Choose the Right Garage Before You Reach the Hospital Campus
This guide helps patients, visitors and caregivers choose the correct MedStar Washington Hospital Center parking garage before an appointment, ER visit, procedure, discharge pickup or long inpatient stay.
The campus has multiple entrances, department-specific parking guidance and busy garage periods. Confirm the destination, entrance, parking ticket, elevator and payment option before leaving home.
Fast Answer: Where Should You Park at Washington Hospital?
Main Hospital, Admissions, Radiology, Medical Records, Labor & Delivery, inpatient visits and many procedure visits: start with the Hospital Parking Garage.
Physician Office Building appointments: use the Physician Office Garage when your appointment letter, department name or room number points to POB North or POB South.
MRI or Neurosciences appointments: follow the special access instructions from the scheduling team because that center has a separate parking option.
Mobility concern or quick weekday drop-off: consider valet at the main entrance during posted weekday hours, or ask the department for the closest staffed entrance.
Official Source Audit: What This Guide Uses
This page converts MedStar’s official parking page and PDFs into practical visitor decisions. Use the official links when you need live confirmation before driving.
Official parking page
Confirms garage hours, standard rates, valet hours, valet rates, discount coupons, keycard details, courtesy discharge parking and the warning to arrive early.
Department parking directory PDF
Maps hospital destinations to floors, elevators and recommended parking garages, including Hospital, Physician and MRI parking guidance.
Campus map PDF
Shows the parking-highlighted campus layout, Emergency, Washington Cancer Institute, POB North/South, East Building and MRI/Neuroscience Center.
Written directions PDF
Gives route-specific directions from downtown DC, Northern Virginia, Montgomery County, Baltimore, Annapolis and College Park/Hyattsville areas.
Why this matters: generic parking sites usually show a map pin only. For a hospital visit, you need the right department, building, elevator, entrance, validation rule and return plan.
Washington Hospital Parking Prices 2026
These standard garage rates are listed on the official MedStar Washington Hospital Center parking page. Recheck the official page before visiting because rates and policies can change.
| Parking time | Garage rate | Best use | Micro-level tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–3 hours | $5.00 | Short clinic visit, lab, imaging or paperwork. | Still arrive early because campus garages can be busy. |
| 3–4 hours | $6.00 | Longer clinic visit or testing. | Keep your parking ticket with you if using pay stations. |
| 4–5 hours | $7.00 | Procedure check-in, delayed appointment or imaging. | Ask about validation before paying. |
| 5–6 hours | $8.00 | Extended outpatient visit. | If the visit may run all day, check discount options. |
| 6–8 hours | $10.00 | Surgery waiting, inpatient visit or long testing day. | Photograph the garage level before entering the hospital. |
| 8–24 hours | $15.00 | All-day visit, overnight family support or uncertain return time. | Long-term visitors should ask about coupon books or keycards. |
| Lost ticket | $15.00 daily charge | N/A | Take a photo of the ticket immediately after parking. |
Validation warning: parking is validated only for certain outpatient procedures, preoperative testing and discharge-day parking. Ask the clinic or nursing station before paying.
Opening Hours: Hospital Garage, Physician Office Garage and Valet
Hospital Parking Garage
Open 24 hours a day, every day. This is the safest choice for early-morning, late-night, inpatient, ER-adjacent and uncertain-length visits.
Physician Office Garage
Open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., except holidays. Visitors can exit at any time using automated pay stations.
Valet Parking
Available at the main entrance Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is not available on weekends or holidays.
Late-visit tip: if your clinic visit may run after POB garage entry hours, ask whether the Hospital Parking Garage is the safer option.
Best Parking Options at MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Hospital Parking Garage
- Best for
- Main Hospital, Admissions, Admissions Testing Center, Radiology, Medical Records, inpatient visits, many procedure visits and long visits.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours a day, every day.
- Daily max
- $15 for 8–24 hours or lost ticket.
- Parking office
- Ground floor of the Hospital Parking Garage.
- Good choice when
- You are not sure how long the appointment, discharge or procedure wait will take.
Physician Office Garage
- Best for
- Physician Office Building North/South appointments, POB Pharmacy, POB Radiology & Lab, Orthopaedic Clinic and certain specialist visits.
- Hours
- Monday–Friday, 6 a.m.–6 p.m., except holidays.
- Exit
- Visitors can exit at any time using automated pay stations.
- Check first
- Use this garage when the department directory, room number or appointment letter points to POB.
