Game Day and Beyond

MLB team guides

Washington Nationals

Venue and travel guide

Venue and location

Address

1500 South Capitol Street SE

Source statement; not independently verified.

City

Washington

Source statement; not independently verified.

Notes

Excellent Metro access — car-free game day highly recommended.

Source statement; not independently verified.

Phone

(202) 675-6287

Source statement; not independently verified.

State

DC

Source statement; not independently verified.

Venue name

Nationals Park

Source statement; not independently verified.

Website

https://www.mlb.com/nationals

Source statement; not independently verified.

Zip code

20003

Source statement; not independently verified.

Parking

Guide url

https://stadiumparkingguides.com/nationals-park-parking/

Source statement; not independently verified.

Overnight

Not allowed

Source statement; not independently verified.

Payment

Credit/Debit, Mobile Pay

Source statement; not independently verified.

Premium

Yes, for season ticket holders

Source statement; not independently verified.

Public transport

Metro Green Line (Navy Yard-Ballpark Station)

Source statement; not independently verified.

Overview

Several surface lots near the stadium. Navy Yard area garages and lots available. Prepay via ParkWhiz or SpotHero. Street parking in Navy Yard neighborhood.

Source statement; not independently verified.

Towing

Strict enforcement, unauthorized vehicles towed

Source statement; not independently verified.

Traffic

I-395 and South Capitol Street during peak hours

Source statement; not independently verified.

Entrances

Overview

Gates open 90 minutes before first pitch. Main entrance at Half Street SW. ADA access at all gates.

Source statement; not independently verified.

Rideshare

Accessibility

ADA-accessible vehicle requests available; accessible pickup near Gate A

Source statement; not independently verified.

Lyft pickup

Same TNC zone as Uber on N Street SE

Source statement; not independently verified.

Peak notes

Surge pricing post-game; Green Line Metro is dramatically faster

Source statement; not independently verified.

Post game tips

Navy Yard–Ballpark Metro station is steps away — far faster than any rideshare option

Source statement; not independently verified.

Overview

Rideshare staging at N Street SE. Post-game staging has designated Uber and Lyft zones on both sides of stadium.

Source statement; not independently verified.

Uber dropoff

Half Street SE main entrance

Source statement; not independently verified.

Uber pickup

N Street SE at Half Street SE — designated TNC zone

Source statement; not independently verified.

Public transportation

Airport connection

DCA (Reagan National): Blue/Yellow Line to Gallery Place, Green Line to Navy Yard (~25 min). IAD (Dulles): Silver Line to Gallery Place, Green Line to Navy Yard (~55 min).

Source statement; not independently verified.

Best option

WMATA Green Line from Gallery Place–Chinatown — 10 min from downtown DC

Source statement; not independently verified.

Bus routes

DC Circulator (Navy Yard route); multiple WMATA bus routes serve Capitol Hill and Navy Yard

Source statement; not independently verified.

Fare

$2.00–$6.00 (SmarTrip); DC Circulator: $1.00

Source statement; not independently verified.

Nearest station

Navy Yard–Ballpark (Green Line) — directly adjacent to the stadium

Source statement; not independently verified.

Rail lines

WMATA Green Line — direct from Gallery Place/Chinatown (downtown DC) in 10 min

Source statement; not independently verified.

Overview

Green and Yellow Lines to Navy Yard–Ballpark Metro station — 3-minute walk to main gate. DC Circulator. Capital Bikeshare nearby.

Source statement; not independently verified.

Tips

The Green Line is flawless for Nationals games. Half Street SE has some of DC's best bars/restaurants for pre/post-game. The Navy Yard neighborhood has transformed dramatically since the park opened in 2008.

Source statement; not independently verified.

Walking distance

2 minutes from Navy Yard–Ballpark station

Source statement; not independently verified.

Shuttles

Accessibility

All WMATA Metro stations fully ADA accessible

Source statement; not independently verified.

Cost

Metro: $2.00–$6.00 depending on time and origin (SmarTrip); DC Circulator: $1.00

Source statement; not independently verified.

Park ride

Branch Ave, Greenbelt, and multiple other Green Line park-and-ride stations

Source statement; not independently verified.

Routes

WMATA Green Line serves the stadium directly; DC Circulator bus from Capitol Hill

Source statement; not independently verified.

Schedule

Green Line every 6–8 min on game days; extended post-game service

Source statement; not independently verified.

Bicycles

Rack locations

Half Street SE (main entrance), N Street SE (east side), 1st Street SE (west side)

Source statement; not independently verified.

Share cost

$2/30 min; day pass $8

Source statement; not independently verified.

Share provider

Capital Bikeshare — multiple stations directly outside the stadium

Source statement; not independently verified.

Spaces

~80 racks around stadium exterior; Capital Bikeshare directly adjacent

Source statement; not independently verified.

