposite is true; there are a number of little local hotels just off the parkway. Just exit somewhere and start looking. If you are a AAA member get the map book. While there are places you can stop, the drive is largely what the parkway is about. Stop where you feel like, make sure to do so at some of the overlooks, just to get out, enjoy the view, and stretch.

Be aware that north of the parkway, between the Blue Ridge PArkway and Front Royal Virginia, it's actually Shenandoah National Park. This is a really beautiful area - but it's a national park, there is a fee to get in, and, most importantly, the speed limit is 10 mph lower - at 35 , and very carefully monitored. So be really careful here, or you may end up with an expensive speeding ticket. I am not sure how much they enforce the speed on the Parkway.
http://www.hotelharrington.com
http://www. washingtontravelcast.com