The State of the Union is the President's address to a Joint Session of Congress, delivered in modern practice in the House Chamber of the US Capitol. Its basis is in Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution, and its date and time are set by a House concurrent resolution passed by both chambers, as the House Office of the Historian explains. The 2027 date has not been announced. Since 2010, every address has fallen between January 12 (2016) and March 7 (2024), and the 2026 address was delivered on Tuesday, February 24, at 9:00 p.m., according to the US Capitol Police.
It is also one of the most tightly secured nights in Washington. The US Secret Service lists the State of the Union among the examples of National Special Security Events, and the Capitol Police close roads around the Capitol in stages through the day. Elly8.net books the cars around it for gallery guests, staff, advocates, diplomats, media and the hosts of the dinners and watch events that follow: fixed, all-in prices, a chauffeur staged nearby and a 24/7 desk.
How do you get to and from the Capitol on State of the Union night?
Arrive in Washington the day before. Be dropped at an agreed point outside the closed streets well before the evening closures begin, walk the last stretch, and arrange the pickup point before the speech, not after. A chauffeur by the hour waits outside the perimeter and moves to you as soon as you message.
The difficulty is not the distance. Reagan National is about 4 miles (7 km) from the Capitol by road, and downtown hotels are a few minutes away. The difficulty is that the streets around the Capitol close in phases from just after midnight, the inner ring closes in the early evening, and thousands of people leave at roughly the same time once the address ends. A ride requested from the Capitol steps at 10:30 p.m. has to reach you through all of that.
Who is in the room shapes the night. The Historian's office lists floor seating for Members and former Members of the House and Senate, the Cabinet (save one secretary), the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief Justice and the Justices, and the Diplomatic Corps; gallery seating is for ticket holders only and is coordinated by the Sergeant at Arms of the House. Around them are the staff, guests and press who need to arrive early and leave efficiently.
See Washington DC prices and reserve
The 2026 road closures, and what they tell you about 2027
The Capitol Police publish the closures a few days ahead. For the 2026 address they came in four stages, all lasting until the conclusion of the event. The 2027 plan will be announced in the same way, so treat this as a guide to the pattern, not a promise.
| From (2026) | Roads closed to the public, summarised | What it means for a car |
|---|---|---|
| 12:01 a.m. | First Street between Constitution and Independence Avenues (NW and SW); Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and First Streets NW; Maryland Avenue between 3rd and First Streets SW | The west front of the Capitol is closed all day |
| 1:00 p.m. | First Street between Constitution and Independence Avenues (NE and SE); East Capitol Street between First and 2nd Streets | Afternoon access from the east tightens |
| 5:30 p.m. | Constitution Avenue from Louisiana Avenue NW to 2nd Street NE; Independence Avenue from Washington Avenue SW to 2nd Street SE; and connecting streets | The main avenues past the Capitol close; drop-offs move outwards |
| 7:00 p.m. | Streets including First, D and 2nd Streets, Delaware Avenue to Columbus Circle, and Washington Avenue SW | The perimeter reaches Columbus Circle in front of Union Station |
The 2026 notice also rerouted tour buses away from the Capitol complex for loading and unloading from 12:01 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., and pointed to the city's National Special Security Event information for more. In practice, the desk sets your drop-off time against the published stages, usually well before the 5:30 p.m. closures for anyone with a seat in the Chamber or the gallery, and agrees a pickup point outside the outer ring.
Arriving: Reagan National, Dulles or BWI
Fly in the day before if you can. The address is in the evening, but delays, motorcade holds and closures make a same-day arrival a gamble you do not need to take.
| Airport | Distance to downtown DC | Clear-road drive | Business sedan | Business SUV | Executive Sprinter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reagan National (DCA) | 4 mi (6 km) | about 8 min | US$125 | US$165 | US$325 |
| Dulles (IAD) | 30 mi (48 km) | about 54 min | US$255 | US$335 | US$665 |
| BWI Thurgood Marshall | 34 mi (54 km) | about 52 min | US$270 | US$355 | US$705 |
The fixed fares run to downtown DC and include the chauffeur, taxes, standard gratuity and meet and greet; First Class sedans and SUVs sit between those columns, from US$200 to US$475. The chauffeur tracks the flight and meets you inside arrivals with a name board, with complimentary waiting after a tracked landing. At Reagan National, app pickups use the outer curbs on the arrivals level, according to the airport's ground transportation page; a meet and greet saves you that curb at the evening peak. See Washington airport transfers and meet and greet.
