Visitor Information

The NIH headquarters, known as "NIH campus" to the local community, are located in Bethesda, Maryland. Administrative and program operations facilities are also located in off-campus buildings in the surrounding area. Here is a list of NIH facilities, both headquarters and off-campus. You can search the list by location, type of service, facility manager, and image map.

NIH scientists conduct their research in laboratories located on the main campus, and in several field units across the country and abroad.

Information everyone should know about entering the NIH campus, parking on campus, entering buildings, and using campus transportation.

Effective October 1, 2008, the use of all tobacco products (including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, smokeless tobacco, or other tobacco products) is prohibited at all times: In all buildings; On all outside property or grounds, including parking areas; In government vehicles. More information about our Tobacco-free campus is available online.

When driving to NIH, plan some extra time to get through the security checkpoints at the visitor entrances to campus. Be aware that visitor parking lots on the NIH campus can fill up quickly. Consider taking public transportation as an alternative.

• Driving directions
• Bethesda Area Map
• Off-Campus Buildings
• Visitor Map — for the NIH campus
• NIH Gateway Center — visitor parking, non-commercial vehicle inspection and visitor ID processing

The Washington D.C. Metro-Rail system has a station right on the NIH campus, called "Medical Center." Once you're out of the station, it's a short walk to the NIH campus shuttle stops, which will take you to buildings on campus and in Rockville.

• Metro-Rail & Metro-Bus [disclaimer]
• Montgomery County Ride On and Transit Services [disclaimer]
• NIH Campus Shuttle Schedules

• NIH Clinical Center - Building 10
• Visitor Information Center - Building 45
• Lipsett Amphitheater (PDF - 1.25 MB) - Building 10
• Masur Auditorium (PDF - 1.25 MB) - Building 10
• Natcher Building - Building 45
• NIH Library - Building 10
• National Library of Medicine - Building 38
• Lister Hill Center (PDF - 18 KB) - Building 38A
• Food Service Facilities