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Nationals Park, Washington
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Nationals Park

What a visiting fan needs to know: where to stay, getting in from DCA, parking and tailgating, what to eat and where to sit.

  • Washington, DC
  • Home of the Nationals
  • Fly into DCA
  • Stadium tours
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Games at Nationals Park

Where to stay near Nationals Park

Where visiting fans stay

From a specialist guide
  • Navy Yard
    Joshua Ajayi, Google Maps

    Navy YardVisiting fans pick this

    5 min by walk. The Hampton Inn and Suites (1265 First St SE), Residence Inn (1233 First St SE) and Homewood Suites (50 M St SE) are a few blocks from the gates, with the Thompson (221 Tingey St SE) by the river. You can walk to every pregame bar.

  • Capitol Hill and Barracks Row
    Tap Routine, Google Maps

    Capitol Hill and Barracks RowVisiting fans pick this

    15 min by walk. The AC Hotel (867 New Jersey Ave SE) and the Capitol Hill Hotel (200 C St SE) put you near the Capitol and Eastern Market, and Barracks Row restaurants run down 8th Street SE toward the river.

  • The Wharf and Southwest Waterfront
    JS-aus-Haar, Google Maps

    The Wharf and Southwest Waterfront

    20 min by walk. Hotels like the Canopy (975 7th St SW) and InterContinental (801 Wharf St SW) sit on the Potomac waterfront. The Wharf says Nationals Park is a 20 minute walk, and the Green Line runs from Waterfront station.

  • Penn Quarter and Downtown
    Moises Almosny, Google Maps

    Penn Quarter and Downtown

    15 min by transit. The largest choice of hotels and the National Mall museums. Ride the Green Line from Gallery Place or Archives straight to Navy Yard-Ballpark without a transfer.

Around the stadium

From a specialist guide
Navy Yard wraps the ballpark on the north and east. Half Street SE, N Street SE and First Street SE hold most of the game-day bars, and the Hampton Inn, Residence Inn and Homewood Suites all sit within a few blocks of the Center Field Gate.

Map of the area

Tap a pin to see the place.

Getting to Nationals Park

From Reagan National

From a specialist guide
DCA (Reagan National), about 4 miles from the ballpark. The Metrorail station connects by enclosed bridges to Terminal 2. Take the Yellow Line to L'Enfant Plaza and switch to the Green Line for Navy Yard-Ballpark, about 25 minutes in all.

On game day

Checked at the source
Metro Green Line, about 10 min. Navy Yard-Ballpark station, about a block from the Center Field Gate. Metro Yellow Line, then Green Line, about 25 min. Change at L'Enfant Plaza for the Green Line and ride to Navy Yard-Ballpark, a block from the ballpark. Metro Orange, Blue or Silver Line, about 15 min. Capitol South station, then a 15 minute walk south to the ballpark. It is a good way to skip the crowd at Navy Yard after the game. Bike or e-scooter to the free bike valet, about 20 min. Bike valet to the left of the Garage C entrance on First Street SE near N Street SE. It opens when gates open and closes 45 minutes after the game, and it holds helmets, which are not allowed inside.

Parking and tailgating at Nationals Park

Tailgating

Checked at the source
Tailgating is not allowed in any Nationals garage or lot. Garage B and Garage C cars may also go through extra security screening. The outdoor Bullpen at 1201 Half Street SE, across from the ballpark, is where fans gather before games, with live music, cold beer and a food truck.

Game day at Nationals Park

Getting in

Checked at the source
  • Bag policy: Any bag larger than a 5 x 7 x 0.75 inch clutch must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and no larger than 16 x 16 x 8 inches. A small clutch can go in with a clear bag. Backpacks are not allowed, even clear ones. Diaper and medical bags can use the ADA and family lanes. Binbox lockers outside the Center Field, Left Field and Home Plate gates open 2 hours before first pitch for a fee.
  • Cashless: Nationals Park is cashless for tickets, food and retail. Swap cash for Nats Bucks at Advance Ticket Sales behind Sections 103 and 104 or at Guest Services behind Section 131.
  • Re-entry: No re-entry. If you leave the ballpark, you cannot come back in on the same ticket.

Touring the stadium

Checked at the source
A two hour walk through the press area, the club spaces, the suites, the warning track, a dugout, the bullpen and, when it is free, the visiting clubhouse. Buy tickets online only, with no cash and no refunds. Tours start at the Media and Suites entrance on South Capitol Street SE at Potomac Avenue. Proceeds go to Nationals Philanthropies. Visit the clubs, suites and concourse before the gates open. Areas depend on weather and availability. Book online through the team's tours page.

After the final whistle

Checked at the source
Most fans walk one block to the Navy Yard-Ballpark station on the Green Line, which gets packed right after the last out. Police close N Street SE, Potomac Avenue SE and parts of South Capitol Street from about the 8th inning until about 45 minutes after the game, and they send Garage B traffic north and Garage C traffic south. To beat the crowd, walk 15 minutes to Capitol South (Orange, Blue and Silver Lines), or wait out the rush at a Half Street bar. On Monday to Thursday and Sunday nights, the last Green Line train toward Greenbelt leaves Navy Yard around 11:51 to 11:53pm.

One thing to avoid

From a specialist guide
Driving in without a prepaid spot. Drive-up parking is not sold for every game, and police road closures after the game slow every garage exit. Take the Green Line instead.

Food and drink at Nationals Park

Bars near the stadium

Checked at the source
  • The Bullpen
    The Bullpen, Google Maps

    The Bullpen

    1201 Half St SE, Washington, DC 20003

    An open-air lot of picnic tables, bars and a stage that has served as the Nats pregame spot since 2009. Expect live music, cheap tallboys and a food truck before and after home games.