Tips

DC has excellent protected bike lanes. The Anacostia Riverwalk Trail runs alongside Nationals Park. Capital Bikeshare is one of the best urban bike share systems in the US.

Source statement; not independently verified.

Accessibility

Accessible parking

ADA spaces in Lot W and South Capitol St Garage; pre-purchase recommended; level access to Gate A

Source statement; not independently verified.

Assistive listening

Assistive listening devices at Guest Services Gate A; FM loop compatible

Source statement; not independently verified.

Contact

Nationals Accessibility: (202) 675-6287; ADA coordinator at Guest Services Gate A

Source statement; not independently verified.

Dropoff

ADA drop-off at Gate A on Half Street SE; second accessible drop-off on N Street SE

Source statement; not independently verified.

Elevators

Elevators at Gates A, B, C, and D serving all seating levels

Source statement; not independently verified.

Fun fact

Nationals Park was the first LEED-certified professional sports stadium in the US (Gold certification, 2008) — a pioneering achievement in sustainable stadium design that set the standard for green sports venues.

Source statement; not independently verified.

Restrooms

Accessible restrooms on every concourse; family restrooms at Gates A and C

Source statement; not independently verified.

Sensory friendly

Sensory-friendly game offered each season; quiet room near Gate C; sensory kits at Guest Services

Source statement; not independently verified.

Service animals

Welcome throughout; relief area outside Gate A on Half Street SE

Source statement; not independently verified.

Wheelchair seating

Accessible seating throughout all levels; companion seating adjacent; excellent sightlines from ADA sections

Source statement; not independently verified.

Food and vendors

Cashless

Cashless — credit/debit/mobile pay; cash-to-card kiosks at main gates

Source statement; not independently verified.

Craft beer

DC Brau (DC's first packaged brewery since Prohibition), Port City Brewing (Alexandria), Flying Dog on tap

Source statement; not independently verified.

Fun fact

Ben's Chili Bowl has been a Washington DC institution since 1958 — located on U Street NW, it survived the 1968 riots, gentrification, and every DC transformation. Presidents and celebrities have eaten there. Having it at Nationals Park is a genuine piece of DC culture.

Source statement; not independently verified.

Local

Ben's Chili Bowl (DC institution since 1958), Shake Shack, local crab cake options, boardwalk fries

Source statement; not independently verified.

Mobile ordering

MLB Ballpark app — mobile ordering available at Nationals Park

Source statement; not independently verified.

Notable stands

Ben's Chili Bowl (DC icon, multiple locations); Shake Shack (right field); DC Brau bar; crab cake stand

Source statement; not independently verified.

Outside food policy

One sealed water bottle (1 liter) and small soft-sided snack bag allowed

Source statement; not independently verified.

Signature food

Half-smoke sausage — a DC original; Ben's Chili Bowl half-smoke is served at Nationals Park (the most famous food in Washington DC)

Source statement; not independently verified.

Vegetarian

Ben's veggie half-smoke, salads, cheese pizza, hummus, veggie options at multiple stands

Source statement; not independently verified.

Venue history

Architect

HOK Sport (now Populous); designed to anchor the Navy Yard neighborhood revitalization

Source statement; not independently verified.

Construction cost

$693 million (2008)

Source statement; not independently verified.

Famous moments

2019 World Series championship — dramatic comeback from 3-2 down vs. Astros; Game 7 is one of the greatest in Series history; Bryce Harper's prime years; Max Scherzer's dominance

Source statement; not independently verified.

Fun fact

Nationals Park opened in 2008 — the same year the Washington Nationals set the record for most losses in a season (102). Eleven years later, the same franchise won the World Series in one of the most improbable championship runs in baseball history. It is the greatest single-franchise turnaround story in modern MLB.

Source statement; not independently verified.

Opened

2008

Source statement; not independently verified.

Original capacity

41,546 (original); current 41,339

Source statement; not independently verified.

Records

2019 Nationals became the first team to win a World Series Game 7 on the road; they were the first wild card team to win the World Series since 2014

Source statement; not independently verified.

Renovations

2015: New HD scoreboard; 2018: Championship additions post–World Series run; ongoing premium upgrades

Source statement; not independently verified.

Retired numbers

#10 Rusty Staub (Expos, honored), #30 Tim Raines (Expos, honored), #42 Jackie Robinson

Source statement; not independently verified.

Venue details

Capacity

41,339

Source statement; not independently verified.

Center field

402 ft

Source statement; not independently verified.

Elevation

25 ft above sea level

Source statement; not independently verified.

Left-center field

377 ft

Source statement; not independently verified.

Left field

336 ft

Source statement; not independently verified.

Right-center field

370 ft

Source statement; not independently verified.

Right field

335 ft

Source statement; not independently verified.

Roof

Open air (no roof)

Source statement; not independently verified.

Surface

Natural Grass (Kentucky Bluegrass)

Source statement; not independently verified.