VISIT
SUMMER EVENING HOURS
We’ve heard you. You want the chance to visit the National Arboretum after a long day at work. We’re making it happen all summer long! Thanks to FONA and the generosity of our supporters, the U.S. National Arboretum will stay open until 8 PM from June 1st through August 30th.*
This extended access is part of the growing public-private partnership between FONA and the National Arboretum. Summer evening hours are part of FONA’s mission to ensure the Arboretum’s gardens and collections are accessible to the public, particularly the local community, and to connect people with nature.
FONA’s summer evening hours are made possible by our members and supporters like you! You can support our work and help us make these a permanent feature at the Arboretum by:
- Becoming a FONA member. Donate any amount to FONA and you’ll automatically join our dedicated member community. If you’re already a member, please consider making an additional gift and renewing your membership early.
- Become a Summer Evening Sponsor. When you become a sponsor at the $500 level, you have a whole night dedicated just to you (or your group)! Or sponsor at a higher level and gain recognition all summer long (email donations@fona.org to learn more about higher level sponsorships).
Dates & Times
- June 1 to August 30:* Arboretum grounds will stay open until 8 PM every day
- Last admittance onto the grounds is at 7:30 PM
- * Excludes June 7, June 14, and June 21
Gates & Access
- R Street Gate (2400 R St. NE): open daily 8 AM to 8 PM
- New York Avenue Gate (3501 New York Ave. NE): open on weekdays 8 AM to 2 PM, open on weekends 8 AM to 4:30 PM
- Parking is free at the National Arboretum
- The Arboretum is not located on a Metro rail line, but is near Union Station. From there, you can take a bus, rideshare, or bike to the Arboretum.
- Capital Bikeshare has a hub outside the R Street entrance for bike rentals
Facilities
- View and download a digital map of the National Arboretum
- National Bonsai & Penjing Museum closes daily at 4:00 PM
- Visitor Center closes daily at 4:30 PM
- Restrooms and water after 4:30 PM: Arbor House, Grove parking lot, and Asian Collections parking lot
- Vending machines after 4:30 PM: Arbor House
- Food trucks will sell food at the Arboretum on select Fridays from 5 PM to 7:30 PM.View our calendar to see the vendor lineup, or apply to be a food vendor.
- If security assistance is needed, call the Arboretum Security at (202) 655-7264
WHAT TO SEE
The U.S. National Arboretum is a research institution, public garden, and green oasis of 451-acres that sits on the shores of the Anacostia River in Washington, DC. Annually, over 650,000 visitors enjoy connecting with nature, plants, and science. Its science has resulted in important plant introductions resistant to disease and pests that benefit our nation’s plant nursery landscape.
Established in 1927, the Arboretum is administered by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Arboretum Collections
In addition to the collections described below, the Arboretum contains striking collections of boxwoods, daffodils, daylilies, dogwoods, hollies, lilacs, magnolias, and maples.
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
This tribute to the history and beauty of bonsai is home of hundreds of bonsai trees, some of which are centuries old.
Introduction Garden
This garden showcases some of the many cultivars introduced by the National Arboretum and contains a koi pond that is a long-time favorite with kids.
Capitol Columns
Originally part of the East Portico of the Capitol Building, these columns now create a captivating space overlooking a beautiful meadow.
National Herb Garden
The largest designed herb garden in the United States includes a traditional knot garden, a rose garden, and 10 beds organized by themes.
Fern Valley
Visitors can follow shaded paths through a woodland area filled with native plants from the eastern United States.
Washington Youth Garden
Our very own children and family-friendly garden grows a variety of food crops. Visit the WYG page for more information.
Asian Collections
These collections are home to a winter-blooming Camellia Collection and plants from China, Japan and Korea.
Gotelli Conifer Collection
A wide variety of dwarf and slow-growing conifers are interspersed with 31 of the Arboretum’s crapemyrtle cultivars.
Azalea Collections
With thousands of azalea plants, these collections are the reason the grounds were first opened to the public.