MRI / Neurosciences Parking Area
- Best for
- MRI Center and Neuroscience Center visits when appointment instructions identify this parking area.
- Official note
- The hospital says patients are instructed how to access the separate MRI/Neuroscience parking area when appointments are made.
- Before arrival
- Call the clinic or check the appointment message if you do not see special access instructions.
Department Parking From the Official Directory PDF
Use this table when your appointment letter gives a department but not enough parking detail. The official directory remains the final check.
| Destination | Garage guidance | Floor / elevator clue | Visitor tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | Hospital Garage | Floor 1 / N elevator | Allow time for registration and paperwork. |
| Admissions Testing Center | Hospital Garage | Floor 1 / B elevator | Preoperative testing may last longer than a normal appointment. |
| Radiology | Hospital Garage | Basement / A or B elevator | Bring imaging order, ID and insurance details. |
| Medical Records | Hospital Garage | Floor 2 / B elevator | Confirm required ID and request method before visiting. |
| Labor & Delivery | Hospital Garage | Floor 5 / N elevator | Confirm maternity entrance instructions before arrival. |
| MedSTAR Trauma Waiting Room | Hospital Garage | Floor 1 / EF elevator | For emergencies, call 911 rather than delaying care for parking. |
| POB Pharmacy | Physician Office Garage | Floor 1 / POB North | Check pickup readiness before driving. |
| POB Radiology & Lab | Physician Office Garage | Floor 1 / POB North | Confirm lab order and registration instructions. |
| MRI Center | MRI parking | Ground / AB elevator | Follow special MRI access instructions from scheduling. |
| Neuroscience Center | MRI parking | Ground / A or B elevator | Check appointment message before choosing a garage. |
| Washington Cancer Institute | Cancer/Hospital guidance | Cancer Institute on campus map | Use oncology appointment instructions for entrance and parking. |
| Orthopaedic Clinic | Physician Office Garage | Ground / POB North | Ask for mobility assistance if walking after appointment may be hard. |
Campus Map PDF Details: Parking, Emergency, POB and MRI Areas
The official campus map is useful because the campus contains the Main Hospital, Emergency, Washington Cancer Institute, Physician Office Buildings, East Building and MRI/Neuroscience Center.
Parking symbol
The map highlights parking locations so visitors can match the garage to the campus side they need.
Emergency area
The map labels Emergency separately. For urgent care, follow emergency signs and do not block ambulance or emergency lanes.
POB North and South
The map separates Physician Office Building South and Physician Office Building North, which matters for clinic navigation.
Cancer Institute
Washington Cancer Institute appears as a separate campus destination. Use oncology appointment instructions for the best entrance.
East Building
Some departments and patient units point to the East Building, so do not assume every appointment uses the main entrance.
MRI / Neuroscience Center
The map identifies MRI/Neuroscience Center separately, matching the separate parking guidance from the hospital page.
Driving Route Details From the Official Directions PDF
The hospital’s written directions PDF repeatedly ends with the same practical instruction: once on campus, follow signs to parking. Use these route clues to reduce wrong turns before you reach the hospital loop.
| Coming from | Key approach clue | Parking action |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Washington | Go north on 16th Street NW, then turn right at Irving Street NW. | Follow Irving as it curves around the campus, then follow signs to parking. |
| Northern Virginia bridges | Routes use Constitution Avenue and North Capitol Street toward the hospital exit. | After entering the campus, follow signs to the appropriate garage. |
| Montgomery County | Wisconsin or Connecticut routes connect through Military/Missouri and North Capitol. | Stay alert for the Irving Street West exit and campus parking signs. |
| Baltimore / I-95 | Take I-495 west toward Silver Spring, then New Hampshire Avenue south. | Turn into campus and follow signs to parking. |
| Annapolis / PG County | US-50 becomes New York Avenue, then South Dakota Avenue and Michigan Avenue routing. | Turn onto First Street NW and follow campus parking signs. |
| Greenbelt / College Park / Hyattsville | Queens Chapel Road becomes Michigan Avenue toward Irving Street NW. | After turning onto campus, follow signs to parking. |
Navigation tip: enter the exact hospital address and then follow on-campus signs. A map app may not know which garage your department requires.
Entrances, Elevators and Room-Number Clues
Main Hospital Entrance
Use for general wayfinding, many inpatient visits, information desk support and Main Hospital room destinations.
Bus Circle Entrance
Useful for visitors arriving by shuttle, Metrobus or campus drop-off when directions point to the bus circle.
