Jay,
If you really want to go into IAD, just go IFR, piece of cake. On my big
trip last year we went IFR from TEB-ABE-EVY-DMW-MRB-IAD, almost all in hard
IFR. Potomac Apch was the best facility I worked with on my entire 5k trip,
and they made getting into IAD a breeze.
But, like you, I considered all kinds of alternatives to going into IAD, but
in the end glad we went in there as our hotel was near IAD. Was going to go
VFR into Gaithersburg, then Frederick, then Manassas, then Warrenton.
Warrenton was the closest to IAD but outside the ADIZ. If I remember right,
getting a rental car there was tough, and I dont think the metro went out
that far.
The FBO we used is on the north side of 1L/19R, fairly easy in/out. Got put
on the ILS1L, #1 in front of some airliners, fastest approach I've ever
flown. Rental car place is pretty close to the FBO, they'll come and get
you.
Add an hour (time zone) and thunderstorms into your times.
Later, Chris