Directions to the Spy Museum | International Spy Museum
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The Spy Museum is located in the heart of L'Enfant Plaza, just south of the Smithsonian Castle on the National Mall and directly across from the United States Postal Service Headquarters in Southwest Washington, DC.
The International Spy Museum's address is 700 L'Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, DC 20024.
The Spy Museum can be easily accessed via:
metro/train
bus
bike
car
, or
rideshare
How to Find Us
Metro/Train
Bus
Driving Directions
Parking
Cycling
Metro / Train
The closest Metro station is
L'Enfant Plaza
(Green, Yellow, Orange, Blue, and Silver lines).
L’Enfant Plaza Metro has multiple exits.
The closest exit to the Spy Museum is Exit C
, the 9th St and L’Enfant Plaza exit.
The only
ADA Accessible
exit with an elevator is Exit A, the 7th St and Maryland Av exit.
Directions from Metro Exit C, 9th St and L’Enfant Plaza Exit:
ake the
escalator
up from the L’Enfant Plaza exit
to enter the L’Enfant Plaza food court.
Once
you
nter the glass doors
Potbelly Sandwich Shop will be on your right.
At the first
open
hallway,
make a right
Continue straight until you are underneath the large glass
atrium
. You will see a large flight of stairs in front of you. Take the stairs up to the ground level and exit through the glass doors to your left once you reach the top. You have reached the
back side
of the Museum. Walk towards 10th
street
, SW to access the Museum's main lobby doors.
If an elevator is preferred, one is
located
just before you reach the area under the glass
atrium
. Take it to the Plaza level. The Museum will be directly behind you when you exit from the elevator vestibule.
Directions from Metro Exit A, the 7th St and Maryland Av Exit:
For wheelchair accessible access, exit the L’Enfant Plaza station via the “elevator to street
”,
which brings you to the intersection of 7th & C Street.
Turn left as you exit the Metrorail elevator, heading north towards Independence Avenue SW and the National Mall.
Turn left onto Independence Avenue SW. You will
be heading
west and
will pass
the Hirshhorn Museum and the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building.
Turn left onto L’Enfant Plaza SW, heading south.
The Spy Museum will be on your left.
Watch Video Walkthrough
If using google maps, make sure to filter results with the "wheelchair accessible" option, if needed.
VIEW A MOBILE FRIENDLY MAP
Note: If you take this route you can also pick up the free
Southwest Shuttle
at its 7th street stop, directly across the street from the metro elevator you exit. Take the shuttle two stops to L’Enfant Plaza and you will get off across the street from SPY.
Bus
Metrobus
stops are located on Independence Avenue, SW, and along 7th Street, SW. Visit the
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
website for more information.
Free Southwest Shuttle
free neighborhood shuttle bus
makes regular stops at the Museum, the mall, and the wharf, offering a convenient way to explore the local area. The shuttle is wheelchair accessible.
Driving Directions
Uber/Lyft/Taxi:
Please be aware that the Museum is on the upper/ground level. If your route takes you through the underground portion of L'Enfant Plaza, SW, be sure to stay in the left-hand lane and take the ramp to the upper level toward L'Enfant Plaza/Banneker Circle.
From the West:
I-395N
Take Exit 4 toward SW/Waterfront/Nationals Park/Maine Ave.
Turn right onto L’Enfant Plaza, SW
From the North:
Travel south on 9th street
Travel through the 9th street tunnel
Once on the south side of the tunnel take a right at the stop sign onto L’Enfant Plaza, SW
From the North East:
50 W/New York Ave to I-395 S
Use the second from right lane to take exit 5 for 7th street Southwest/L’Enfant Promenade
Merge onto Frontage Road, SW
Turn right onto 10
th
Street, SW
From the South East:
I-295N to I-695
Use the right lane to merge onto I-395 S
Use the second from right lane to take exit 5 for 7th
street Southwest/L’Enfant Promenade
Merge onto Frontage Road, SW
Turn right onto 10th Street, SW
Parking
Garage Parking
Garage Parking is available at the L'Enfant Plaza Garage
Please note,
the garage has limited spaces for large vehicles that are over 6 feet high
. Other garages in the area, including the Wharf’s parking complex, can accommodate large vehicles. SPY only validates tickets from the L’Enfant Plaza Garage.
