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Getting to NIST Gaithersburg
Site status
- Telephone Status update at (301) 975-8000 and (800) 437-4385 (toll free)
Driving to NIST Gaithersburg
When driving to NIST, plan some extra time to get through the security checkpoints at the visitor entrances to campus. Consider taking public transportation as an alternative. See the Parking and Getting Around page for details.
From northbound I-270: Take Exit 10, Route 117 West, Clopper Road. Bear right at the first light onto Clopper Road/West Diamond Avenue. At the next light, turn left onto the NIST grounds.
From southbound I-270: Take Exit 11, Route 124, Montgomery Village Avenue/Quince Orchard Road. Bear right at the light onto Route 124 West, Quince Orchard Road. After you merge onto Rt. 124, Quince Orchard Road, turn left at the second light onto Route 117, West Diamond Avenue. Turn right at the first light onto NIST grounds.
From Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Follow the Dulles Access Road to Bethesda/Baltimore entrance ramp to 495
Take 495 (left lane exit) to 270 North
Take Exit #10 toward Clopper Road (MD 117) and Quince Orchard Rd (MD 124)
At the first light, turn right onto West Diamond Ave.
At next stop light (Bureau Dr.), turn left
From Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI)
Take 195 West
Take 95 South Exit #4B toward Washington
Take 495 West Exit #27-25 toward College Park/Silver Spring
Take 270 North Exit #35 toward Frederick
Take 270 Local North toward Montrose Road
Take Exit #10 toward Clopper Road (MD 117) and Quince Orchard Rd (MD 124)
At the first light, turn right onto West Diamond Ave.
At next stop light (Bureau Dr.), turn left
From Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Exit National Airport heading north on the George Washington (GW) Parkway toward Maryland
Take the GW Parkway to 495 North toward Maryland
Take 495 (left lane exit) to 270 North
Take Exit #10 toward Clopper Road (MD 117) and Quince Orchard Rd (MD 124)
At the first light, turn right onto West Diamond Ave.
At next stop light (Bureau Dr.), turn left
Public Transportation
NIST provides shuttle service for official visitors and staff to and from the Shady Grove Metro Station. The shuttle operates Monday through Friday, except on federal holidays, from 6:45 am to 6:10 pm.
Visitors using Metro can meet the NIST shuttle at the east side of the Shady Grove Metro Station at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour. The NIST shuttle will stop at "Bus Bay C." The last NIST shuttle leaves Shady Grove Metro at 6:10 pm.
The shuttle departs from the front of the NIST Administration Building at 5 and 35 minutes past the hour. The last NIST shuttle leaves NIST at 6:00 p.m.
The ride between NIST and the Shady Grove Metro Station takes approximately 15 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.
- MetroBus
- Marc Train
- Gaithersburg Taxi Services*
- Rental Cars (see individual airport links above)