Venue
Location
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Natcher Building (Building 45)
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
NIH Visitor Map
NIH Security Information
All visitors must enter the campus through the NIH Gateway Center (Security Office). You will be required to submit to a vehicle or personal inspection upon entering the NIH campus.
Visitors will be required to show one (1) form of identification and state the purpose of their visit to gain access to the campus:
U.S. Persons
- REAL ID Driver's License or State Identification Card or Enhanced Driver's License
- Passport or Passport Card
- HSPD-12 PIV or CAC Card
- Permanent Resident Card
- Federally Recognized, Tribal-Issued Photo ID
- Canadian Provincial Driver's License or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Card
- USCIS Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- Other Less Common Documents (e.g., Merchant Mariner Credential)
Non-U.S. Persons
- Foreign Passport
- Visa
The Gateway Center (Security Office) is located adjacent to the Medical Center Metro Station at the South Drive entrance to the campus from Rockville Pike/Wisconsin Avenue (Route 355). It combines visitor parking, noncommercial vehicle inspection, and visitor identification processing, all in one location. NIH will process all visitors arriving in vehicles or as pedestrians.
Non-U.S. Visitors: All non-U.S. visitors must obtain additional security clearance to access the NIH campus. Please contact Sam Roth at sam.roth@nih.gov by August 7, 2025, for security information.
Getting to the NIH Campus
By Metrorail/Subway: The NIH campus is accessible by Metrorail on the Red Line at the Medical Center station. Please visit the Metro website to access a map of the Metrorail system.
By Driving: Please visit the NIH website for driving directions.
Parking at NIH: Visitors should park in the Gateway Parking Garage (MLP-11), located at the Gateway Center past South Drive, as there is limited visitor parking on the main campus. Visitors parking in this garage should proceed to the Gateway Center security office (Building 66) to obtain a visitor badge.
The maximum daily parking rate at the Gateway Parking Garage is $12.
Walking from the Gateway Center Security Office to the Natcher Building: The Natcher Building is a 5-minute walk from the Gateway Center security office. Exit the Gateway Center security office via stairs or elevator at the 2nd floor and follow the paved walkway to the Natcher Building (Building 45). You will be approaching the back of the building, but the doors will be open.
Travel Information (Airports, Amtrak)
By Plane
The closest airport to the NIH campus is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA); however, Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) also serve the Washington, DC area.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
- By car or taxi/rideshare: Drive time is estimated at 35 minutes (20 miles) to NIH campus, depending on traffic.
- By Metrorail: Travel time is estimated at 55 minutes.
- Take the Yellow Line (towards Mt. Vernon Sq) from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station to Gallery Place station.
- Transfer to the Red Line (towards Shady Grove) and go to Medical Center station to get to NIH campus.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
- By car or taxi/rideshare: Drive time is estimated at 37 minutes (26 miles) to NIH campus, depending on traffic.
- By Metrorail: Travel time is estimated at 97 minutes.
- Take the Silver Line (towards Downtown Largo) from Washington Dulles International Airport station to Metro Center station.
- Transfer to the Red Line (towards Shady Grove) and go to Medical Center station to get to NIH campus.
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
- By car or taxi: Drive time is estimated at 40 minutes (35 miles) to NIH campus, depending on traffic.
By Train
The closest Amtrak station to the NIH campus is Washington, DC - Union Station (WAS). From there, you can take a car/taxi/rideshare or Metrorail.
- By car or taxi/rideshare: Drive time is estimated at 41 minutes (12 miles) to NIH campus, depending on traffic.
- By Metrorail: Travel time is estimated at 35 minutes.
- Take the Red Line (towards Shady Grove) from Union Station to Medical Center station to get to NIH campus.