Where to stay for AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition (Association of the U.S. Army) mostly comes down to how far you want to walk after a full day on the exhibit floor.
These five hotels are the closest bookable options for the 2026 show, held October 12-14, 2026, at Walter E. Washington Convention Center, chosen by walking distance first, then star rating. Every property on this list suits a defense-industry or uniformed traveler on a government or corporate account.
How far you actually walk to the exhibit halls
Walter E. Washington Convention Center is at 801 Allen Y. Lew Place NW, and the exhibits are in Halls A, B and C on the lower level. All five hotels here are on L Street or Massachusetts Avenue, a block or two from the building, so nobody on this list crosses a major arterial to reach it.
Mid-October mornings in Washington DC start around 53°F and reach about 70°F by afternoon, so walking over in uniform or a suit is no problem.
The hotels below are ordered by door-to-door walking time. If you are traveling with a hard case or a display sample, ask your hotel what it can do about storage and delivery before you arrive rather than on the morning of move-in.
Booking notes for AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition attendees
- Halls A, B and C are on the convention center's lower level, per AUSA's own attendee FAQ. Check the show's floor plan for the entrance nearest your first session rather than defaulting to the main doors.
- GSA's lodging per diem for Washington DC in October 2026 is $287 a night, against a standard rate of $113 for places without their own rate, which widens what is bookable on an official travel order.
- The Marriott Marquis shares a block with the convention center and has a direct underground connection, which matters on a cold or rainy October morning.
- The Residence Inn and Courtyard share 901 L Street NW and both serve breakfast on site, which is worth confirming against your first briefing of the day when you book.
- A room this close to a convention center trades quiet for the short walk. If you are a light sleeper, ask for a higher floor away from the street.
- Mount Vernon Square station (Green and Yellow lines) is at 7th and M Streets NW, adjacent to the convention center, and the Yellow Line reaches Reagan National without a transfer.
The five hotels side by side
| Hotel | Stars | Walk to convention center | Nearest Metro | Guest score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courtyard by Marriott Washington Downtown/Convention Center | 3 | 1 min (0.07 mi) | Mount Vernon Sq (2 min) | 8.6 |
| Residence Inn by Marriott Washington Downtown/Convention Center | 3 | 1 min (0.07 mi) | Mount Vernon Sq (2 min) | 9.0 |
| Marriott Marquis Washington, DC | 4 | 3 min (0.14 mi) | Mount Vernon Sq (4 min) | 8.5 |
| Henley Park Hotel | 4 | 4 min (0.19 mi) | Mount Vernon Sq (5 min) | 8.5 |
| Morrison Clark Historic Inn | 4 | 4 min (0.20 mi) | Mount Vernon Sq (5 min) | 9.2 |
What each hotel gives an AUSA attendee
The two Marriott-flagged properties at 901 L Street NW share a building and a front door, which puts you across the street from the convention center. The Residence Inn floors are suites with full kitchens, useful for a three-night stay when you want to avoid a restaurant charge every evening. The Courtyard floors run standard king and double rooms at a lower nightly rate.
The Marriott Marquis on Massachusetts Avenue, one of the Marriott properties across Washington DC, is the largest hotel adjacent to the convention center and carries the full-service amenities, including a fitness center, multiple food and beverage outlets, and meeting space that defense contractors sometimes use for side sessions during the show.
The underground connection is the best thing about it for AUSA week: you can get to the halls without going outside.
The Henley Park Hotel on Massachusetts Avenue and the Morrison Clark Historic Inn on L Street are both four-star independents with smaller room counts, which means quieter corridors after a long day on the exhibit floor. Morrison Clark's guest score of 9.2 is the highest on this list, and it's in an 1864 building, which none of the chain hotels around it can offer.
The hotels
Courtyard by Marriott Washington Downtown/Convention Center
901 L Street NW
8.62,300 reviews
2 min walk to Mount Vernon Square / 7th St-Convention Center (Green/Yellow)Same building and same one-minute walk as the Residence Inn, at a standard room rate, with The Market, a 24-hour self-service pantry, in the lobby.
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Residence Inn by Marriott Washington Downtown/Convention Center
901 L Street NW
9.01,399 reviews
2 min walk to Mount Vernon Square / 7th St-Convention Center (Green/Yellow)The closest hotel to AUSA, 0.07 miles from the L Street entrance. Suites with full kitchens suit a three-night government-account stay.
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Marriott Marquis Washington, DC
901 Massachusetts Ave NW
8.5449 reviews
4 min walk to Mount Vernon Square / 7th St-Convention Center (Green/Yellow)An underground connection into the convention center, so October rain doesn't matter, and full-service amenities for a delegation.
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Henley Park Hotel
926 Massachusetts Ave NW
8.52,504 reviews
5 min walk to Mount Vernon Square / 7th St-Convention Center (Green/Yellow)A small four-star on Massachusetts Avenue, four minutes from the exhibit halls and quieter than the big convention-block chains.
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Morrison Clark Historic Inn
1011 L Street NW
9.2343 reviews
5 min walk to Mount Vernon Square / 7th St-Convention Center (Green/Yellow)The best guest score here (9.2). A four-star boutique one block west of the convention center, small enough to stay quiet on event nights.
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Evenings near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center this week
Here’s what’s on within a 20-minute walk of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center over the next few nights.
Monday, November 2
Tuesday, November 3
Wednesday, November 4
Thursday, November 5
Listings by Outgoing. Times and prices can change, so check the listing before you go.
All 63 Washington DC hotel guides →
Frequently asked questions
Which hotel is closest to AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition?＋
The Residence Inn by Marriott and the Courtyard by Marriott, both at 901 L Street NW, are the closest at 0.07 miles from Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Is there a hotel with a direct indoor connection to the venue for AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition?＋
The Marriott Marquis Washington, DC has an underground connection to Walter E. Washington Convention Center. That connection is the most practical option on cold or wet October mornings when you are carrying a bag or equipment.
Which hotel best suits a government-account traveler attending AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition?＋
The Residence Inn at 901 L Street NW suits government-account travelers well. The suite-format rooms include full kitchens that reduce meal expenses over a three-night stay, and the property is one minute from the convention center's exhibit hall entrances.
What is the best Metro station to use for AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition?＋
Mount Vernon Sq / 7th St-Convention Center on the Green and Yellow lines is the closest station to Walter E. Washington Convention Center. All five hotels on this list are within a five-minute walk of that station, and it connects to Reagan National Airport without a transfer.
What should I look for in a hotel room when attending AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition?＋
After a full day in Halls A, B, and C, a quiet room matters more than most amenities. At the 901 L Street NW properties, ask for a higher floor away from the street when you book. Morrison Clark and Henley Park both have smaller room counts, which keeps corridor noise lower across the three show days.
How far in advance should I book a hotel for AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition?＋
The mid-October dates fall in peak Washington DC conference season, and the hotels within one block of the convention center fill months in advance. Booking as soon as your registration is confirmed gives you the best chance at the closest properties on this list.
