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Because of a lapse in government funding, the information on this website may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted. The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov. Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at opm.gov.

NIH Bethesda Campus Access This Weekend and Columbus Day, Monday, October 12

The NIH will conduct routine maintenance work at the Lincoln Drive entrance/exit off Old Georgetown Road and South Drive entrance/exit off Rockville Pike (Metro/MD355), this weekend, Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11.

Please use the following alternate locations during the maintenance period:  

Saturday, October 10 – Lincoln Drive/Old Georgetown Road Closed – Use South Drive/Old Georgetown Road from 6am – 4pm; Lincoln Drive reopens at 6am on Sunday, March 11

Sunday, October 11 – South Drive/Rockville Pike (355) Closed – Use Wilson Drive from 6am – 6pm; South Drive/Rockville Pike (355) reopens at 6pm on Sunday, March 11

Access to the Medical Center Metro station for buses, vehicles and pedestrians will not be affected. Pedestrian and bike access on and off campus and to the metro will also remain unchanged at South Drive (Metro).

Columbus Day Holiday – Monday, October 12

Columbus Day will be observed on Monday, October 12, 2026. Please view the following schedule for NIH Bethesda campus access on this holiday.

West Drive at Cedar Lane: 6 am to 10 pm

  • Patient and Patient Visitors Only
  • Inbound Traffic Only

South Drive (Metro) at Rockville Pike: Open 24 hours

  • Inbound and Outbound Traffic
  • Open to Employee Vehicles Only
  • Pedestrian Turnstiles Open for Employees

Lincoln Drive at Old Georgetown Road: 6am - 4pm

  • Inbound and Outbound Traffic
  • Open to Employee Vehicles Only
  • Pedestrian Portal Open for Employees

Commercial Vehicle Inspection Facility (CVIF): Open 24 Hours

  • All Commercial Vehicles should enter the CVIF via Rockville Pike north of Wilson Drive
  • On weekends and holidays, all visitors in vehicles and as pedestrians should enter campus through the CVIF

Gateway Vehicle Inspection Station - Building 66A: CLOSED

  • All visitor vehicles should enter the campus through the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Facility on Rockville Pike

Gateway Center for Pedestrians - Building 66: CLOSED

  • After 10pm on Friday, October 11 until 6am on Tuesday, October 13, all pedestrian visitors should enter the campus via the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Facility

For normal hours of operations for all entrances and exits, please visit our employee access map.

All other vehicle and pedestrian entrances will be closed, except those pedestrian portals not associated with a vehicular entrance. These stand-alone pedestrian portals will be open 24 hours for employee use. Access to NIH buildings will follow a weekend schedule.

The Children's Inn/Family Lodge shuttle will operate on a holiday schedule from 7am until 5pm with stops between the Metro and the Building 10 North entrance every 30 minutes.

For questions regarding this message, please contact the ORS Information Line at orsinfo@mail.nih.gov or 301-594-6677. TTY is available at 301-435-1908.​

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