Hours And Directions
Hours
The outside grounds of the U.S. National Arboretum (USNA) are open daily to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Museum’s tropical conservatory and exhibits gallery are closed until further notice.
Please note: The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum is closed in observance of all federal holidays from November through February. The grounds of the Arboretum are open every day of the year except Christmas Day.
Directions
The National Arboretum is located in the northeast section of Washington, DC, approximately ten minutes from the Capitol Building. There are two entrances: one at 3501 New York Avenue, NE, and the other at 24th & R Streets, NE, off of Bladensburg Road. The R Street entrance is CLOSED to incoming automobile visitor traffic after 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Bicycles and pedestrians may enter through R Street at all times. All vehicles, including deliveries, contractors, tours, and volunteers, must use the New York Avenue entrance between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Traffic will be able to exit through the R Street gate during these closure hours.
By Metrorail
The closest Metrorail subway stop is Stadium Armory Station on the Blue and Orange lines. Transfer to Metrobus B-2; disembark the bus on Bladensburg Road and walk 2 blocks to R Street. Make a right on R Street and continue 2 blocks to the Arboretum gates.
R Street entrance
(R Street entrance is CLOSED to incoming car traffic after 2 p.m. Monday through Friday)
From Northwest Washington: Follow New York Avenue east to the intersection of Bladensburg Road. Turn right (south) onto Bladensburg Road and go 4 blocks to R Street. Make a left on R Street and continue 2 blocks to the Arboretum gates.
From the Maryland suburbs: Take the Capital Beltway (I-495/I-95) to exit 22B towards Washington. Follow the Baltimore Washington Parkway approximately 7 miles to New York Avenue. Get in your left lane. You will approach the intersection of Bladensburg Road where only the two left lanes turn onto Bladensburg Road. Make the left onto Bladensburg Road and go 4 blocks to R Street. Make a left on R Street and continue 2 blocks to the Arboretum gates.
From Virginia (I-395): Follow I-395 north over the 14th Street Bridge. Follow signs until the freeway ends at New York Avenue. Turn right onto New York Avenue and follow New York Avenue east to the intersection of Bladensburg Road. Turn right (south) onto Bladensburg Road and go 4 blocks to R Street. Make a left on R Street and continue 2 blocks to the Arboretum gates.
From Virginia (I-95 and I-295): Follow I 95 North and cross the Wilson Bridge. Stay in the right lane over the bridge. Bear onto the I 95/I 295 North to Washington. Follow I 295 to the exit Rt. 50 West - New York Avenue and continue on Rt. 50 (New York Avenue) to Bladensburg Road where only the two left lanes turn onto Bladensburg Road. Make the left onto Bladensburg Road and go 4 blocks to R Street. Make a left on R Street and continue 2 blocks to the Arboretum gates.
From Virginia (I-66): Cross the Roosevelt Bridge and follow Constitution Avenue past the Capitol Building. Bear left onto Maryland Avenue. Follow Maryland Avenue to Bladensburg Road. Make a left onto Bladensburg Road and travel 1 mile to R Street. Make a right onto R Street and continue 2 blocks to the Arboretum gates.
New York Avenue entrance
(8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily; vehicular traffic only)
From Northwest Washington: Follow New York Avenue east past the intersection of Bladensburg Road. 750 feet after that intersection, after passing the Fairfield Inn & Suites hotel, bear right to enter the access road running parallel to New York Avenue, and follow it for 1300 feet (1/4 mile) to the Arboretum gate on your right.
From the Maryland suburbs: Take the Capital Beltway (I-495/I-95) to exit 22B towards Washington. Follow the Baltimore Washington Parkway approximately 7 miles to New York Avenue. Get in the far left lane. Just after passing the Days Inn (on your right) and just as you approach the Fairfield Inn & Suites (on your left), bear left into a small turn lane and make a U-turn onto New York Avenue heading east. Move into the far right lane, and 400 feet after the U-turn, bear right to enter the access road running parallel to New York Avenue, then follow it for 1300 feet (1/4 mile) to the Arboretum gate on your right.
From Virginia (I-395): Follow I-395 north over the 14th Street Bridge. Follow signs until the freeway ends at New York Avenue. Turn right onto New York Avenue and follow New York Avenue east past the intersection of Bladensburg Road. 800 feet after that intersection, 400 feet past the Fairfield Inn & Suites, bear right to enter the access road running parallel to New York Avenue, and follow it for 1300 feet (1/4 mile) to the Arboretum gate on your right.
From Virginia (I-95 and I-295): Follow I-95 North and cross the Wilson Bridge. Stay in the right lane over the bridge. Bear onto the I-95/I-295 North to Washington. Follow I-295 to the exit Rt. 50 West - New York Avenue and continue on Rt. 50 (New York Avenue). Move into the far left lane. Just after passing the Days Inn hotel (on your right) and just as you reach the Fairfield Inn & Suites (on your left), bear left into a small turn lane and make a U-turn onto New York Avenue heading east. Move into the far right lane, and 400 feet after the U-turn, bear right to enter the access road running parallel to New York Avenue, then follow it for 1300 feet (1/4 mile) to the Arboretum gate on your right.
From Virginia (I-66): Cross the Roosevelt Bridge and follow Constitution Avenue past the Capitol Building. Bear left onto Maryland Avenue. Follow Maryland Avenue to Bladensburg Road. Make a left onto Bladensburg Road and travel 1.3 miles to the intersection of New York Avenue. Turn right onto New York Avenue, staying in the far right lane. 750 feet after the turn, 400 feet past the Fairfield Inn & Suites, bear right to enter the access road running parallel to New York Avenue, then follow it for 1300 feet (1/4 mile) to the Arboretum gate on your right.
Use this Google Map to get your specific personal directions.