The plan for the night
The drop-off. Give the desk your ticket or access instructions, your hotel and the time you need to be through screening. The chauffeur drops you at an agreed point outside the closed streets, with a short walk, and with time to spare. Our cars never try to pass a closure, and every instruction from police officers is followed.
A car staged nearby. Most clients book the evening by the hour or take the evening out and event night package, from US$500 in a business sedan, US$625 in a Business SUV and US$800 in a First Class Sedan to US$1,000 in an Executive Sprinter. Hourly service runs from US$100 an hour in a business sedan to US$200 an hour in a Sprinter, with a 3-hour minimum. The chauffeur waits outside the perimeter rather than circling, and comes to the agreed corner when you message. See hourly chauffeur service.
After the speech. Many guests go on to a dinner, a reception or a watch event downtown or on Capitol Hill. Agree the second stop in advance, and the chauffeur already knows the route out of the closures.
Groups. Advocacy groups, delegations and corporate teams bringing several guests are simpler in one Executive Sprinter: one drop-off, one pickup and one chauffeur. See Sprinter van with driver and group transportation.
The next day. Meetings on the Hill often follow the address. The full-day chauffeur (8 hours) runs from US$740 in a business sedan to US$1,475 in an Executive Sprinter, and the corporate roadshow day (10 hours) from US$900 to US$1,800. See corporate car service and roadshow chauffeur.
Discretion and the limits of a car service
Members' guests, diplomats and executives value privacy. Elly8.net signs NDAs on request, keeps the same chauffeur across a multi-day booking where the schedule allows, and sends chauffeur and vehicle details in advance when a list requires them. Chauffeurs do not discuss passengers or conversations. See government, diplomatic and delegation transportation.
Elly8.net is a chauffeured car service, not a security company. We do not provide protective details, armoured vehicles or escorts, and we do not have access to closed streets. Security for the night is set by the Secret Service, the Capitol Police and their partners.
Rides in Washington, DC are operated by licensed, commercially insured local chauffeur partners vetted through the Limousine Worldwide network; Elly8.net takes the booking, fixes the price and runs the 24/7 desk. Partner vehicles are four model years old or newer, seven for Rolls-Royce, Maybach and Bentley.
Elly8.net vs Metro, taxi and rideshare on the night
Metro is a genuinely good option for a single guest travelling light. WMATA lists weekday rail fares of US$2.25 to US$6.75, falling to US$2.25 to US$2.50 after 9:30 p.m., which covers most journeys home after the address. DC taxis are metered at US$4.00 for the first eighth of a mile and US$2.56 per additional mile, and the DFHV fares page adds waiting at US$25 an hour whenever the cab is stopped or crawling, which adds up fast near a perimeter.
| Option | Typical cost | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | US$2.25 to US$6.75; US$2.25 to US$2.50 after 9:30 p.m. weekdays | One guest, no bags, staying near a station | Crowds at the nearest stations when the address ends |
| DC taxi | Metered: US$4.00 first 1/8 mile, US$2.56 a mile, US$25 an hour waiting | A short hop once you are clear of the closures | Waiting time runs in closures and holds |
| Rideshare | Set by the app at request | Spontaneous trips away from the Hill | Surge when everyone leaves at once; pickup far from the perimeter |
| Elly8.net business sedan | US$125 from DCA; evening package from US$500 | Guests, groups, diplomats, a timed arrival and a car waiting | Book ahead; tolls and parking at cost |
The trade-off is straightforward. If you are alone, travelling light and staying near a Metro station, take the train home. A pre-booked chauffeur earns its fare when you have a timed arrival, a group to move, a reception after the speech, or a senior guest who should not be hunting for a ride on Constitution Avenue. See Uber Black vs a pre-booked chauffeur and chauffeur vs taxi.
