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Directions to Silver Spring, MD

 

Silver Spring is located on the northern edge of DC, about 10 miles from the downtown area. Home of NOAA Headquarters since 1993, the NOAA Silver Spring Metro Center (SSMC) consists of four buildings, including the NOAA Science and History Center and Auditorium.

Map of NOAA buildings in Silver Spring

Getting to ARL HQ by Vehicle

from Interstate 495 (Beltway):

If coming from Dulles International Airport, Virginia:

  1. Follow Dulles Toll Road towards Washington, D.C. to Route 495 North
  2. Follow 495 North to Maryland, then East towards Silver Spring and Baltimore.
  3. Take Exit 31, Georgia Avenue (south).
  4. South on Georgia Avenue for approximately 1 mile.
  5. Right (west) onto Colesville Road (Route 29).
  6. Proceed 3 blocks to East-West Highway (next big intersection).
  7. Get into Left lane, left (south) onto East-West Highway.
  8. Proceed up the hill past Building #2 until you reach the large sculpture in front of Building #3 - water fountain with a hand holding birds.
  9. Public parking is available under Building #3. The meters only accept coins and we suggest parking in the 9-hr spaces, if available, as the 3-hour spaces are enforced.
  10. Proceed to entrance of Building #3.
  11. Take any elevator to First Floor.
  12. Sign in with Security using a valid photo ID.

Via car from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI):

  1. Take Baltimore-Washington Expressway (Route 295) south towards Interstate 495 (Beltway).
  2. Follow 495 North, then West towards Silver Spring and Rockville.
  3. Take Exit 30-B, Colesville Road (Route 29 south).
  4. South on Colesville Road for approximately 2 miles.
  5. Get into left lane, turn left (south) onto East-West Highway.
  6. Proceed up the hill past Building #2 until you reach the large sculpture in front of Building #3 - water fountain with a hand holding birds.
  7. Public parking is available under Building #3. The meters only accept coins and we suggest parking in the 9-hr spaces, if available, as the 3-hour spaces are enforced.
  8. Proceed to entrance of Building #3.
  9. Take any elevator to First Floor.
  10. Sign in with Security using a valid photo ID.

Useful travel links:

Getting to ARL HQ via Metro
(also from Ronald Reagan National Airport)

  1. Take (or transfer to) the Red Line headed towards Wheaton/Glenmont
  2. Exit the system at the "Silver Spring" Metro station
  3. The Silver Spring station is literally next door to the NOAA Silver Spring campus. Take the escalator marked "Colesville Road" and proceed west via the underpass that runs beneath the Metro train tracks.
  4. Proceed via the plaza between Building #1 and Building #2 to the sidewalk.
  5. Proceed up the hill past Building #2 until you reach the large sculpture in front of Building #3 - water fountain with a hand holding birds.
  6. Take any elevator to First Floor.
  7. Sign in with Security using a valid photo ID.

Metro Information:

Getting to ARL HQ by Train

Local Airports

There are three airports that service the Washington, D.C. area; Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which is immediately south of and adjacent to downtown Washington; Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI), 20-25 miles north of Washington near Baltimore, Maryland; and Dulles International Airport, 25-30 miles west of Washington in Reston, Virginia.

Lodging

Information on local area