Planning a visit to the NRL main site
NRL is located in the Southwest quadrant of Washington, convenient to downtown, the Pentagon, and Bolling Air Force Base (also known as Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling), and sits just across the Potomac River from Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.
Naval Research Laboratory
4555 Overlook Ave. S.W.
Washington, DC 20375
NRL is a controlled-access facility. Prior arrangements must be made with an NRL point of contact before visiting the Laboratory. Unless otherwise instructed by your NRL host, visitors must check in at the NRL Visitor Center, Bldg. 72, located just outside and to the right of the Laboratory's front gate. If your host has not informed you that you are pre-registered, you are required to fill out an NRL Visitor Pass request form upon arrival in the Visitor Center. You may download the form below and fill it out prior to your arrival to speed up your processing through the Visitor Center.
You must have your driver's license in your possession when checking in through visitor control. You will not be admitted without proper photo identification and if driving on base you will be required to show your driver's license at the gate. Visits by foreign nationals require special processing. Foreign nationals must provide valid documents, either an original passport or an original green card for entry into the Laboratory. For more information, you may contact the NRL Visitor Center on 202-767-2996.
Parking is limited. Visitors may wish to consider carpooling when appropriate. NRL is not located within walking distance of a Metrorail stop, however, it may be possible for visitors to arrange transportation with their host to and from the Metro stops. Taxi service may be called for pick up and drop off to NRL's Visitor Center. Taxis are not permitted inside the Laboratory.
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