Emergency Entrance
Use for emergency care. For severe symptoms or life-threatening situations, call 911.
Washington Cancer Institute
Follow oncology appointment instructions because Cancer Institute entrances can differ from general hospital entrances.
POB North / POB South
Three-number rooms usually point to POB South, while four-number rooms usually point to POB North.
Main Hospital Letter Clues
Room formats with letter-number patterns, such as 1A50, often help identify the elevator zone inside the Main Hospital.
Before walking away from the car: photograph your parking level, row, stair/elevator bank and the door you used to enter the hospital.
Valet Parking at Washington Hospital
Valet can be useful for patients with mobility concerns, bad weather, short weekday visits or main-entrance drop-offs.
| Valet time | Rate | Best for | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–2 hours | $8.00 | Short mobility-sensitive visit. | Main entrance valet only during posted hours. |
| 2–5 hours | $10.00 | Clinic visit where walking distance matters. | Compare with garage if staying longer. |
| 5–7 hours | $15.00 | Longer visit with drop-off convenience. | Ask about validation only if your visit qualifies. |
| 7–24 hours | $20.00 | Full-day valet need. | Garage may be cheaper for some visitors. |
| Lost valet ticket | $20.00 daily max | N/A | Photograph the valet ticket before entering. |
Valet limitation: valet is not available on weekends or holidays. If your visit is outside valet hours, use the correct garage or staffed entrance plan.
Discount Parking for Long-Term Patients and Frequent Visitors
Validation ticket book
The hospital lists books of 10 validation tickets for $50. Each sticker is equivalent to $5 and can allow up to 24 hours in the garage for that entry.
10-day keycard
The hospital lists a 10-day keycard for $60 over 10 consecutive days, designed for visitors who need in-and-out garage access.
Where to buy: visit the Parking Office on the ground floor of the Hospital Parking Garage. The hospital lists office hours as Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
Payment note: the parking office accepts credit and debit cards. Ask before purchasing if your patient or visitor status qualifies for a discount.
Disabled Parking, Accessibility and Mobility Planning
Accessible route planning
Choose parking by the accessible entrance and elevator route, not only by the closest map marker.
Valet mobility help
Valet can reduce walking distance during weekday main-entrance hours when it is available.
Wheelchair-accessible shuttle
MedStar lists free wheelchair-accessible shuttle service from Brookland/CUA and Columbia Heights Metro stations on weekdays.
Support person planning
A support person should drop off the patient first when walking distance or fatigue is a concern.
Department phone first
Call the department before arrival if the patient needs step-free routing, escort support or wheelchair assistance.
Late return
Confirm the safest after-hours entrance if the visit may extend into evening or overnight hours.
Accessibility tip: the best accessible choice may be valet, shuttle, Hospital Parking Garage or a staffed drop-off depending on the patient’s destination and mobility.
Emergency Parking and Drop-Off Guidance
Medical emergency
For severe symptoms, call 911. Do not delay emergency care while comparing garage rates or looking for cheaper parking.
Emergency Room arrival
Follow campus signs for Emergency. If dropping someone off, move the vehicle only when it is safe and permitted.
Do not block emergency lanes: ambulance zones, hospital doors, patient-transfer areas and emergency access roads must stay clear.
Nearby Alternatives When Hospital Garages Are Busy
For hospital visits, nearby alternatives should be used carefully. Appointment timing, patient mobility, validation rules and safe walking routes matter more than saving a few dollars.
| Alternative | When it helps | Important warning |
|---|---|---|
| Ask the department first | MRI, Neurosciences, Cancer Institute and POB visits may have specific instructions. | Do not park in staff-only, ambulance, patient-transfer or restricted medical spaces. |
| Use valet | Mobility concern, bad weather, short weekday appointment or main-entrance drop-off. | Not available weekends or holidays. |
| Use MedStar shuttle | Visitors coming from Brookland/CUA or Columbia Heights Metro stations on weekdays. | Check shuttle timing before relying on it. |
| Nearby public garages | Only if hospital parking is unavailable and you confirm a safe walking route. | Private garages may have different rates, hours and no hospital validation. |
| Street parking | Rarely ideal for uncertain hospital visits. | DC signs, permit zones, meters, rush-hour rules and towing zones are strictly enforced. |
Patient-first rule: if the visit involves surgery, discharge, mobility limits, imaging, heavy equipment or uncertain wait time, use official hospital parking first.
Public Transportation and Hospital Shuttle Options
Metrobus
MedStar lists WMATA Metrobus routes H2, H4 and D6 as serving the campus.
