The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center is located at 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, Maryland, about 30 miles east of Washington, D.C. The campus sits on the Rhode River, a subestuary of the Chesapeake Bay.

From Washington, D.C.:

Take U.S. Route 50 east toward Annapolis
Exit south at Md. Route 424 (Davidsonville Road)
Turn left (east) at traffic light onto Md. 214 (Central Ave.)
Follow directions from Central Avenue in Edgewater below

From Baltimore:

Take I-97 South to U.S. 50 East
Take Exit 22 onto MD-665 East
Use right lane to get onto MD Route 2 South (Solomons Island Road). Follow sings for Edgewater
Go approximately 5 miles and turn left at the traffic light onto MD-214 Central Avenue
Follow directions from Central Avenue in Edgewater below.

From the Eastern Shore:

Take Route 50 West over the Bay Bridge
Take Exit 23A onto MD Route 2 South (Solomons Island Road)
Go approximately 5 miles and turn left at the traffic light onto MD-214 Central Avenue
Follow directions from Central Avenue in Edgewater below.

From Southern Maryland:

Take MD Route 2/4 north to Sunderland
Continue onto MD-2 North (Solomon's Island Road)
Turn right onto MD 258 East/East Bay Front Road
Turn left onto Swamp Circle Road
Turn left onto MD 468 West/Muddy Creek Road
Proceed about 7 miles; then turn right (east) onto Contees Wharf Road. You'll see a brown "Smithsonian Environmental Research Center" highway sign at the turn.

From Central Avenue in Edgewater, Md.:

Follow Central Ave. (Md. 214) east to traffic light at Md. 468 (Muddy Creek Road). Turn right (south).
Proceed about 1 mile; then turn left (east) onto Contees Wharf Road. You'll see a brown "Smithsonian Environmental Research Center" highway sign at the turn.

You will pass a security kiosk. After about 3/4 of a mile, the road will fork. Continue straight go to the Reed Education Center and the SERC dock (there is an old wooden tobacco barn on the road to Reed). For all other SERC buildings, veer right. Find instructions to specific buildings below: 

For the Reed Education Center/SERC Docks:

After passing the security kiosk, drive about 3/4 of a mile until the road forks. Go straight and follow the road until it ends. The Reed Education Center is the blue building near water.

For the New Dominion - Administration Building:

After passing the green security kiosk, drive about 3/4 of a mile until the road forks. Go right. You will come to a 3-way stop sign. Continue straight. The Administration building is the gray two-story frame building on your right.

*For parking, turn right at the 3-way stop sign instead of going straight and use the parking lot on your left. After crossing the lot, you will see a garden with a pond. The Administration building is the smaller gray building across from the pond.

For the Schmidt Conference Center or Green Village Dormitory:

After passing the green security kiosk, drive about 3/4 of a mile until the road forks. Go right. You will come to a 3-way stop sign. Turn right. The Schmidt center is a brown brick building on the right, just past the row of parking spots. The Green Village Dorm is a two-story gray building on your right.

For the Mathias Laboratory:

After passing the green security kiosk, drive about 3/4 of a mile until the road forks. Go right. You will come to a 3-way stop sign. Continue straight. The Mathias Lab is the large silver building at the end of the circular driveway.

*For parking, turn right at the stop sign instead of going straight and use the parking lot on your left. After crossing the lot you will see a garden with a pond. The Mathias Lab is the large building across the sidewalk with silver tables. To reach the front entrance, walk to the sidewalk and go left. You'll reach a circular driveway. The front entrance is up the stairs and through the glass doors.

Airports:

If you are visiting SERC from afar, Baltimore Washington International Airport is the closest airport at about 27 miles from SERC. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is also not far from SERC at about 35 miles.