The Museum has two entrances, located on Madison Drive and Constitution Avenue NW. Both entrances are accessible, however, the entrance on Madison Drive has a drop off area and is the recommended entrance for any visitors arriving by vehicle. View the building entrances at Google Maps or Citymapper.
The Smithsonian does not provide parking. There are National Park Service designated accessible parking spaces along Madison Drive adjacent to the Museum. Visitors with disability hang tags or license plates can park at metered spaces controlled by the DC government. Visit the DC government website for more information about their parking procedures and for an interactive map of Red Top Meter parking locations.
The nearest public parking garage is located at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. You may access the parking garage via ramps at 14th Street NW (north and south). Please visit the International Trade Center website for more information.
The Museum is accessible for visitors with limited mobility via escalators, elevators and ramps. Manual wheelchairs, standard and bariatric sized, are located near the Madison Drive entrance and are available to borrow on a first-come, first served basis. There are no fees or requirements to borrow a wheelchair, just ask when you arrive. The Smithsonian cannot recommend specific external vendors but there are several available in the area that can provide manual or motorized wheelchair rentals.
For visitors with mobility limitations, the suggested route through the History Galleries is to start on the C1 level and end at the C3 level. Visitors may enter through the Galleries’ exit located on the Concourse level, view the exhibits and then use the elevator at the C3 level to return to the Concourse. The route presents a reverse chronological experience but some visitors may find it to be less fatiguing. View the different route options using the Museum Maps, which are also available via our mobile app.
The Oprah Winfrey Theater, used for public programming, has accessible seating and transfer seating.
For more information about wheelchair and scooter rental in the Washington, DC area, please contact Destination DC at (202) 789-7001.