DC Summer Housing Guide

So, you just landed your dream summer Hillternship—congrats! Now comes the hard part: figuring out where to live.

Timing is critical. DC summer housing fills up fast, especially in neighborhoods close to Capitol Hill. You should start your search as early as possible, as many of the most convenient and affordable options are booked by April.

Here are some options to get you started:

Intern-specific Housing Companies

These companies specialize in short-term, furnished housing for Capitol Hill and DC interns.

They are among the most convenient options and fill up the fastest.

University Dorm Housing

One popular route is university housing. Several DC-area schools open their dorms to non-students during the summer (and sometimes even during the academic year). You should also check with your own university, as many schools offer housing assistance or can help connect you with options in DC.

American University

  • Distance: ~7 miles

  • Location: Northwest DC

  • Housing Info: https://www.american.edu

  • Transit Access: Requires bus to reach the nearest Metro (Tenleytown–AU, Red Line)

  • Estimated Commute: ~27 minutes via Metro (after bus connection)

George Washington University

  • Distance: ~3 miles

  • Location: Foggy Bottom (Blue/Orange/Silver Lines)

  • Housing Info: https://summerhousing.gwu.edu

  • Transit Access: Direct Metro access (Foggy Bottom–GWU station)

  • Estimated Commute: ~27 minutes via Metro (direct to Capitol Hill)

Catholic University of America

  • Distance: ~4.7 miles

  • Location: Northeast DC (Red Line)

  • Housing Info: https://pryzbyla.catholic.edu/

  • Transit Access: Direct Metro access (Brookland–CUA station)

  • Estimated Commute: ~42 minutes via Metro

Georgetown University

  • Distance: ~5.1 miles

  • Location: Georgetown (no direct Metro access)

  • Housing Info: https://residentialliving.georgetown.edu

  • Transit Access: Bus required to reach Metro (e.g., Farragut West)

  • Estimated Commute: ~16 minutes via Metro (after bus connection)

University of Maryland

  • Distance: ~7.8 miles

  • Location: College Park, MD (Green/Yellow Lines)

  • Housing Info: https://ochdatabase.umd.edu

  • Transit Access: 10–15 minute walk to College Park Metro station

  • Estimated Commute: ~35 minutes via Metro

Marymount University

  • Distance: ~6.5 miles

  • Location: Arlington, VA

  • Housing Info: https://marymount.edu

  • Transit Access: Bus to Ballston Metro (Orange/Silver Lines)

  • Estimated Commute: ~10 min bus + ~13 min Metro

George Mason University

  • Distance: ~21 miles

  • Location: Fairfax, VA

  • Housing Info: https://housing.gmu.edu

  • Transit Access: Bus to Vienna/Fairfax–GMU Metro (Orange Line)

  • Estimated Commute: ~20 min bus + ~35 min Metro

Aggregators

Useful for comparing options or finding sublets. When using general platforms like Zillow or Apartments.com, filter specifically for short-term or sublet listings.

Community Resources

  • These can be significantly cheaper than purpose-built housing but require more vetting. Best used alongside other options.

  • "DC Intern Housing" Facebook group

  • "DC Summer Sublets" Facebook group

  • r/washingtondc and r/DCforRent subreddits

  • DMV Housing, Roomies & Sublets Groupme

Beware of Scams

Housing scams targeting interns are common in DC. Follow these tips:

  • Never wire money to someone you have not verified either via calls or Google searches.

  • Some places may require an application fee, but you should not pay a security deposit or any rent until you have verified the apartment.

  • Verify an address exists, use Google Earth street view, look for reviews, if any. If you are looking at Facebook posts, verify the apartment and people you are communicating with are for real.

  • Never provide social security numbers or banking information over text. Trusted places should use third-party services certified to handle and protect your information.