Agents of Discovery Mission Now Available!
Learn about trees and nature while playing a fun game on your smartphone on your next visit to the National Arboretum!
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Welcome to the U.S. National Arboretum
Some areas of the grounds are currently closed to the public as staff work to clear damage from recent winter weather. Please do not enter cordoned-off areas.
The grounds of the U.S. National Arboretum are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the year except for Christmas Day. The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily except for federal holidays from November through February. Admission to the grounds and museum is free and no tickets are needed. Please note that after 2 p.m. on weekdays, all cars must enter via New York Ave.
If you have not yet been vaccinated, please wear a mask and maintain social distancing.
The Administration Building is currently closed to the public. Restrooms are available in the Arbor House near the R Street gate, in the Asian Collection, and near the Azalea Collection.
Look for an orientation sign in parking lots for a map and other information. Visitor guides are not currently available. The Arboretum’s free app, available in the App Store and Google Play, is the best way to explore with maps, a plant finder, and specialized tours.
Thank you for visiting and for helping to keep staff and fellow visitors safe!
Looking for a plant?
Our interactive map, the Arboretum Botanical Explorer (or “ABE”), is the perfect tool for the job.
Find plants, benches, and more from the comfort of your home computer.
Go to ABE
What's New
Important Winter Changes at Bonsai Museum
Late each fall, Museum staff install a temporary roof over the Chinese pavilion to shelter the bonsai during the colder months. Because of this roof, the Chinese pavilion is now considered an enclosed space and is closed to visitors...
Explore America’s Stately Treasures!
Do you know your state tree? Do you know why your state tree is what it is?
Every state and the District of Columbia has selected an official state tree, and these trees say something about the states they represent, the people who...
Koi Return to the Administration Building Pool!
After nearly a decade away, about 20 koi are returning to the aquatic garden at the Arboretum’s Administration Building on September 24! Their new and improved home features updated, robust filtration and fountain systems to...