Friendship Garden
Surrounding Arbor House, where our office is located, this garden is low-maintenance and environmentally friendly.
LINKS
Explore the National Arboretum’s website
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Photography
Permit Required
Please note that the following may require a USNA photography permit: special occasion photography; individual and group portrait photography; commercial and promotional photography; and photography that includes subjects, props, models or anything more than the natural and cultural resources of the National Arboretum.
Address
R Street Entrance + GPS
2400 R St NE
Washington, DC 20002
From June 1st through August 30th, the R Street gate will stay open until 8 PM every day of the week for summer evening hours. Last admittance onto the grounds is at 7:30 PM.
New York Avenue Entrance + Mailing
3501 New York Avenue NE
Washington, DC 20002
From June 1st through August 30th, the New York Avenue gate will close to both entry and exit starting at 2 PM on weekdays. After 2 PM, visitors must enter and exit the grounds via the R Street gate.
Days & Hours
Grounds — Summer Evening Hours
Monday – Sunday: 8 AM – 8 PM from June 1st through August 30th
From June 1 through August 30th, last admittance to the National Arboretum grounds is at 7:30 PM each day.
During summer evening hours, the New York Avenue gate will close at 2 PM on weekdays. After 2 PM, visitors can only use the R Street gate for entry/exit to the Arboretum.
After August 30th, the Arboretum will resume it’s normal operating hours, opening at 8 AM and closing at 5 PM daily. The Arboretum is open every day of the year, but is closed on December 25th.
Visitor Center
Monday – Sunday: 8 AM – 4:30 PM (closed on all federal holidays from November through February)
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
Monday – Sunday: 10 AM – 4 PM (closed on all federal holidays from November through February)
FONA Office
Many of our staff work remotely but respond readily to calls and emails.
Accessibility
Use the Arboretum’s Gardens & Collections webpage for information about each collection’s accessibility. The information will be found in the webpage for each collection. You may want to start with the Capitol Columns and National Herb Garden pages.
Rules
Please follow these rules and guidelines during your visit:
Washington Youth Garden
Visit the Washington Youth Garden, a family-friendly space where we teach garden-based science to children and their families.
Parking
Admission and parking are free at the National Arboretum! Please park in the multiple marked lots available throughout the Arboretum — please refrain from parking on the side of the road and in the grass.
Public Transportation
Bus & Rail
While there are no rail lines that take you directly to the Arboretum, there are bus stops nearby to link you to the Arboretum. Use the Metro’s Trip Planner to find your best route.
Train
Visiting from out of town? The National Arboretum is located near Union Station, DC’s central hub for MARC and Amtrak trains. From there, take a ride share or bus to the Arboretum.
Bike
Bring your own bike or rent one! Capital Bikeshare has a bike hub outside the R Street Entrance for visitors to rent bikes from and cruise around the Arboretum.
Ride Share
Need a ride? Meet your rideshare driver at the R Street Entrance for easiest access into and out of the Arboretum.
Amenities
Restrooms & Water Fountains
Arbor House
Grove Parking Lot (open during warmer months)
Asia Valley Collections (open during warmer months)
Visitor Center (closes at 4 PM)
Vending Machines
Arbor House
Visitor Center (closes at 4 PM)
Picnicking
Grove of State Trees
Google Maps
Click on “View larger map” to open in Google Maps.
MOBILE APPS
US National Arboretum
The National Arboretum’s official app includes a map of the grounds, information about the collections and plants, and self-guided tours.
Agents of Discovery
Connect to nature and your community through augmented reality experiences in public spaces and use sensory skills to investigate the plants in the National Arboretum! Great for families.
iNaturalist
Identify plants, fungi, and wildlife with image recognition technology connected to databases by the National Geographic Society and the California Academy of Sciences.
Merlin Bird ID
Identify any bird you see with either a picture or answers to 5 simple questions. Learn everything about its diet, habitat, and songs.