    Away fans: a big, mixed crowd of Nats fans and visitors. Away colors draw some ribbing and nothing more.

  • Walters Sports Bar
    Walter’s Sports Bar and Restaurant, Google Maps

    Walters Sports Bar

    10 N St SE, Washington, DC 20003

    A large sports bar right across N Street from the Center Field Gate, with screens everywhere. It fills fast before night games.

    Away fans: a sports bar full of every kind of fan on game days, so away colors fit in.

  • Dacha Beer Garden Navy Yard
    Dacha Beer Garden (Navy Yard), Google Maps

    Dacha Beer Garden Navy Yard

    79 Potomac Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003

    An outdoor German-style beer garden just behind the ballpark, near the river. It pours German, Belgian and American beers and serves sausages and burgers.

    Away fans: a relaxed beer garden where Nats, DC United and Washington Spirit fans mix. Visitors are welcome.

  • Bluejacket
    Heidi Liou, Google Maps

    Bluejacket

    300 Tingey St SE, Washington, DC 20003

    A three-story brewery inside a 1919 Navy Yard factory building, with 20 house beers and five cask ales, most poured only on site. Fans walk the few blocks over before and after games.

    Away fans: a brewery crowd more than a fan bar, so away colors are no issue.

Things to do around Nationals Park

Listed in the order they happen on game day. Each one earns points.

  1. Drink40 points

    Pregame beer at Bluejacket

    Bluejacket brews its beer inside a 1919 Navy Yard factory building a few blocks from the ballpark. Follow the Nats fans over for a pint you can only get here.

    $$. 2 hours 30 minutes before first pitch

  2. Photo40 points

    See the D.C. baseball statues

    Three white bronze statues of Washington baseball greats from the Negro Leagues and the old Senators stand by the Home Plate Gate. They tell the story of the city's baseball before the Nationals arrived.

    Free. 1 hour 30 minutes before first pitch

  3. Photo40 points

    Cherry trees in Center Field Plaza

    Fourteen Kwanzan cherry trees grow inside the ballpark, eight in Center Field Plaza and six on the main concourse past the left field seats. Catch them in bloom on an early-season trip for a photo you can only get in DC.

    Free. 1 hour before first pitch

  4. Photo50 points

    Photo with the Racing Presidents

    The Presidents pose with fans in Center Field Plaza 30 to 60 minutes before first pitch. Get there right after the gates open and the line is short.

    Free. 50 minutes before first pitch

  5. Eat50 points

    Half-smoke at the ballpark Ben's

    The half-smoke is DC's own sausage, and Ben's Chili Bowl serves it with chili and cheese at Sections 141, 238 and 307. It is the one ballpark bite every visitor should try.

    $. 30 minutes before first pitch

  6. Eat40 points

    Weekend breakfast at Eastern Market

    Eastern Market has fed Capitol Hill for over 150 years, with food stalls inside and farmers and craft vendors outside on weekends. Eat breakfast here before a Sunday day game, then walk 20 minutes to the ballpark.

    $

  7. Landmark50 points

    Lincoln Memorial after dark

    The memorial is free and open 24 hours, and rangers are on duty until 10pm. Come after a day game, when the statue is lit and the crowds thin out.

    Free

  8. Tour50 points

    Tour the U.S. Capitol

    The Capitol dome rises a mile north of the ballpark, and guided tours of its historic rooms are free. Book ahead through the Visitor Center, or walk up and join the next open tour.

    Free

  9. Outing40 points

    National Air and Space Museum

    The Smithsonian's flight museum on the National Mall is free and open 10am to 5:30pm. Reserve free timed-entry passes online, since everyone needs one.

    Free

  10. Eat40 points

    Crab cake at Section 109

    Chesapeake Crab Cake Company brings Maryland's favorite food to the main concourse. It is a taste of the bay you will not find at most ballparks.

    $$. 30 minutes after first pitch

  11. Drink40 points

    Curly W IPA at the Left Field Lodge

    Devils Backbone, a Virginia brewery, runs a bar and picnic area in Section 301 and pours the Curly W, a ballpark IPA. Grab one and watch an inning from the upper level in left.

    $$. 45 minutes after first pitch

  12. Ritual65 points

    Watch the Presidents Race

    In the middle of the 4th inning, giant-headed George, Tom, Abe and Teddy sprint from center field to the first base dugout. Teddy went nearly seven seasons without a win, and the crowd still cheers hardest for him.

    Free. 1 hour after first pitch

Seats and shade at Nationals Park

Where the sun lands on a day game, and which seats stay dry when it rains.

Shade and cover

From a specialist guide
  • Club level sections 206-216, third base side and behind home plate. Shaded for the whole game at a 1:35pm start.
  • Club level sections 217-221, first base side. Shaded at first pitch until about the 6th inning, when the front rows of 220 and 221 can get sun.
  • Upper level sections 401-409. Every row is shaded for day games. Cover from rain starts at Row C.
  • Lower level sections 108-117, third base side, back two or three rows. The third base side gets shade before the first base side. The back rows are often shaded at first pitch, while the front rows may stay in the sun most of the game.
  • Right Field Terrace sections 222-236 and 240-243. The sunniest seats in the ballpark. Skip them for a summer afternoon game.
  • Outfield sections 139-142, Row M and higher. Out of the sun for day games, and the upper half of these sections has the best cover from rain. No section in the ballpark is fully covered, and nothing in the 300 level is.