Starting Monday, March 31, the NIH Bethesda Main Campus will experience unprecedented traffic and parking demand as staff return to in-person work. Drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians should remain alert at all times. Put down the phone. Stop at all crosswalks. Look both ways at all intersections. Prioritizing pedestrian and vehicle roadway safety is crucial for preventing accidents, injuries and ensuring the well-being of all commuters.
Campus parking will be restricted to staff with a designated duty station on the NIH campus, as determined by the NED system (NIH Only). Off-campus PURPLE permits are no longer valid on the main campus.
Before your commute, visit the NIH Employee Parking and Access Map to view parking locations and hours of operation for employee entrances/exits. You can also utilize the traffic.nih.gov website to check traffic cameras around the area and view construction projects to avoid. To save time and relieve congestion upon your arrival, go directly to lots that are still likely to have open spaces. This following information should help with your decision making.
Weekday Estimates of When Parking Garages/Lots are Reaching Capacity*
- 7:30am – Parking lots near Building 10 (ACRF, MLP-9 and Lot 10-H)
- 8:00am – MLP-6 and MLP-8 (near Buildings 35, 37 and 40)
- 9:00am – MLP-7 (near Buildings 38/38A), MLP-10 (nears Buildings 31 and 33) and Building 45 (Natcher)
- After 9:00am – Lots 41 and 42 (South side of campus)
* The following are only estimates. The Transportation Services program will continue to monitor parking occupancy and revise and post updates on the traffic.nih.gov website.
Parking/Traffic Management & Enforcement
- Parking attendants will place "Lot Full" signs at filled locations and direct drivers to the next available lot.
- NIH Police will assist with traffic flow and ensure compliance with parking policies.
- NIH employees, contractors and visitors are reminded of the parking requirements and restrictions on NIH campuses. Only park in designated areas matching your permit type.
- The NIH Police are proactively enforcing parking for all violations on our campuses. This includes ticketing and towing of vehicles found illegally parked in reserved parking spaces. In the event of a vehicle tow, vehicle owners will be responsible for payment of fines, towing and storage fees.
What to Do if Parking is Full
If Lots 41 and 42 are full, this likely indicates the entire campus has reached maximum parking capacity. Staff who have not already explored alternative parking options should consider:
- Downtown Bethesda Parking Garages
- The Bethesda Circulator provides a free loop around downtown Bethesda, with stops near most downtown parking garages.
- One stop is located across from Whitehall Condominiums, near the Trolley Trail pathway that leads to the back pedestrian gate of NIH (behind Building 38). You may enter this pedestrian gate using your NIH PIV card.
- NIH Shuttles
- A shuttle stop is located near the Lot 41 pedestrian gate and Building 38, providing transportation across campus.
Plan Ahead & Consider Alternatives
With the uncertainty of parking availability, employees should plan ahead, prepare for delays and remain patient as we navigate these challenges together.
Familiarize yourself with the traffic.nih.gov website, parking locations and NIH Shuttle Services to assist with transportation around campus. Additional alternative transportation options can be found on the Commuter Info website.
If you have traffic or parking issues that need immediate - but non-emergency - assistance, including illegally parked vehicles, please call the Emergency Communications Center Non-Emergency Line at 301-496-5685, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Lot 41
The parking office freed up over 100 parking spaces in Lot 41 by moving construction materials to the westernmost roadway (pictured below) around the 42 Water Tower. This roadway will be closed for the foreseeable future to accommodate these materials. Two other entrances/exits remain for access to and from Lot 41.
Center Drive/Old Georgetown Closed Due to SRLM Construction
As a reminder, construction of the new Surgery, Radiology and Laboratory Medicine (SRLM) wing of the hospital has closed the entrance/exit at Center Drive and Old Georgetown Road. The Office of Research Facilities will reopen this location as soon as it is feasible and safe, but it is currently scheduled to be closed until Summer 2028.
