WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Only the most wildly optimistic expected the trip to 41,000-seat Nationals Park to be easy.

But a great fear of excruciating, unbreakable gridlock may be mitigated for most — if fans take heed of certain restrictions and follow recommended routes to the stadium, officials said.

The 2008 home schedule includes 53 games on weekday evenings and one on a weekday afternoon.

“Our goal is to provide fans with as many options as possible to reach the game — Metrorail, Metrobus, bicycles, walking, satellite parking and proximity parking,” Gregory McCarthy, Nationals’ director of transportation and planning, said in an e-mail. “Of course, we are first urging fans to use mass transit but for those who cannot, the mix of options is workable.”

Ticktock ...

Amount of time it takes to reach the ballpark by Metro from these locations on a weeknight:

- Franconia-Springfield to Capitol South: 43 minutes on the Blue Line

- Vienna to Capitol South: 47 minutes on the Orange Line

- Wheaton to the Navy Yard: 43 minutes on the Red Line with transfer to Green Line at Fort Totten

- Shady Grove to the Navy Yard: 52 minutes on the Red Line with transfer to Green Line at Gallery Place

Getting there by road

The vast majority of the roughly 4,500 spaces near the stadium, in a mishmash of garages and surface lots, are assigned to seasonticket holders. Attempting to pinpoint the few spaces available for the casual fan is not recommended. And most of the area’s new variable-priced, multi-space meters are not meant for stadium traffic.

All drivers are urged to avoid South Capitol Street. Multiple alternatives exist — map out a route using the “Way to Go” feature at www.washingtonnationals.com. Traffic control officers will man at least 40 posts throughout the area.

Parking on residential streets near the ballpark, particularly in Southwest, is an invitation for a ticket or tow. Most of the parking supply is reserved for permit-holders or commuters in two-hour stints. D.C. will have 12 parking enforcers roaming the ballpark area.

If driving is the only option, head over to RFK Stadium and park for free. There, some 50 motor coaches, dubbed the Nats Express, will ferry fans to the ballpark at no charge. The motor coaches will run from 90 minutes before game time to 90 minutes after the last out.

For cyclists, there are more than 200 bike racks plus a bike valet, McCarthy said.

Getting there by transit

Maybe the mantra will stick if they say it enough: Take Metro. Park and Ride lots with some 57,000 spaces are available at 34 Metro stations across the city and suburbs. The end-line stations are no more than a 53-minute, $4.30 ride away, plus parking on weekdays.

The redesigned Half Street exit of the Green Line’s Navy Yard Metro Station, .13 miles from the stadium gates, will handle up to 15,000 people an hour. Metro is slated to add a 20th train to the Green Line for evening rush hours.

For Blue and Orange line passengers, the Capitol South Metro Station is a relatively easy 15-minute walk from the ballpark, about 0.7 miles away. From the Metro: Walk down First Street, make a right onto E Street and then a quick left onto New Jersey Avenue. Follow New Jersey under the freeway and make a right onto I Street and then a left onto First Street to the stadium gates.

Riders on the Yellow Line can connect with the Green, Blue and Orange lines out of the L’Enfant Plaza station. Red Line passengers can connect with the Green Line out of Fort Totten or Gallery Place. Or hop on Metro’s N22 bus out of Union Station.

mneibauer@dcexaminer.com