I generally don't go into the city because its a traffic nightmare, but with so many ladies staying within the city limits I've been tempted.

So what is the better choice:
1) Trying to find somewhere to park
               or
2) Driving to the nearest area in northern VA with easy parking
   and metro access.

- and if 2, what area would be best for someone coming from south of Woodbridge?

                          Thanks in advance!

Having done both, all things being equal (the hotel not necessarily being right next to a metro stop), leaving early enough to find parking is much easier and streamlined.

This assuming you have a GPS and/or know DC like the back of your hand.

I never drive, simply because it's so hard to park as well as expensive.  Coming from Woodbridge, the Springfield/Franconia Metro station has maybe the largest parking garage of any station, but during the workday it's hard to get into as it fills up with commuters before 8:00 AM most days.  If you are going during early evening times you can probably find spac3es starting after 5:00.mmAnother place which can be used during the day is Pentagon City shopping center which has a large garage attached on one side and a Metro station on the other side.  The rates for parking are designed to be good for shoppers and prohibitive for commuters; 2 hours is $ 2.00, 5 hours is $ 5.00, but when you start going toward 8 of more they go up steeply.  But if you're taking Metro in to see a provider, a 4 or 5 hour stay should be enough.  If you're going in the evening, one of the best kept secrets in NOVA is that all the underground parking at Crystal City in Arlington is free after 4:00 and all day on weekends.  There is a garage on 18th St. right next to the Crystal City Metro station.  For both of these, exit from northbound I-395 at the Pentagon City/Crystal City/airport exit.  This brings you to a stoplight at Hayes St. & Army-Navy Dr.   If you take an immeduate right on Army-Navy the entrance to the Pentagon City parking garage is just ahead on the left.  If you go straight on Hayes, it cuves around to the left & becomes 18th St., just stay on it til you pass the Metro entrance & go left into the first parking garage .
BTW, parking at a Metro garage is $ 4.50 no matter how long you stay, and most lots require a Smartrip Card to exit, though Springfield is one where you can now use a credit card.  If you're going to do this very often, you might as well get a Smartrip Card.  It costs $ 5.00 just for the card, then you have to add money.  But if you use a paper farecard, not only do you have to wait in line to get to a machine to buy one, you also get charged an extra $ .25 per trip for using the paper card.  So on one round trip you'lll save $ .50 with the Smartrip, 10 RTs & the card pays for itself, plus then You can use it to get out of Metro parking garages & lots, and breeze through the stations.
Hope this helps, and I guess the free Crystal City parking isn't so secret anymore!

Quite possibly the same question and awnser Baltimore to Dupont circle won't mind driving if parking is not an issue.OR just Amtrack it? trying to see some purple...

they cost about 1/2 of what AMTRAK charges & have a few more stops in the Baltimore area.  And once you get to Union Station in DC Metro will take you anywhere you're liely to need to go, & direct to Dupont Circle.