Ride, Don't Drive

Avoid the hassle of searching for a parking space—plan to use public transportation to visit the Smithsonian. Metrorail stations are convenient to most Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo.

Ten of the Smithsonian museums span an area of approximately one mile. Because you will do a lot of walking between and within museums, plan to wear comfortable clothing and shoes!

Sidewalks line the four main east-west streets: Independence Avenue, Jefferson Drive, Madison Drive and Constitution Avenue. Many of the paths within the grassy area bounded by Jefferson and Madison drives are gravel, so you may find sidewalks easier to navigate with children in strollers.

The District of Columbia is 67 square miles and is divided into 4 quadrants

• Northwest
• Southwest
• Northeast
• Southeast

The US Capitol building marks the center where the quadrants meet. Numbered streets run north and south. Lettered streets run east and west (there are no J, X, Y, or Z streets), alphabetically becoming two syllable names, then 3-syllable names as you travel out farther from the center. Avenues named for US states run diagonally, often meeting at traffic circles and squares.

Metrorail & Metrobus

Metrorail, Washington's subway system, and Metrobus link the city with nearby communities in Maryland and Virginia. Every Metro station is equipped with an elevator and most with escalators.

Metrorail is conveniently located near many Smithsonian museums and National Zoo. To begin your visit at the Smithsonian Information Center in the Castle (1000 Jefferson Drive, SW), take Metrorail and exit at the Smithsonian Station (Mall exit).

Train lines are named for colors:

• Red
• Yellow
• Blue
• Green
• Orange
  

Station entrances are marked by brown pylons capped with the letter M, and colored stripes indicate which lines are available. Route maps are posted at each station and inside each subway car.

Metrorail opens at 5:30 a.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. on weekends. Each train displays the name of its farthest destination.

Base subway fare is $1.35 and increases during rush hour and for longer trips. Rail farecards can be purchased at vending machines located inside the stations. You'll need to insert your farecards into the turnstile gates to enter and exit subway platforms, so keep your card handy during the ride! The fare is automatically deducted each time you exit a station.

For Metrorail map and more information, visit the Metro Web site: www.metroopensdoors.com.

Circulator Bus

To help navigate the largest museum complex in the world, the DC Circulator Bus offers a quick and convenient service to Smithsonian museums.

For more information on this inexpensive, hop-on/hop-off service, visit www.dccirculator.com

Parking

There is no public parking facility at the Smithsonian museum's on the National Mall. For visitors with disabilities, there are parking spaces for vehicles with the appropriate license plate or permit.

There are commercial parking lots and garages located within several blocks of the museums.

Getting Here & Getting Around

Helpful information on MetroRail, MetroBus, Taxi, Cirulator Bus, Driving, Parking

Maps and Links for Airlines, Airports, Amtrak, Union Station, Greyhound Bus, Commuter Rails