The ARS National Visitor Center is located in Beltsville, Maryland, just off Powder Mill Road (Maryland 212), north of the Washington Beltway (Interstate 495), east of Baltimore Blvd. (U.S. 1), and west of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (BW Parkway, Maryland 295).

No matter what direction you're coming from, we recommend that you navigate to the BW Parkway (295) north of the Washington Beltway and take the Powder Mill Road exit going west.*

Going west on Powder Mill Road, drive about 1.6 miles to Log Lodge Road on the left.

As its name implies, the Log Lodge is a large log cabin. It's nestled in a dip but is easily visible to anyone driving in from the BW Parkway.

Visitor parking is available after you circle past the entrance to the Log Lodge, which houses the Visitor Center.

This is the least confusing route and largely free of stop-and-go traffic.

If you find yourself on Interstate 95 north of the Washington Beltway, take the Powder Mill Road (212) exit going east. Continue east across U.S. 1 about 1.5 miles; the Log Lodge will be on your right.

* Don't be confused by signs for the Patuxent National Wildlife Center or the NASA-Goddard Visitor Center, which are reachable by taking the Powder Mill Road (212) exit going east.