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NLM Reading Rooms and Services:
Directions and Parking Information

Directions to National Library of Medicine:

National Library of Medicine

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is located approximately 5 miles from Washington D.C. in Bethesda, Maryland. The NLM (Building 38) is at the southeast corner of the campus of the National Institutes of Health.

Several NLM divisions are off-campus. They are the Specialized Information Service (SIS) and Extramural Programs (EP). See SIS directions and EP map for off-campus locations. Employees of the National Center for Biotechnology Information occupy space in both the Lister Hill Center (Bldg. 38A) and the Natcher Building (Bldg. 45).

Library security procedures (enacted September 2001) affect access to the Library. Browse the security procedures at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/services/security.html



By Car

Directions from Baltimore: Take I-695 to I-95 (South) to I-495. On I-495 go (West) toward Silver Spring. Continue on I-495 to Exit 33 (South) Connecticut Avenue/Chevy Chase. Turn left on Connecticut Avenue (Route 185 South). At next traffic light turn right onto Jones Bridge Road and proceed three traffic lights to the intersection of Rockville Pike. Make a right onto Rockville Pike and go to the next traffic light, South Drive. Make a left onto South Drive; non-NIH staff will have their vehicles inspected. Continue down South Drive to the first stop sign. Make a left onto Center Drive. Follow Center Drive until you come to the Library, Building #38, on the right.

Directions from Frederick: Take I-270 (South) toward Washington and I-495. Where I-270 and I-495 split, follow the signs to I-495. Take exit for 355 South (Bethesda) onto Wisconsin Avenue. NLM is 2 miles south from this exit. At the intersection of South Drive and Rockville Pike, turn right onto South Drive; non-NIH staff will have their vehicles inspected. Continue down South Drive to the first stop sign. Make a left onto Center Drive. Follow Center Drive until you come to the Library, Building #38, on the right.

Directions from Virginia: Take I-95 (North) to I-495 (West). Continue on I-495 towards Rockville to exit 34. Proceed through 3 traffic lights. At the 4th traffic light (intersection of South Drive and Rockville Pike), turn right onto South Drive; non-NIH staff will have their vehicles inspected. Continue down South Drive to the first stop sign. Make a left onto Center Drive. Follow Center Drive until you come to the Library, Building #38, on the right.

Directions from D.C.: Go (North) from the District on Wisconsin Avenue to the intersection of South Drive and Rockville Pike. Turn left onto South Drive (third traffic light after Ramada Inn) ; non-NIH staff will have their vehicles inspected. Continue down South Drive to the first stop sign. Make a left onto Center Drive. Follow Center Drive until you come to the Library, Building #38, on the right.

Map of NIH Campus

Parking Information

Security, building and road construction at the National Institutes of Health are changing access to the Library. Parking for visitors is always limited, and regulations are strictly enforced.

  • Visitor parking locations:
    • Natcher (Building 45) parking lot across Center Drive costs $2.00 per hour, $12.00 per day.
  • Metered parking costs $.50 per 15 minutes, and the maximum time at the meter is 3 hours.
    • Parking regulations are enforced 7:00 A.M. - 7:00 P.M. Monday - Friday.
    • 41 metered parking spaces are available in front of the NLM Building (Building 38).
    • Additional metered spaces are available at the Natcher Plaza (Building 45).
    • Change for parking is available from change machines in the Library and Natcher Building lobbies.
  • Handicapped visitor parking (free) is available in the north side lot next to NLM, and there is a handicapped ramp to the building.

Map of Parking Lots at NLM


By Metro

We encourage visitors to the Library to use Metrorail or Metrobus service on weekdays.

Take the Metro Red Line (Shady Grove or Grosvenor) to Medical Center station. The Library is 2 blocks south of the station.

After exiting the escalator, walk to the left (south and parallel to Rockville Pike), or take the Campus shuttle bus from a marked shelter on your right.



By Bus

Maryland
RIDE ON - Montgomery County - (301) 217-7433
CALL-A-BUS - Prince George's County - (301) 925-5656
Virginia
DASH - Alexandria - (703) 370-3274
CUE - Fairfax - (703) 385-7859
Washington DC
METRO - (202) 637-7000. Metrobus routes making daily stops at NIH/NLM are J2 and J3.


By Taxi

Barwood Taxi
(301)984-1900
Baltimore-Washington Limo
(800)438-5001

Taxis must go through the security check point. Follow the car directions to the NLM. Advise the driver to stop either at the main entrance of NLM (facing Wisconsin Avenue) or the ten-story Lister Hill Center (Building 38A) adjacent to the main building (refer to Washington D.C. area road map and NIH campus map).



By Train



By Air

The NLM/NIH is accessible from any of the three major regional airports. Travel time is approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour from National, Dulles, and Baltimore-Washington International Airports (refer to Washington D.C. area road map and NIH campus map).

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Last updated: 27 July 2004
First published: 30 January 2001
Metadata| Permanence level: Permanence Not Guaranteed