Your guide to frequently asked questions about motorcades in the District.
Hey, what’s that blocking the street?
In Washington, DC, if you spot a bunch of police shutting down a major road, keeping pedestrians from crossing the street and helicopters circling overhead, chances are you’re about to encounter an official government motorcade, not spot Beyoncé. High-ranking cabinet members, the vice president, visiting heads of state and the president all merit these wheeled, high-security convoys organized and manned by the U.S. Secret Service. They range in size from a couple of SUVs toup to 45 vehicles for the president.
Where can I spot a motorcade?
You might see a motorcade anywhere around town, but the most likely zone to watch the president roll by is near Pennsylvania Avenue in Penn Quarterand downtown near the White House, where the motorcade commonly travels along –and stopstraffic on –16th Street NW or Connecticut Avenue NW.
How can you tell if it's the President of the United States in the motorcade?
POTUS travels in a specially fitted state car – currently a Cadillac limo-SUV hybrid nicknamed “The Beast.” The distinctive blocky shaped car has defensive, security and medical capabilities that are, well, secret. You’ll know it’s POTUS if the car is bearing twin American flags on either side of the hood.
Why all those other cars and SUVs?
Depending on the level of security the U.S. Secret Service deems is necessary (and again, they keep that mum), a presidential motorcade might have a couple of police cars, a high-tech ambulance, SUVs with anti-aircraft guns, cars for members of the press and more. It’s quite a spectacle, and a little intense (yes, those Secret Service agents have real weapons, and they’re trained to respond to threats in a split second). You can snap photos and wave at the president, but don’t run into the street or make sudden or threatening gestures: a motorcade might seem all pomp and circ*mstance, but security is its main function.
Even if you don’t catch POTUSand his or her ride, explore the presidency in DC by checking out these presidential things to doand stately dining experiences,visiting the White Houseorthe Woodrow Wilson House, where the 28th president lived (and died) after his time at the White House.
FAQs
The motorcade for the President of the United States comprises forty to fifty vehicles; in addition to the president, the motorcade may carry his or her spouse or children, members of the press, security, White House officials, and VIP guests.
When was the first presidential motorcade? ›
The advent of the automobile in the motorcade, as we know it today, took place in 1903, when the President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, made use of a series of motor vehicles during an event in the city of San Francisco, something he would repeat again in 1910, when he attended an air show in St.
How does the president travel in DC? ›
The presidential state car is a limousine called Cadillac One or The Beast which is operated by the Secret Service. There are at least ten limousines. There is also a bus unofficially called Ground Force One officially called Stagecoach, while the president is aboard, which is operated by the Secret Service.
Where is the presidential motorcade? ›
You might see a motorcade anywhere around town, but the most likely zone to watch the president roll by is near Pennsylvania Avenue in Penn Quarter and downtown near the White House, where the motorcade commonly travels along – and stops traffic on – 16th Street NW or Connecticut Avenue NW.
What flag is on the presidential motorcade? ›
Identifiable by the presidential seal on the commander-in-chief's limo—an armored vehicle dubbed the Beast—this motorcade can stretch 30 vehicles long. The President's car has two flags at the front: the US flag on the driver's side, the flag of the President on the passenger side.
What kind of car does Trump drive? ›
Trump owns a classic Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. Trump has said that he enjoys driving this car on special occasions. The Silver Cloud has beautiful flowing lines, a big grill, and a sloping back. It floats down the street with the beauty and grace of the rich, powered by a 6.2-liter V8.
Which car is the most expensive car in the world? ›
Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail is the world's most expensive car, priced at $30 million (Rs. 211 crore approx).
Where does the President fly into DC? ›
Andrews, located near Morningside, Maryland in suburban Washington, D.C., is the home base of two Boeing VC-25A aircraft with the call sign Air Force One when the president is on board, that serve the President of the United States, and the President is typically flown in and out of Andrews when travelling from ...
What president lives in Washington, DC? ›
| White House |
|---|
| Architectural style | Neoclassical, Palladian |
| Address | 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20500 U.S. |
| Coordinates | 38°53′52″N 77°02′11″W |
| Current tenants | Joe Biden, President of the United States and the First Family |
19 more rowsThe Constitution dictates that the federal district be under the jurisdiction of the US Congress. Washington, DC operates as a state while also performing functions of a city and a county. We are treated as a state in more than 500 federal laws. We are leaders in a region of 4 million people and growing.
A motorcade is a line of cars traveling together, usually slowly and ceremonially. If the President comes to town, you are bound to see a motorcade.
How much does the US president's car cost? ›
The limousine was reported to cost between $300,000 and $1,500,000 (equivalent to about $400,000–2,000,000 in 2023). The presidential state car was maintained by the United States Secret Service. The car had more five-inch (130 mm) bulletproof glass than the previous model.
What plane carries the president's cars? ›
Presidential limousines are transported by military cargo aircraft, such as US Air Force C-17s, for use during the president's travels, according to the US Secret Service.
What is the purpose of a motorcade? ›
Motorcades can be used as protests and demonstrations. A large, organised, group of vehicles will travel a busy route at very slow speed. They do this to deliberately cause traffic disruption. This is often in relation to protest groups that have access to many large vehicles, such as truckers and farmers.
Does DC get a house member? ›
National Level Representation
DC residents elect a non-voting delegate to the US House of Representatives, two shadow Senators, and one shadow Representative whose task is to petition Congress for statehood. District residents have no voting representation in the House of Representatives.
What percent of people in DC own cars? ›
States with the lowest rate of car ownership
Rounding out the states with the lowest percentage of households that have at least one vehicle are: District of Columbia (64.3%) New York (71%)
