WASHINGTON - With just 23 days away from the swearing in of President-elect Barack Obama (web | news | bio) , the big challenge of getting around the District on the historic day remains in question.

People from across the country are making arrangements to watch Barack Obama take the oath of office as D.C.-area residents are mapping out plans for getting in, out and around the city.

It's no secret it will be a big challenge to get into the District on the big day. Now ABC 7/NewsChannel 8 has learned that Route 50 will be shut down all the way to Washington Boulevard. That's got a lot of people thinking about travel strategies.

"Everybody wants to be here; it's a life changing thing," said Amy Crim, Centreville resident.

"I have two little kids, so I will definitely be leaving them at home," said Melissa Hancock from Herndon.

Both Hancock and Crim, from Virginia, are likely joining several million others for the big day.

"Go through the Metro and see how far we can get in. One of our biggest concerns is can we get anywhere near the street," Hancock said.

Metro is planning on 'crush-load' conditions of up to 120,000 people an hour.

As a result, D.C. resident Haleena Burton is fleeing the crowds and heading to her mom's house in Upper Marlboro.

"I'm actually going to hide out, stay with my parents," said Burton. "Just to be around my family and friends at my mom's house and watch it on TV; to me it's like really important."

And with plans that include 10,000 tour buses, closed bridges, millions of tourists and the now shut down of Rt. 50 all the way to Washington Blvd, Arlington resident Marty Heffren is grabbing his walking shoes.

"It is like a three-mile walk up to the Capitol," said Heffren "We were thinking about going to Arlington Cemetery and maybe parking in that area, getting dropped off and walking across the bridge."

Besides taking the Metro, some other good advice, officials say, is to wear a comfortable pair of shoes.

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