Last Updated on November 7, 2022 by Usama
The National Gallery of Art, as well as several other institutions, is situated on the famous National Mall in Washington, D.C. The art gallery arranges diverse exhibitions and offers artworks and guided tours for aesthetes living in or visiting the state’s capital. Since there’s no official National Gallery of Art parking garage, finding convenient parking can be a hassle, but that’s where we step in! Here, you’ll discover the best garages near the National Gallery of Art and learn about street parking, public transit, and other helpful info!
National Gallery of Art Admission & Hours
You don’t have to buy the National Gallery of Art tickets or passes—admission is always free, and passes haven’t been required since July 2021. Standard working hours are also back to normal, and the gallery is open daily between 10 AM and 5 PM. First-time visitors can use the following address to get directions to the building: 6th and Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20565.
National Gallery of Art Parking Options
There’s no parking at the National Gallery of Art, except for a limited number of accessible parking spaces. Visitors with disabilities who own appropriate ADA parking tags can search for a spot at the following locations:
- at the West Building Mall entrance;
- near the Sculpture Garden and Pavilion Café;
- outside the East Building on the 4th Street Plaza.
Short-term parking for other visitors is available on the streets around the gallery and in several nearby garages. Learn more about each option in the following sections.
Street Parking Around the Gallery
There’s no such thing as free parking in Washington, D.C., but you can find a fairly-priced street stall within a couple of blocks of the East and West Buildings. We suggest that you arrive early and avoid circling the area searching for a nearby spot.
The metered parking cost is $2.30 per hour Monday through Saturday, and the limit is usually 2 or 3 hours. Parking is free of charge on Sundays and holidays. Take advantage of the ParkMobile app if you decide to park on-street, and read the signs carefully to avoid pricey tickets.
Parking Garages Near the National Gallery of Art
Finding parking near the National Gallery of Art is stressful and expensive and almost always unpredictable, especially on weekdays. Many garages offer parking for monthly customers and become unavailable during the day.
For this reason, we looked into all the options and singled out the best nearby public parking structures—here are the prices for three hours of parking on a weekday afternoon.
| Parking Facility | 3-Hour Parking Fee | Address | Walking Distance |
| America’s Square Garage | $15 | 377 1st St. NW | 12 minutes |
| 273 2nd St. NW Garage | $16 | 273 2nd St. NW | 10 minutes |
| North Building Garage | $20 | 320 6th St. NW | 6 minutes |
Use platforms like SpotHero to quickly find and reserve parking ahead of time and save yourself the trouble and sold-out situations.
Taking Public Transportation in D.C.
Public transportation is cheaper than daily parking fees in Washington, D.C. If you opt for Metrorail, you’ll also avoid traffic, and the Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter station is a quick walk away from the gallery. It’s served by Green and Yellow Lines, and fares range from $2.00 to $6.00, depending on the time of the day.
Metrobuses pick up and drop off travelers along 7th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue NW, and 4th Street. The regular bus fare is $2.00, while the express route fare is $4.25. If you want to check out the main attractions in the area, use Circulator Bus and its National Mall route; the cost is only $1.00 per person.
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Find Parking Wherever You Go in Washington, D.C.
Parking Access offers helpful and up-to-date guides covering countless points of interest across the continent! Aside from the National Gallery of Art parking information, we can help you learn more about the following locations and enjoy the museum experience in Washington, D.C.
| City Attractions | Venues | Airports |
| Spy Museum | Capital One Arena | DCA Airport |
| Kennedy Center | Washington Nationals | Dulles Airport |
| National Zoo | FedExField | BWI Airport |
Click on any link to quickly find and compare all car parking options, and use our airport parking guides to book a safe spot in a few clicks!