D.C. has plenty of gridlock even without the motorcades. It is one of the worst cities I’ve ever had the misfortune of driving in. Not enough street parking, expensive parking garages, flex lanes that change direction depending on the time of day, and one way streets that don’t alternate traffic direction in any conceivable pattern.
If you go there do yourself a favor and just take the metro.
Street parking causes much of the traffic because people double or triple park or drive around endlessly trying to find a subsidized spot. The problem DC has is simply that too many people are trying to go to the same places, and there just isn’t that much room for cars, especially with the limited river crossing points and reserved federal space.
If you go there do yourself a favor and just take the metro.