What is an arboretum?
An arboretum is a living museum where trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants
are cultivated for scientific and educational purposes.
How do I get to the Arboretum_can you please give me directions?
The National Arboretum is located in the northeast section of Washington,
DC, approximately 10 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 Bladensburg Road.
- 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 block to the Arboretum gates.
Are you near a Metro subway stop?
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.
When is the Arboretum open to the public?
The Arboretum grounds are open every day of the year except December 25
from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Administration Building is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily
from November 1 to the end of February. From March 1 to October 31,
the Administration Building is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays
and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends. The Administration Building
is closed on some federal holidays. Check our Home
Page if you are visiting on a federal holiday to see if the Administration
Building will be open.
The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. except for federal holidays during the months of November through February when the museum is closed, so plan to visit this collection first if you visit late in
the day.
The Arbor House Gift Shop is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., from March 1 through mid-December, and until 5:00 p.m. on weekends, April through September.
Is there an entrance fee?
No. Admission is free to everyone.
Is there parking on the grounds and is there a fee?
There is ample free parking. Large lots are locate near the Grove
of State Trees, near the R Street entrance, and near the New York Avenue
entrance. Smaller lots are scattered throughout the grounds.
Are pets allowed on the grounds?
Yes. Pets must be leashed at all times and must be controlled so that they do not urinate on, defecate in, or enter garden beds. Owners must clean up after their pets. Pets are not allowed in the Administration Building or in the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum.
What's in bloom?
There are always blooming trees or plants. See the What's
Blooming page.
How do I tour the U.S. National Arboretum?
By car, bus, or bicycle: Nine miles of roadways wind through and
connect the numerous gardens and collections on our 446-acre campus.
Small parking areas can be found near most of the major collections.
Bicycling is encouraged on the roadways and bicycle racks are located at
each parking area. Bus tours usually follow a prescribed route and
may be accompanied by a guide
who can tell you more about the Arboretum.
On foot: If you are disabled or prefer a short walking tour,
you may visit four beautiful areas that are easily accessible and situated
adjacent to each other–the Aquatic Garden and Koi Pond surrounding the
Administration Building, the Friendship Garden, the National Herb Garden,
and the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. Serious hikers will also
find many intriguing trails throughout the Arboretum.
By tram: A tram for touring the grounds was introduced in the
fall of 1997. Check this separate web page for more information on Tram
Tours. Weekend Tram Tours will be suspended effective close of business Sunday, July 10, 2011 and will resume Saturday, September 3, 2011 with its regular tours.
Private tram tours can still be booked during this time period by contacting the U.S. National Arboretum or click here.
What special events are taking place today, this weekend, this month, or next year?
See the Calendar
for a complete listing of Arboretum programs and activities.
Is there a place to eat on the Arboretum grounds?
For special events such as the annual garden fair, bonsai festival, and orchid show, there is a food vendor on site. The Arbor House Gift Shop stocks a variety of snacks, and beverage vending machines are located near the Arbor House restrooms. Visitors are welcome to bring a picnic, which they may enjoy on the Administration Building east terrace or at the picnic area at the National Grove of State Trees. Please do not picnic elsewhere on the grounds.
Do you have public restrooms, water fountains, and public telephones?
Restrooms and water fountains are located in the Administration Building
and Arbor House. Other water fountains are shown on the Arboretum
Visitor Guide, which you will receive when you arrive. Public telephones
are located in the Administration Building and Arbor House.
May I feed the fish in the Administration Building pool?
Beginning October 11, 2012, the Administration Building pool will be closed for renovation. The Arboretum is housing many of the larger koi that have lived in the pool at an alternate site during construction. We will post updates here when we know how soon the pool will reopen.
Do you allow wedding ceremonies or wedding receptions?
No, we do not currently allow wedding ceremonies or receptions.
Do you have guided tours?
Guided tours are offered with three weeks advance notice for groups of
ten (10) or more. The tram,
in addition to its regular weekend and holiday tours, may be rented for private group
tours.
I'm looking for a specific plant.
Where is it located on the grounds?
Can you provide general information on the care of a plant I am interested in and tell me where I can purchase it?
The grounds map designates locations of general collections. Specific plants
or varieties of plants can be located with assistance from the Arboretum's
Plant Records Department. When you arrive at the Arboretum, ask the
receptionist for assistance in finding the plant that you are interested
in.
Check our Gardening Page for information
on the care of a particular plant you are interested in. If you cannot
find the information there, contact your local extension service for this
information.
We are unable at this time to provide you guidance on where you can
purchase a specific plant. To be fair to everyone in the nursery
industry, we feel we must provide all the sources for a given plant and
we currently lack the resources to be able to do this. Tips on finding
a source for that special plant you are looking for may be found on our
Plant
Sources Page.
Do you have a Gift Shop?
Yes. The Arbor House Gift Shop features "Gifts and Books for the Horticulturally
Minded" and is located in the Arbor House. The Arbor House Gift Shop is open from March 1 through mid-December.
Weekday hours are 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and weekend hours are 10:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m.
The Arbor House Gift
Shop is operated by the National Capital Area Federation of Garden Clubs,
Inc., and is staffed primarily by volunteers. They accept MasterCard and
Visa, and offer a 10% discount to card-carrying members of the Friends
of the National Arboretum (FONA) on purchases of $10 or more. Tel: 202-399-5958.
Sorry, no mail orders!
Note: Visiting members of 120 other Botanical Gardens and Arboreta nationwide
will also receive a 10% discount in the Gift Shop upon presentation of
membership cards.
Who are the Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA)?
The Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) is a private non-profit #501(c)(3)
organization dedicated to support the National Arboretum.The FONA office
is located in the Arbor House at the Arboretum. Membership is available
to the public and includes special discounts at the Arbor House Gift Shop
and Botanical Gardens and Arboreta nationwide as well as discounts on fees
for Arboretum events and educational programs. You may join FONA through
the Internet. See FONA's web site for
more information.
| 
Back to the Arboretum Home Page