Address to L’Enfant Plaza Garage
420 10th Street SW Washington, DC 20024
You may validate your parking ticket at SPY for a 20% discount. Parking validation is available only during the Museum's regular business hours.
Note: Discounts not available for online parking reservations. Guests using SPY parking validation will pay upon leaving the garage.
Please note that parking is limited. If you would still like to reserve a parking spot, you may with
Ace Parking Online Reservations
TO VALIDATE PARKING, present your same-day ticket at the Spy Store checkout counter.
Note
: The L’Enfant Plaza Garage is not part of the Spy Museum.
Driving to the L'Enfant Plaza Garage from the International Spy Museum main entry:
Take the ramp going south on upper 10th street. It will take you underground to lower 10th street.
Once underground, make a U-turn to access northbound lower 10th. Follow signs that say "To All Parking Areas."
The Parking Garage entrance will be on your right.
ACE parking staff will have you park close to the elevator for the south 490 L’Enfant Plaza building
Once you have entered the garage, you may park on
level G2
red
) or
G1
blue
). Park in the Zone B of either level (lettered zones are noted on the columns and walls of the garage).
To find the International Spy Museum from the parking garage:
Enter Building 490 Elevator lobby.
Take an elevator to the “Plaza” level.
Exit the building to your left for street access. You will see the back (east side) of the Spy Museum building upon exit.
Walk on the left (south) side of the Museum and around the corner to reach the Museum's main lobby entry. The main entrance is on 10th street.
Wheelchair accessible option:
Enter parking garage through ramp entrance
Continue to rear of garage to elevators to 490 L'Enfant Offices, Shops, Food Court
Press floor for Plaza
Exit elevator lobby and cross plaza to SPY building
Watch Video Walkthrough
To find the International Spy Museum from outside the parking garage:
Go right from the parking garage entrance toward D Street
Turn right at D Street
Take stairs to the right & continue up 3 flights of stairs along the path
Watch the Walkthrough
Wheelchair accessible option:
Go right from the parking entrance toward D Street
Cross D Street and turn right
Continue straight just past the 9th Street Expressway
Cross to opposite side of D Street using the second crosswalk and turn left
Turn right at the department of Housing and Urban Development building to take accessible ramp to food court
Follow signs for SPY through the food court
Take the elevator at the center of the food court up to the promenade
Exit elevator and turn right toward SPY building
Watch the Walkthrough
Street Parking
Street parking is limited, please read signs carefully for parking hours, permit restrictions, and tour bus parking.
Note
: General Street parking Is FREE in DC on Sundays and National Holidays.
Valet Parking
Valet Parking is available at the Hilton Washington DC National Mall, located just behind the Museum. For inquiries and directions, please call 202-484-1000. Maximum allowable vehicle height is 6’.
Accessibile Parking
The District of Columbia allows extended parking at any meter, along with specific "red-topped" handicapped parking meters (the closest red-topped meter is located on 10th Street, SW, south bound lane close to Independence Avenue). Metered parking is available on 10th Street, SW, near the Museum. The Ace L'Enfant Plaza parking garage also has handicapped parking.
To safely access the wheelchair accessible loading zone at the Spy Museum, turn onto the loop road from 10th Street at the south corner of the Spy Museum, near the Hilton entrance, and drive around to the north side close to 10th Street. On your right, you’ll find a ramp with a vehicle pull-up space and an access aisle designed for accessibility. After being dropped off, cross the street to the left and continue to the opposite end of the Spy Museum building to reach the entrance.
Cycling
There are six bicycle stands in front of the Museum, three in front of the Spy Museum Store entrance, and three at the main entrance to the Museum.
There is a
Capital Bike Share stop
one minute’s walk from the Museum on 10th St & L'Enfant Plaza SW.
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