Hotel & Travel

*NIH program staff do not pay for or make any travel arrangements for symposium attendees, including selected speakers. All attendees are responsible for their own travel arrangements and payments.

Symposium Venue

Natcher Conference Center at NIH (Building 45, Rooms E1/E2) - Bethesda, Maryland

NIH Building 45
45 Center Drive
Bethesda, Maryland 20892

Phone: (301) 496-7301 NIGMS

NIH Security and Travel Time

The NIH has instituted security measures to ensure the safety of NIH employees, patients and visitors. All NIH visitors must enter campus through NIH Gateway Center (located next to the Medical Center Metro Station) and present one current government-issued ID (driver's license, passport, green card etc.). A badge will then be issued to you after proper ID is presented. Visitor badges must be worn at all times. Be sure to allow at least 10 to 15 minutes to by pass security and travel to the venue. 

All visitor vehicles--including taxicabs, hotel and airport shuttles, delivery trucks, and vans--will be inspected before being allowed on campus. Be sure to allow at least 15 to 20 minutes for vehicle inspection.

Please note, if you leave campus and return at a later time, you will be required to go through security again for re-entry.

Hotel Options

The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bethesda - Washington, DC is just a few miles from the tours, events, attractions, monuments, and business district of Washington, DC and is within walking distance of over 100 shops, restaurants and local attractions in downtown Bethesda. The hotel is a 9 minute walk (0.5 miles) from the Metrorail red line Bethesda station in the heart of downtown Bethesda.

The Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC/Bethesda -- is a short 3-minute walk from Bethesda Metro Station

The Residence Inn Bethesda Downtown -- is a short 2-minute walk from Bethesda Metro Station

The Hyatt Regency Bethesda -- Bethesda Metro Station can be found underneath the hotel

Travel

Driving Directions

From points North (Baltimore, Philadelphia, Wilmington, New York, and New Jersey): Take I-95 South toward Washington, DC. At I-495 (Capital Beltway), proceed west toward Silver Spring/Bethesda. Take Exit 34 (Route 355 or Rockville Pike/Wisconsin Avenue) and proceed south toward Washington/Bethesda. Travel approximately 1 mile and turn right after the light at South Drive onto NIH Gateway Drive. Park in the visitor garage, pass through NIH security, and follow the signs to Building 45.

From points South (Richmond, Virginia Beach, and North and South Carolina : Take I-95 North toward Washington, DC. Take I-395 North via Exit 170A-B on the left. Merge onto I-495 North/Capital Beltway via Exit 170B toward Tysons Corner. Take Exit 34 (Route 355 or Wisconsin Avenue/Rockville Pike) and proceed south toward Washington/Bethesda. Travel approximately 1 mile and turn right after the light at South Drive onto NIH Gateway Drive. Park in the visitor garage, pass through NIH security, and follow the signs to Building 45.

From Route 66 East (Northern Virginia, McLean, and Fairfax): Take Route I-66 East to I-495 North/Capital Beltway toward Baltimore. Take Exit 34 (Route 355 or Wisconsin Avenue/Rockville Pike) and proceed south toward Washington/Bethesda. Travel approximately 1 mile and turn right after the light at South Drive onto NIH Gateway Drive. Park in the visitor garage, pass through NIH security, and follow the signs to Building 45.

From I-270 South: From I-270 South, take the left spur toward I-495 East. Just before the spur ends, take Exit 34/Route 355 (Wisconsin Avenue/Rockville Pike) on the left and proceed south toward Washington/Bethesda. Travel approximately 1 mile and turn right after the light at South Drive onto NIH Gateway Drive. Park in the visitor garage, pass through NIH security, and follow the signs to Building 45.

From Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA): Take the George Washington Parkway North to I-495 North toward Maryland. From I-495, take Exit 34 (Route 355 or Wisconsin Avenue/Rockville Pike) and proceed south toward Washington/Bethesda. Travel approximately 1 mile and turn right after the light at South Drive onto NIH Gateway Drive. Park in the visitor garage, pass through NIH security, and follow the signs to Building 45.

From Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI): Take the Baltimore Washington Parkway South toward Washington, DC. At I-495 (Capital Beltway), proceed west toward Silver Spring/Bethesda. Take Exit 34 (Route 355 or Wisconsin Avenue/Rockville Pike) and proceed south toward Washington/Bethesda. Travel approximately 1 mile and turn right after the light at South Drive onto NIH Gateway Drive. Park in the visitor garage, pass through NIH security, and follow the signs to Building 45.

From Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD): Take the Dulles Access Road East to I-495 (Capital Beltway) heading north to Bethesda/Baltimore. From I-495, take Exit 34 (Route 355 or Wisconsin Avenue/Rockville Pike) and proceed south toward Washington/Bethesda. Travel approximately 1 mile and turn right after the light at South Drive onto NIH Gateway Drive. Park in the visitor garage, pass through NIH security, and follow the signs to Building 45.

Parking

Parking on the NIH campus is limited and costs $12 per day in the visitor lots. A large parking garage is located at the NIH Gateway Center, just outside security, and also costs $12 per day. It is a 5-minute walk from there to Building 45.

Metro Information

The Metro system is clean, reliable, and safe. It operates from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight on Mondays through Thursdays; 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. on Fridays; 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. on Saturdays; and 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight on Sundays. Each passenger must purchase a fare card to travel in the system. Guides for purchasing fare cards are posted on the vending machines in each station. Each Metro car features a complete color-coded map of the system. A map of the system is available at: www.wmata.com/rail/maps/print_map.cfm.

The meeting is within walking distance from the Medical Center Metro Station on the Red Line. Station attendants on duty at each station can provide additional information on request. From the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station, take the Yellow Line toward Mt. Vernon Square or Fort Totten. At the Gallery/Chinatown stop, transfer to the Red Line toward Shady Grove or Grosvenor-Strathmore.

Airport Shuttles

SuperShuttle offers service to most hotels from Ronald Reagan National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) Thurgood Marshall Airport. The shuttle leaves on an as-needed basis between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. During other times, arrange for a shuttle by calling (800) 258-3826 from the airport.

Taxis

The taxi fare is approximately $45 to $55 from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, approximately $55 to $65 from Washington Dulles International Airport, and approximately $65 to $75 from BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. Fares may differ during peak travel hours.

MARC Trains

From BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, take the MARC train on the Penn Line to Union Station. Take the Metro Red Line toward Shady Grove or Grosvenor-Strathmore and exit at either the Grosvenor-Strathmore or Medical Center Stations. Taxis will be available at the metro stations to bring you to the Bethesda Marriott Hotel.