Trains are a convenient way to get to Alexandria. We highly recommend guests metro to King Street or Eisenhower Avenue for the festival. 

• Friday, Saturday, Sunday – Take the FREE King Street Trolley from the King Street-Old Town Metrorail station 
• More Information about Event Shuttles coming soon!

Alexandria has four Metrorail stations: 

• Braddock Road (Yellow and Blue Lines) 
• Eisenhower Avenue (Yellow Line) 
• King St-Old Town (Yellow and Blue Lines) 
• Van Dorn Street (Blue Line) 

If you’re riding the Blue Line south, follow signs for Franconia-Springfield. On the Yellow Line going south, head towards Huntington. King St-Old Town is the closest station to Old Town Alexandria. The waterfront is only about a mile east of the station. Free bus services are available. You could also enjoy a 20-minute stroll down historic King Street. 

For personalized trip planning on Metrorail, visit WMATA’s Trip Planner tool: wmata.com/schedules/trip-planner/ 

Other rail options include the Amtrak and VRE stations, which are adjacent to the King St-Old Town Metrorail station. The VRE station services Manassas and Fredericksburg and operates Monday through Friday. 

To plan your Amtrak trip, visit: amtrak.com/plan-your-trip 

To plan your VRE trip, visit: vre.org/plan-a-trip/ 

Alexandria’s free and accessible bus services will take you into the heart of Old Town, within a few blocks of the waterfront. 

DASH buses serve all of the Metrorail stations. Both the 7-day route and the Old Town Circulator (Lines 30 and 31) pass through Old Town. All buses are accessible to people with disabilities and feature bicycle racks. 

The King Street Trolley travels from King St-Old Town Station to City Hall/Market Square. The trolley circulates every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. 

Check out the bus system map.

The City of Alexandria is a nationally-recognized bike-friendly city! There are plenty of amenities to make biking in Old Town easy, including bike lanes, routes, and parking. 

• View the city bike map.

Capital Bikeshare

Capital Bikeshare has 71 stations in Alexandria. On the app, users can pay per ride or get a day pass. Check out the bikeshare map to find stations.

E-bikes and Scooters

You can also rent Lime or GCOO electric scooters and bikes. Use their apps to find and unlock a ride. If you don't have a smartphone, you can also unlock them by sending a text message or making a phone call.

Important Riding Rules

To keep everyone safe, please follow these rules:

• No Sidewalk Riding on King Street: You cannot ride bikes or scooters on the sidewalk on King Street (from West Street to the river).
• No Sidewalk Riding on Union Street: You cannot ride on the sidewalk on Union Street (between Prince and Cameron Streets).
• Scooters and E-Bikes: These must stay on the street, in bike lanes, or on paved trails. Do not ride them on any sidewalks.

There will be special designated drop-off and pick-up spots for this event. These will be at intersection of Cameron + Union Streets as well as Wolfe + Union Streets.  

For information about safe carpooling options, visit the Alexandria rideshare office or call them at (703) 746-4084.

If you’re driving to Alexandria, the I-495 highway is a major route to the city. You might also take George Washington Memorial Parkway or U.S. Route 1. 

Major Routes to Alexandria: 

• From the East: Take I-66 E to I-495 S, or take VA-267 E.
• From the South: Take VA-110 S or the GW Memorial Parkway.
• From D.C.: Take the GW Memorial Parkway or I-295 S to I-495 S.
• From the West: Take I-495 S or I-95 S.
• From the North: Take US-1 N or the George Washington (GW) Memorial Parkway.

PARKING Information

If you decide to drive all the way into Old Town, you can look for a spot in a parking garage or a space on the street.

Pro Tip: Use the ParkMobile app on your phone. It is the easiest way to pay for street parking or to find and pay for a spot in a garage.

• Street Parking: Most street spots have meters. Check the signs to see how long you can stay. 
• Garages and Lots: See all the City garages and lots in Old Town.
• More Info: Parking in Old Town.

Yes, the festival, including ship tours, 250th Village and Outpost, as well as the music performances, are free to attend. Evening events require the purchase of a ticket.  

• Ship tours are from Noon-6 p.m. each day.
• The 250th Village and Outpost are open from Noon-6 p.m. on Friday and Sunday, and Noon – 7 p.m. on Saturday.
• Performances at Waterfront Park are from Noon – 6 p.m. on Friday and Sunday, and Noon – 9 p.m. on Saturday.
• Fireworks on the Potomac are on Saturday only at 9 p.m.

Reserving a timed ticket is your best option to ensure you can board a ship. A walk-up line will be available, but entry from this line is not guaranteed.  

Guests should reserve their timed tickets online. Ship tickets are not transferrable and are valid for 30 minutes from the ticketed time. A ticket is needed for each ship and for each person, regardless of age. Due to the nature of historic tall ships, strollers are not permitted and most are not wheelchair accessible.

Each visitor may reserve up to 6 Ship tickets.

All guests boarding a tall ship, regardless of age, must have a valid ticket to gain admission to the ship. 

The tall ships are only available for on-deck tours, but there are plenty of fascinating features to explore.

Yes, however, drone photography is not permitted.  

• The Kalmar Nyckel was launched in 1997. She is a reproduction of a colonial ship that was built in 1627.
• The Sultana is a 2001 reproduction of a Royal Navy schooner that was built in 1767.
• Providence is a 1976 reproduction of a sloop with records dating from 1769.
• Gazela is an original vessel that was built in Portugal in 1883. 

Due to the nature of historic tall ships, strollers are not permitted on deck, but there will be places for you to park them. 

Pets are not permitted on the tall ships, but service animals are welcome. Dogs are welcome in public parks but must be kept on a leash at all times. 

Yes, unless extreme weather conditions arise. Please visit the City of Alexandria’s website and follow along on social media (@alexandriavagov) for the most up-to-date information.

Alexandria in June is hot. Lines are not shaded and there is no seating in the line. Wear sunscreen, bring a hat or small umbrella for shade, and water for hydration. For ship tours, wear comfortable, closed-toed shoes. The ships have many surfaces that can stub your toes.

Restrooms and hand-washing stations will be located in Waterfront Park and Point Lumley.

Follow the City of Alexandria (@alexandriavagov) and the Office of Historic Alexandria (@historicalexva) on social media or check their website for additional information.

Alexandria is a Sail 250 Virginia℠ 2026 Affiliate Harbor. There will be eleven Sail Virginia℠ 2026 events between June 12 and June 23, including Sails on the Potomac. To see all the Virginia cities and dates, look here. Sail250 will also be held in these cities: 

• Norfolk (June 19 – 23) 
• Baltimore (June 25 – July 1) 
• New York City (July 4 – 8) 
• Boston (July 11 – 16)