top of page

Travel Information

Washington, DC, is easily accessed from Washington Dulles International airport (IAD), Baltimore Washington International airport (BWI), or Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), or via train from Washington Union Station.

The Carnegie Institution administration building is located at 1530 P St., NW, Washington, D.C., at the corner of 16th and P Streets. The building is open from 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The entrance is on the P St., side. Except for special events, visitors must contact the Carnegie staff person they are visiting when they arrive, through the security system at the door. The main phone number is 202-387-6400

Space in the administration building is also available for rent. See this link for details

Travel Directions--

Via Metro:
Take the Red Line to the Dupont Circle station. Use the "Dupont Circle North" exit (20th and Q St.). On reaching the surface, head east on Q St. towards 19th. Proceed four blocks east on Q St. until you reach 16th St.. Turn right on 16th St. and head south one block to P St. The building is located on the SouthEast corner of 16th and P St. 

Via Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
The Carnegie Institution of Washington is about 15 minutes by car (barring rush-hour traffic) or a subway ride from Reagan National Airport. Directions for the subway and driving are provided below.

Traveling by subway:
There is a subway stop in the airport. It serves 2 subway lines (Blue and Yellow), either of which can be used to reach the Red Line and our closest stop, Dupont Circle (three blocks walk, see above). From the Airport station, take either the Yellow Line to Gallery Place-Chinatown or the Blue Line to Metro Center. From either station, transfer to the Red Line to Dupont Circle, then follow the directions above.

Traveling by car:
Exit the airport following signs for Downtown Washington, DC. The first road you will be led onto is the GW Parkway traveling north along the Potomac river, and within a few minutes you will come to an exit for the 14th Street Bridge (also referred to as 395 North). Take the 395N exit to cross the river. While crossing the river, remain in the far left lanes, as there is a split just across the river. You'll want to take the left split. Now simply follow 14th Street about 15-20 blocks to P Street Northwest. (You'll need to negotiate one circle along the way, just after L Street. Simply remain in the left lanes as you approach the circle and you'll be guided on a short-cut through the middle of the circle.) Turn left on P Street and proceed 2 blocks to 16th Street. There is a parking lot on P Street between 16th and 17th. Proceed another half-block past a large building, 1616 P St, and turn left after that building into its underground parking lot.

Via Dulles International Airport (IAD)
The Carnegie Institution of Washington is located about 45 minutes drive (barring rush-hour traffic) from Dulles Airport. There is no subway transportation there, cabs tend to be quite expensive. There are shuttle services that take you to downtown Washington for about $15. If you take one of those, and they can't drop you off at our office (1530 P. St., NW), you can either take a cab from their drop off location, or find your way to a subway stop and follow the subway instructions above.

Traveling by car:
Exit the airport heading for Downtown Washington. There is just one exit out of the airport, really, and it will put you on the "Dulles Access Road" which will whisk you into Washington allowing you to avoid the "Dulles Toll Road" which parallels it and has tolls and much more traffic. When the toll road ends (about 15 miles), pass the splits for 495 and remain on the road which will eventually merge into Interstate 66. While this is a limited access road during rush hour (2 occupants or more required per car), all traffic from the airport is authorized to use it. Follow 66 toward Washington, for approximately 10 miles. Once you cross the Potomac River the road becomes Constitution Avenue, at 23rd St. Follow that road to 14th Street, turn left, and pick up the instructions offered for traveling 14th Street from Reagan National Airport (you'll only need to travel about 13 blocks on 14th before turning onto P St.).

Via Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI)
The Carnegie Institution of Washington is located about an hour's drive (barring rush-hour traffic) from BWI Airport. There is no subway transportation there, and a cab would be very expensive. There are shuttle services that take you to downtown Washington for about $15-25. If you take one of those, and they can't drop you off at our office (1530 P St, NW), you can either take a cab from their drop off location, or find your way to a subway stop and follow the subway instructions above.

Traveling by car:
Exit the airport (there's just one exit, route 195) and travel about 2 miles to the exit for 295, the Baltimore/Washington Parkway, heading south to Washington. Follow that about 25 miles until it splits, taking the New York Avenue, Downtown Washington split to the right. Remain on New York Avenue for about 5 miles. After passing an exit for I-395 to the left, there will be another split. Take the right split toward Massachusetts Avenue (labeled as such). In about 5 blocks it merges onto Mass. Ave (at 11th St). Continue on that, proceeding through an underpass and then to a circle. Travel just one-quarter of the way around that circle, turning right onto 16th Street. Our building is located on the Southeast corner of P St and 16th St. NW. A parking garage is located on P St. between 16th and 17th St.s.

bottom of page