Washington Navy Yard Directions & Base Access Information

Base Access Information

Please be advised that Base Security protocol can change without notice. All information provided below is based on standard Security procedures. Naval Support Activity Washington reserves the right to make changes at any time.

Naval History and Heritage Command

The Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Headquarters is located at the Washington Navy Yard. Please follow the guidance for entrance gates and directions below. Hours of operation and contact information for specific research branches of NHHC can be found at: www.history.navy.mil/about/operation_hours.html

The National Museum of the United States Navy

The National Museum of the United States Navy is open to the public free of charge and is located on the historic Washington Navy Yard in southeast Washington, D.C. The Museum is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on weekends and holidays. The Museum is open every day except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

Individuals above the age of 16 are required to have a valid government-issued ID card, such as a driver’s license, State ID, passport, or Common Access Card (CAC). Guests accompanied by children under the age of 16 will be responsible for those children. Large handbags and backpacks may be searched by Security.

Personal vehicles are permitted on weekends ONLY. Vehicle registration and proof of insurance or rental agreement are required. During the week, parking is available for a fee in the lot adjacent to the Navy Yard at the intersection of 6th and M St SE.

Entrance Gates

• 6th St SE and M St SE
  24/7 gate. Visitors should park in the pay lot on M St. across from the gate on weekdays as vehicular traffic is not allowed to the Museum. Visitors may drive in through the 6th and M St. gate on weekends. This gate is also the entrance for buses arriving on weekends.
• 9th St SE and M St SE
  Military and DoD employees only, Monday-Friday
• 11th St SE and O St SE (1022 O St SE)
  Bus Entrance, Monday-Friday

Parking

Personal Vehicles are permitted on the Washington Navy Yard on WEEKENDS ONLY.
Ample parking is available in front of the US Navy Museum. All white spaces are available for visitors. Vehicle registration and proof of insurance or rental agreement are required.

Directions to Washington Navy Yard

Metro (Subway) Metro System Map

The U.S. Navy Museum is accessible by both the Navy Yard (green) and Eastern Market (blue and orange) metro stations.

• Eastern Market Metro Station (Orange/Blue Line)
  Exit the metro station and walk south on 8th St SE for 0.5 miles. Turn right onto M St SE and continue for two more blocks. The museum visitor access gate is located at the intersection of 6th St SE and M St SE.
• Navy Yard Metro Station (Green Line)
  Exit the metro station via New Jersey Ave and walk east on M St until you come to 6th St SE. The museum visitor access gate is located at the intersection of 6th St SE and M St SE.

Public Bus

The new DC Circulator Union Station to Navy Yard Metro route will operate every ten minutes, Monday through Friday - 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Additional service will be available during Nationals home game days - including late evening and weekends.

For Metro schedules and updates please visit the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority website at www.wmata.com . For DC Circulator schedules, please visit www.dccirculator.com

Driving Directions

From Downtown

Monday-Friday - Off-site parking is available adjacent to the Washington Navy Yard
Take 9th St NW (one way going south) and continue through the tunnel under the National Mall. As you come out of the tunnel, take the first left onto Southwest Freeway (I-395). Take the 6th St SE exit. The sign also says Navy Yard. Proceed down the ramp and continue straight ahead to 8th St SE. Turn right, go two blocks to M St SE. Turn right onto M St and proceed to the public parking lot located at the intersection of 7th and M St SE. The lot will be on your right hand side. There is a fee for parking. From there, individuals may access the Washington Navy Yard via the gate located at 6th and M St SE.

-or-

Take Independence Ave east, past the National Mall and the US Capitol. Independence Ave merges with Pennsylvania Ave at the Library of Congress. Follow Pennsylvania Ave to 8th St SE and turn right. Take 8th St south until it ends at the Navy Yard (intersection of 8th and M St SE). Turn right and go two blocks to M St SE. Turn right onto M St and proceed to the public parking lot located at the intersection of 7th and M St SE. The lot will be on your right hand side. There is a fee for parking. From there, individuals may access the Washington Navy Yard via the gate located at 6th and M St SE.

Weekends / Federal Holidays
Take 9th St NW (one way going south) and continue through the tunnel under the National Mall. As you come out of the tunnel, take the first left onto Southwest Freeway (I-395). Take the 6th St SE exit. The sign also says Navy Yard. Proceed down the ramp and continue straight ahead to 8th St SE. Turn right and go two blocks to M St SE. Turn right and go two blocks to the stop light at the intersection of 6th and M St. The vehicular access gate is located at the intersection of 6th St SE and M St SE.

-or-

Take Independence Ave east, past the National Mall and the US Capitol. Independence Ave merges with Pennsylvania Ave at the Library of Congress. Follow Pennsylvania Ave to 8th St SE and turn right. Take 8th St south until it ends at the Navy Yard (intersection of 8th and M St. SE.). Turn right, go two blocks to M St SE. Turn right and go two blocks to the stop light at the intersection of 6th and M St. The vehicular access gate is located at the intersection of 6th St SE and M St SE.

From Virginia:

Current construction on 14th St. Bridge will cause delays for Summer 2009 – vsit www.ddot.dc.gov/14thstreetbridge for more information.

Monday-Friday - Off-site parking is available adjacent to the Washington Navy Yard
Follow I-395 across the 14th St. Bridge. At the end of the Bridge, I-395 bears off to the right and becomes the Southwest-Southeast Freeway. Take the Freeway to the 6th St SE exit. Proceed down the ramp and continue straight ahead to 8th St SE. Turn right, go two blocks to M St SE. Turn right onto M St and proceed to the public parking lot located at the intersection of 7th and M St SE. The lot will be on your right hand side. There is a fee for parking. From there, individuals may access the Washington Navy Yard via the gate located at 6th and M St SE.

