There are a few places up in the Gathersburg area of MD that are around 60-70 a night. There’s now a Motel 6(I think, used to be a Red Roof Inn), off of exit 11 on I-270 and you can walk to the shuttle to the Metro. I’ve stayed there a couple of times, just ask for rooms on the other side of the train tracks and it’s not bad.
I think the Brickskellar Inn up in DuPont has rates for under $100 a night. Nice part of town, near the Red Line, and downstairs is the greatest selection of beers in the region.
Mmmmm…beer.
There’s a really nice Quality Inn & Suites just across 285 from the Shady Grove Metro in the Gaithersburg area where we stayed a couple years ago with our golden retriever AND cat. Huge rooms, free full cooked breakfast, free shuttle to the Metro, and it has a captive (mostly military) audience during the week for sessions at the National Institute of Standards nearby so is virtually empty on weekends and should offer a good deal. We had a 1000-square-foot suite for $99 a night. It’s a bit longer Metro ride out to the end of the Red Line, though.
Cranky has a good suggestion. That Holiday Inn is very nice and in a decent area (since it is a business area).
Don’t stay in the Best Western on South Capital Street. Supposedly it is one of the closest hotels to the Capital. What they don’t tell you as they rob you for the price of the hotel that it is in a neighborhood riddled with crack, hookers, street violence, and the highest mugging rate in the city.
I HIGHLY recommend hotwire.com (similar to Priceline) for your choice. I always use them for leisure travel and the hotels they give you are VERY nice. I have stayed at the Waldorf-Astoria for $110 last summer!
When selecting your four locations, I recommend
NW Washington - Connecticut Avenue
The White House - Capitol Hill
Crystal City - Reagan National Airport DCA
Dupont Circle - Embassy Row
I actually might want to shy away from Crystal City as that much of it closes down after hours, except for a few restaurants and clubs that stay open pretty late. But there are the nearby 23rd street restaurants to go to, but they are on the pricey side.
Although I live in the 'burbs and enjoy it here very much, I think staying in Clarendon (Arlington) or somewhere else cannot compare to being in Dupont Circle or anywhere in the District.
I would also recommend you a hotel in Old Town (There is a new Hampton Inn and Hilton very close to the King Street metro station) but the ‘Old Town/Alenandria’ area that is covered on Hotwire is large and contains locations away from metro stations and traditional Old Town.
So go for Old Town if getting one where you know the exact location, but be a bit wary if using it from Hotwire/Priceline.
Good luck and keep us updated! 
Thanks for all of the advice, guys. I’ve made my reservation, and can’t wait to see the exhibit.
If anyone has already seen it, please let me know if you enjoyed it.
The ones closest to Metro stay open the longest and the Eads St. Marriott that I mentioned earlier has its own sports bar.
It’s mainly the Italian and French places that are on the pricey side. The rest are pretty reasonable.
I’ll agree with this. I can see it from my office right now. It’s right next to the Rosslyn Metro, and right across the river from Georgetown.
-Mod
A Washington Post article entitled “Much Ado About Shakespeare and the Queen”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9406-2003Jun3.html