Free Metro shuttle
MedStar lists free wheelchair-accessible shuttles from Brookland/CUA and Columbia Heights Metro stations on weekdays.
Shuttle support
MedStar lists LT Transportation at 202-304-8789 and MyTrip@Medstar.net for shuttle-service questions.
Transit planning tip: check WMATA and shuttle timing before leaving. Road, weather and hospital-campus conditions can affect arrival time.
Parking Problems: Full Garage, Lost Ticket, Validation or Wrong Entrance
| Problem | What to do | What to keep ready |
|---|---|---|
| Garage delay | Stay in the official garage queue and use the 30-minute arrival buffer. | Appointment time, department and phone number. |
| Unsure which garage | Check the directory PDF or call the clinic before entering a garage. | Room number and department name. |
| Lost parking ticket | Use the pay station or parking office help process. | Entry time, vehicle plate and parking level. |
| Validation question | Ask the outpatient procedure, preoperative testing or discharge nursing station before paying. | Parking ticket and paperwork. |
| Wrong entrance | Return to a staffed entrance or ask patient/guest services for wayfinding help. | Building, department and room number. |
| Need long-term discount | Visit the Parking Office on the garage ground floor during office hours. | Payment card and patient/visitor details. |
Washington Hospital Parking Phone Numbers and Useful Contacts
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Parking Office
Patient Information
Security / Lost and Found
Physician Appointments
Before You Drive: 60-Second Parking Checklist
Appointment and garage
- Confirm department name and room number.
- Check whether your destination is Main Hospital, POB, Cancer Institute, ER, MRI or Neuroscience.
- Save the correct garage or special parking instruction.
- Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early.
- Keep appointment letter, ID and insurance card ready.
- Ask about validation before paying.
Parking and return
- Photograph the parking level, row and elevator bank.
- Keep the parking ticket with you.
- Save the Parking Office phone number.
- Check valet hours if using valet.
- Ask discharge staff about courtesy parking validation.
- Use staffed entrances if returning late or unsure.
Washington Hospital Parking Google Map
Use this map for broad navigation to MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Once near campus, follow hospital signs for the correct garage, entrance or department.
Map warning: searching only “Washington Hospital” can show hospitals in other states. Use “MedStar Washington Hospital Center, 110 Irving Street NW, Washington, DC 20010.”
Official Washington Hospital Parking Links
Use these links only after choosing the task you need: parking rates, department garage, campus map, route directions, contacts or transit planning.
Washington Hospital Parking FAQs
Where should I park at MedStar Washington Hospital Center?
Use the Hospital Parking Garage for most main hospital visits and the Physician Office Garage for POB appointments when your department or room number points there. MRI and Neurosciences appointments may have separate parking instructions.
How much does Washington Hospital parking cost?
Official garage rates range from $5 for 0–3 hours to $15 for 8–24 hours. A lost ticket is charged as the $15 daily rate.
Is the Hospital Parking Garage open 24 hours?
Yes. The Hospital Parking Garage is listed as open 24 hours a day, every day.
What are the Physician Office Garage hours?
The Physician Office Garage is listed as open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., except holidays. Visitors can exit at any time using automated pay stations.
Is valet parking available at Washington Hospital?
Yes. Valet parking is available at the main entrance Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is not available on weekends or holidays.
Does Washington Hospital validate parking?
The hospital validates parking for certain outpatient procedures, preoperative testing and discharge-day parking. Ask your department or nursing station before paying.
Are there discount parking options for long-term visitors?
Yes. The hospital lists validation-ticket books and a 10-day keycard for long-term patients and frequent visitors. These are purchased at the Parking Office on the ground floor of the Hospital Parking Garage.
Where do I park for MRI or Neurosciences?
The hospital says the MRI and Neuroscience Center has a separate parking area, and patients receive access instructions when appointments are made.
Is there disabled parking or accessible access?
Accessible planning depends on the entrance and department. Use official campus guidance, valet when available, and call the department if the patient needs step-free access, wheelchair help or the closest drop-off point.
What phone number should I call for parking help?
Call the Parking Office at 202-877-7275. For general hospital help, call 202-877-7000.
Independent Parking Information
Parking Guide Hub is not MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar Health, WMATA, a parking operator or a hospital department.
Parking prices, hours, validation rules, valet availability, shuttle schedules, entrances, maps and department routing can change. Verify time-sensitive details through the official hospital links before driving or paying.
Visit the Parking Guide Hub homepage for more practical parking guides.