Logistics   Directions to NIH   Natcher Conference Center Building 45, NIH Campus Bethesda, Maryland   The Natcher Conference Center (Building 45) is part of the National Institutes of Health and is located on the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD. The Natcher Building is across Center Drive and north from Building 38A and the National Library of Medicine. The Natcher Conference Center is a state-of-the-art conference center with the latest technology in audio-visual presentations, recordings, interactive video and audio technology.   NIH Security Information Security Checklist: Bring a valid photo identification that includes your date of birth (i.e., driver's license, passport, green card, etc.). If you drive, allow extra time for vehicle inspection. All vehicles must enter from Rockville Pike at South Drive. Metro use is strongly encouraged. Allow extra time for a security check when you enter any building. Do not bring unnecessary bags or backpacks. All bags will be inspected when you enter a building. Visit the NIH security page for more information on these procedures: http://www.nih.gov/about/visitorsecurity.htm   By Air The Washington, DC, area is served by three major airports: Ronald Reagan National, Washington-Dulles International, and Baltimore-Washington International. Travel time from all three airports to Bethesda-area hotels and the NIH Campus is approximately 1 hour.   By Train If traveling by train, Union Station serves the Washington, DC, area. It takes approximately 45 minutes to arrive at Bethesda-area hotels and the NIH Campus from the station.   By Metro to the Natcher Conference Center The Metro System is clean and reliable. It operates from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight, Monday through Thursday; 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 buy a farecard to travel in the system. Guides for purchasing farecards are posted on the vending machines in each station. Each Metro car features a complete color-coded map. Station attendants on duty at each station can provide additional information on request. Metro Web Site: http://www.wmata.com Taking the Metro is strongly encouraged, as Visitor Parking on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Campus is very limited and very expensive. The NIH is located at the Medical Center stop on the Red Line of the Metrorail system. Natcher Conference Center, which is located in Building 45 is about a 10 minute walk from the Metro. You may also board a Campus Shuttle bus from the Metro Station that will take you to Natcher Conference Center (Building 45). The Metrorail system serves the NIH Campus via the Medical Center Station on the Red Line, and is available from Reagan National Airport and Union Station. Ronald Reagan National Airport - From airport terminals B and C, take the pedestrian bridge to the metrorail's Reagan National Airport Station located on the Yellow and Blue Line. Take a Yellow Line train to Gallery Place or take a Blue Line train to Metro Center and transfer to the Red Line. On the Red Line, take a train toward Shady Grove to the Medical Center Station. Union Station - From the Red Line, take a train toward Shady Grove to the Medical Center Station.   By Car You are strongly encouraged to take public transportation to NIH, as visitor parking on the NIH campus is extremely limited. If you must drive, there are only a limited number of visitor spaces available. Visitor parking fees are $2 per hour or $12 per day. Please plan accordingly. Detailed Driving Directions to NIH NIH Campus Map & Visitor Parking Bethesda Area Map Capital Beltway Map All visitor vehicles, including taxicabs, hotel and airport shuttles, delivery trucks and vans will be inspected before being allowed on campus. Visitors will be asked to show one form of identification (a government-issued photo ID - driver's license, passport, green card, etc.) and to state the purpose of their visit. Be sure to allow extra time for this vehicle inspection procedure. http://www.nih.gov/about/visitorsecurity.htm From Baltimore: Take I-95 South to I-495 West toward Silver Spring. Take Exit 34, Wisconsin Avenue (355 South) toward Bethesda, and follow signs for 355 South. Follow Wisconsin Avenue for about 1.5 miles. The NIH campus is on the right. Turn right onto South Drive into the vehicle inspection area. Turn left onto Center Drive. Follow signs for Natcher Conference Center (Building 45). From Northern Virginia: Take I-495 East toward Rockville and Silver Spring. At the split between I-495 and I-270, bear right and stay on I-495. Take the second exit, Wisconsin Avenue (355 South), toward Bethesda. Follow Wisconsin Avenue for about 1.5 miles. The NIH campus is on the right. Turn right on South Drive into the vehicle inspection area. Turn left onto Center Drive. Follow signs for Natcher Conference Center (Building 45). From Washington: Take Wisconsin Avenue North toward Bethesda. Go through downtown Bethesda. Turn left onto South Drive into the vehicle inspection area. Turn left onto Center Drive. Follow signs for Natcher Conference Center (Building 45). From the Northwest: Take I-270 South to I-495 East. Take the exit for Wisconsin Avenue (355 South) toward Bethesda. Follow Wisconsin Avenue for about 1.5 miles. The NIH campus is on the right. Turn right on South Drive into the vehicle inspection area. Turn left onto Center Drive. Follow signs for Natcher Conference Center (Building 45). Parking Parking is available next to the Natcher Building, next to the National Library of Medicine (Building 38), and in Lot 41B. A limited number of handicapped parking spaces also are available in front of the Natcher Building. Use of the Metro is highly recommended. Map of NIH: http://www.nih.gov/od/ors/security/persecplanphase2.htm     Back to Top

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