How to book for State of the Union night
- Enter the pickup and drop-off, with the flight number for arrivals. Airport runs to downtown DC are fixed on the Washington DC page; for an evening around the Capitol, a reception address or a multi-stop night, use the web booker.
- Choose the vehicle: Business Sedan, Business SUV, First Class Sedan, First Class SUV or Executive Sprinter.
- Select Reserve now and pay by card, or book on account. Confirmation arrives by email, and chauffeur details follow before pickup.
Cars for the night book out early once the date is announced, so reserve as soon as you have your ticket or invitation. Prices on the list do not change for the event; tolls, parking and waiting beyond the included time are billed at cost. Organisations bringing several guests can open a corporate account for monthly invoicing, and travel agents can book clients through a travel agent account.
Cancellation is free more than 72 hours before pickup; 10% at 72 hours or less; 50% at 48 hours or less; 100% at 24 hours or less or for a no-show. Refunds go to the original card.
Elly8.net is a member of LimousineWorldwide.Directory, LimousineAssociation.International, HotelsWorldwide.Directory and VacationsWorldwide.Directory. For flights and hotels, our travel partner BookingWorldwide.net handles the rest; Elly8.net books the car only.
Staying on in Washington
Visitors who stay a day can see the city properly once the streets reopen. The private city highlights tour runs from US$400 in a business sedan to US$800 in an Executive Sprinter; see private city tours. The signature day trip is a 6-hour package to Mount Vernon and Old Town Alexandria, from US$555 in a business sedan to US$1,105 in a Sprinter. The same desk covers Baltimore, Richmond, Philadelphia and Atlantic City.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 State of the Union?
The date has not been announced. It is set by a House concurrent resolution passed by both chambers. Since 2010, every address has fallen between January 12 and March 7, and the 2026 address was on Tuesday, February 24, at 9:00 p.m. We confirm your times as soon as the date is published.
Which roads close around the Capitol?
The Capitol Police publish the closures a few days ahead. In 2026 they came in stages from 12:01 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., covering First Street, Constitution and Independence Avenues, Pennsylvania and Maryland Avenues near the Capitol and streets to Columbus Circle, until the event ended.
Can the chauffeur drop me at the Capitol door?
No car without official clearance can enter the closed streets. The chauffeur drops you at an agreed point outside them, with a short walk, and in good time before the evening closures. Send your ticket or access instructions with the booking and the desk plans the timing.
How much is a car from Reagan National to downtown DC?
A fixed fare from Reagan National to downtown DC is US$125 in a business sedan, US$165 in a Business SUV and US$325 in an Executive Sprinter, with First Class options between. It includes the chauffeur, taxes, standard gratuity and meet and greet; tolls and parking are billed at cost.
Should I book by the hour for the evening?
Usually, yes. Nobody can say exactly when the speech, the exit and the reopening of streets will finish. A car by the hour, or the evening out and event night package from US$500, keeps the chauffeur staged nearby and ready when you message.
Do you provide security drivers or armoured cars?
No. Elly8.net is a chauffeured car service, not a security company. We do not supply armoured vehicles, protective details or escorts, and our cars never try to pass a closure. Security is set by the Secret Service and the Capitol Police.
What is the cancellation policy?
More than 72 hours before pickup, cancellation is free; 72 hours or less costs 10%; 48 hours or less, 50%; 24 hours or less or a no-show, 100%. Refunds go to the original card.
Can a group travel together?
Yes. An Executive Sprinter carries a group with one drop-off and one pickup, which is simpler than several cars around a perimeter. Hourly Sprinter service in Washington runs at US$200 an hour with a 3-hour minimum, and the evening package in a Sprinter is US$1,000.
