Get Ready for an Insane Inauguration Day in DC, Here's What to Expect

WASHINGTON, DC — Over the years, the inauguration of the next president of the United States largely has been a pretty tedious, formal affair with lots of pomp and circumstance but little in the way of surprises, and certainly nothing going on in the surrounding area except a lot of standard D.C. schmoozing behind closed doors. This Jan. 20, however, things should look very, very different in the District.

You can expect huge marches and protests during and in the days before and after the Inauguration. Lots of people are angry about the election of Donald Trump, and those people will be taking to the streets in record numbers. One protest on Inauguration Day at Freedom Plaza near the Capitol where the inauguration will take place currently has 10,000 people committed to going on its Facebook page. And that's nothing compared to the "Women's March on Washington" planned for the day after. More than 200,000 people have indicated interest, and an eye-popping 126,000 have committed to going.

So if you do decide to go the Inauguration, you are probably in for quite the show. That said, you'll need to be prepared for a few realities that apply to all inaugurations, and especially to this one.

It's cold: D.C. is usually at the peak of winter in late January, and temperatures can drop well below freezing then in the area, so be sure to dress warmly and check the weather before you go in case you need rain -- or even snow -- protection.

It's crowded: At Obama's 2013 inauguration, estimates of the total size of the crowd hovered in the 1 million range. Considering the fact that Trump is likely to draw not only a huge amount of enthusiastic supporters, but also perhaps an unprecedented number of protesters, D.C. could be one crowded place on Inauguration Weekend.

There's a ton of security: Anytime a U.S. president is making a public appearance in broad daylight, you can expect swarms of federal and local law enforcement to keep an eye on everything. Any event you have a ticket to will have security screening, and you'll need photo ID. Check for a list of prohibited items ahead of time -- there are usually a few surprises on these lists that catch a lot of people off guard.

It's not easy to get around: If you're thinking about just driving into the city and then parking your car on Inauguration Day, you're insane. Most of downtown will be blocked off, and the crowds will be so huge it will be tough to get anywhere even in places that aren't blocked off, let alone find a parking spot. It probably isn't even a good idea to try to take a taxi or Uber in town. Instead, your best bet is to either stay somewhere within walking or biking distance, if you can afford it, or take Metro in. Leave early, though, because everyone is going to take Metro on that day.

Image via White House