After two years on the campaign trail, Barack Obama ends his quest for the Presidency tonight in D.C.’s backyard. The rally, to be held in Manassas at the Prince William County Fairgrounds at 9 p.m., is Obama’s final scheduled public appearance before Election Day. The event is free and open to the public, though the campaign encourages attendees to RSVP in advance. Expect metal detectors, but will they be checking names at the door?

Organizers are expecting nearly 40,000 supporters, though higher numbers are certainly plausible. Roads are expected to get messy, with rally traffic combining with I-66 rush hour traffic (which is normally horrendous to begin with).

D.C. folk driving over after work will have 33 miles and already intense I-66 rush hour traffic to contend with. Obama will be traveling from Charlotte where he won’t speak until after 5:30. But he’s got a private plane and Secret Service detail to whisk him around. A Daily Kos commenter offers some tips on fighting the I-66 parking lot. The bottom line: leave yourself two extra hours.

Meanwhile in the Maryland suburbs, the Redskins host the Pittsburgh Steelers in a Monday Night Football matchup at 90,000+ seat FedEx Field. Can Obama outdraw the beloved Redskins? Will voters watching the game or the Saturday Night Live election special alleviate crowds in Manassas?