You might be able to see if the Navy Yard has guest lodging. I know Fort McNair has a few rooms as I was stationed there for four-and-a-half years, but you have to call Fort Myer lodging to reserve one. Both McNair and the Navy Yard are only a couple miles from the Capitol and a short walk from the Metro stations. McNair doesn't have much in the way of amenities, but if you can get a room on the Yard there is a pub, numerous eating establishments and other things to do, including the US Navy Museum. Plus, the Marine Barracks at 8th and I are right up the road.

Keep in mind that DC is divided into quarters with the US Capitol building at the center. McNair is in Southwest, the Navy Yard is only a mile down the road but is in Southeast. The Federal District is at the center of the city, and the Mall is in SW. The whole Maine Street corridor is being revamped, Waterfront Mall was torn down a while ago and the new construction should be about completed, Nationals Stadium is within walking distance of both previously mentioned military installations, and the area looks completely different now than it did five years ago.

If you enjoy military history at all, visit the Navy Museum, the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington, the Marine Corps Memorial, and the Marine Museum at Quantico. Even if you don't care much about that, visit Arlington House and some of the memorials and gravesites inside the cemetery, General of the Armies John Pershing is buried there, along with Audie Murphy, some of the Iwo Jima flag raisers, and Pierre L'Enfant, the designed of the Federal City. A short walk across Memorial Bridge will put you at the Lincoln Memorial, while a hop on the Metro will take you from Arlington to the Washington Monument. A majority of the attractions are laid out in a more or less linear fashion, enabling you to go from Arlington to the Marine Memorial to the Mall to some of the surrounding museums without having to go out of your way much. If you intend to see alot you may even want to consider bringing a bike. The Metro is nice but you will still have to walk some, with a bike you can go directly to where you want.



Oh, and if you are there already and this post does no good, keep this stuff in mind for next time you visit.