Weekends / Federal Holidays
Follow I-395 across the 14th St Bridge. At the end of the Bridge, I-395 bears off to the right and becomes the Southwest-Southeast Freeway. Take the Freeway to the 6th St SE exit. Proceed down the ramp and continue straight ahead to 8th St SE. Turn right and go two blocks to the stop light at the intersection of 6th and M St. The vehicular access gate is located at the intersection of 6th St SE and M St SE.

From South Alexandria/Mount Vernon area:

Monday-Friday - Off-site parking is available adjacent to the Washington Navy Yard
Take Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Exit at end of the Bridge to I-295. Exit 295 at the 11th St Bridge. The sign also says Navy Yard. At the end of the Bridge, exit to the right. At the bottom of the ramp proceed to the stop sign and turn left onto M St (this is a T intersection, you must go either left or right). Proceed down M St to the public parking lot located at the intersection of 7th St SE and M St SE. The lot will be on your right hand side. There is a fee for parking. From there, individuals may access the Washington Navy Yard via the gate located at 6th and M St SE.

Weekends / Federal Holidays
Take Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Exit at end of the Bridge to I-295. Exit 295 at the 11th St Bridge. The sign also says Navy Yard. At the end of the Bridge, exit to the right. At the bottom of the ramp proceed to the stop sign and turn left onto M St (this is a T intersection, you must go either left or right.) Proceed down M St to 6th St SE. The gate is located at the intersection of 6th and M St SE on your left hand side.

From Maryland (Northwest of Washington):

Monday-Friday - Off-site parking is available adjacent to the Washington Navy Yard
Take Beltway I-495 to the George Washington Parkway. Follow Parkway to 395 N and the 14th St Bridge. At the end of the bridge, I-395 bears off to the right and becomes the Southeast-Southwest Freeway. Take the Freeway to the 6th St SE exit. The sign also says Navy Yard. Proceed down the ramp and continue straight ahead to 8th St SE. Turn right, go two blocks to M St SE. Turn right onto M St and proceed to the public parking lot located at the intersection of 7th and M St SE. The lot will be on your right hand side. There is a fee for parking. From there, individuals may access the Washington Navy Yard via the gate located at 6th and M St SE.

Weekends / Federal Holidays
Take Beltway I-495 to the George Washington Parkway. Follow Parkway to 395 N and the 14th St Bridge. At the end of the bridge, I-395 bears off to the right and becomes the Southeast-Southwest Freeway. Take the Freeway to the 6th St SE exit. The sign also says Navy Yard. Proceed down the ramp and continue straight ahead until you reach 8th St SE. Turn right and go two blocks to the stop light at the intersection of 6th and M St. The vehicular access gate is located at the intersection of 6th St SE and M St SE.

From Maryland (Northeast of Washington: Annapolis, Baltimore):

Monday-Friday - Off-site parking is available adjacent to the Washington Navy Yard
Take Baltimore-Washington parkway (Route 50 South) to I-295. Follow I-295 to South Capitol Street/Howard Road exit. Keep to the left as you exit and make a left at the stop sign. Pass under the highway; then make a left at the light. Get back on I-295 North. (This loop is necessary because there is no exit to the 11th St Bridge going south.) Continue a short distance on I-295 to the 11th St Bridge exit. The sign also says Navy Yard. At the end of the Bridge, exit to the right. At the bottom of the ramp proceed to the stop sign. Turn left onto M St (this is a T intersection, you must go either left or right) and proceed to the public parking lot located at the intersection of 7th and M St SE. The lot will be on your right hand side. There is a fee for parking. From there, individuals may access the Washington Navy Yard via the gate located at 6th and M St SE.

Weekends / Federal Holidays
Take Baltimore-Washington parkway (Route 50 South) to I-295. Follow I-295 to South Capitol St/Howard Road exit. Keep to the left as you exit and make a left at the stop sign. Pass under the highway; then make a left at the light. Get back on I-295 North. (This loop is necessary because there is no exit to the 11th St Bridge going south.) Continue a short distance on I-295 to the 11th St Bridge exit. The sign also says Navy Yard. At the end of the Bridge, exit to the right. At the bottom of the ramp proceed to the stop sign. Turn left onto M St (this is a T intersection; you must go either left or right). Continue down M St until you reach the intersection of 6th St SE and M St SE. The gate will be on your left hand side.

From Southern Maryland:

Monday-Friday - Off-site parking is available adjacent to the Washington Navy Yard
Take Beltway (I-495) to I-295 N (just before you get to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge). Exit at 11th St Bridge. The sign also says Navy Yard. At the end of the Bridge, exit to the right. At the bottom of the ramp proceed to stop sign (this is a T intersection, you must go either left or right). Turn left onto M St SE and proceed to the public parking lot located at the intersection of 7th and M St SE. The lot will be on your right hand side. There is a fee for parking. From there, individuals may access the Washington Navy Yard via the gate located at 6th and M St SE.

Weekends / Federal Holidays
Take Beltway (I-495) to I-295 N (just before you get to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge). Exit at 11th St Bridge. The sign also says Navy Yard. At the end of the Bridge, exit to the right. At the bottom of the ramp proceed to the stop sign. Turn left onto M St (this is a T intersection, you must go either left or right). Continue down M St until you reach the intersection of 6th St SE and M St SE. The gate will be on your left hand side.

NOTE : Picnic tables are available near the Museum and throughout the Navy Yard for those who wish to bring their lunch and eat outside.

Other Places of Interest at the Washington Navy Yard:

• Eating Facilities
• USS Barry: A decommissioned 1950s destroyer, open to visitors as a display ship.
• Parks in the Navy Yard: view naval ordnance, a World War I railway gun, and a Vietnam-era PCF "Swift boat".