Parking Near the Pentagon: Where Visitors Actually Park (2026)

By UnscriptedDC · Arlington, VA · Visitor Parking Guide

There’s no public parking at the Pentagon itself. Its lots are for authorized personnel only. To visit the Pentagon Memorial or take a tour, park at the Pentagon City mall garage and walk under I-395 through the pedestrian tunnel, which takes less than five minutes. On evenings and weekends, the Hayes Street lot opens to memorial visitors.

What You Can Visit at the Pentagon

The Pentagon Memorial honors the 184 people killed in the September 11 attack. It’s outdoors, open 24 hours a day, and needs no reservation, so it’s what most visitors come to see.

Pentagon tours of the building’s interior require an advance reservation and government-issued photo ID. Book well ahead. Our guide to visiting the Pentagon walks through the reservation process.

Parking for the Pentagon Memorial

Pentagon City Mall Garage (Best All-Week Option)

The garage at Fashion Centre at Pentagon City is the Memorial’s own recommended option. It’s paid, covered, and open every day. Exit onto Army Navy Drive near Macy’s, cross at the light, walk through the small lot to the pedestrian tunnel under I-395, and follow the signs to the Memorial Gateway. The walk takes less than five minutes.

Hayes Street Lot (Evenings, Weekends, and Holidays)

The Hayes Street lot, directly across the street from the mall, opens to Memorial visitors on weekdays from 5pm to 7am and all day on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Overnight parking is prohibited. The pedestrian tunnel to the Pentagon starts right at the lot.

Accessible Parking

Five accessible spaces are in Lane 1 of the Pentagon South Parking lot, next to the Memorial, and they’re available 24/7. You’ll need to display a valid disabled parking permit from the state where your car is registered.

Street Parking and Other Garages

Metered street parking is available in Pentagon City and Crystal City, and there are other paid garages in both neighborhoods. Crystal City sits just east of Pentagon City along Richmond Highway (Route 1), so it’s a longer walk. Pentagon Row’s underground garage is another nearby option.

Taking Metro to the Pentagon

Pentagon station on the Blue and Yellow lines sits right at the Pentagon, and the Memorial recommends Metro as the main way to visit. Follow the signs from the station to the Memorial.

• From downtown DC: take the Blue or Yellow Line across the river. It’s a quick ride.
• From Reagan National Airport: three stops north on the Blue or Yellow Line, through Crystal City and Pentagon City.
• From Arlington National Cemetery: one stop on the Blue Line.

Drop-Off and Rideshare

Drivers can drop off and pick up passengers at the North Rotary Road kiss-and-drop points, but they can’t park or wait there. For a rideshare, use the same spot, or have your driver drop you at the Pentagon City mall and walk through the tunnel.

Driving to the Pentagon

The Pentagon sits at I-395 and Washington Boulevard (Route 27) in Arlington. From DC, take I-395 South across the 14th Street Bridge. Set your GPS to Fashion Centre at Pentagon City or the Hayes Street lot, not “Pentagon,” so you don’t end up at a credentialed entrance.

Accessibility at the Pentagon Memorial

The Memorial is fully accessible, with flat, paved paths and no steps. Its 184 illuminated benches are arranged by the victims’ ages. Accessible parking is in South Parking Lane 1, next to the Memorial. For mobility-limited visitors combining it with other sites, see our guide to DC monuments and memorials for mobility-limited visitors.

Combine the Pentagon With Nearby Sites

• Arlington National Cemetery: one Metro stop away on the Blue Line. See our Arlington National Cemetery trolley guide.
• Reagan National Airport: a short Metro ride south, so a Memorial stop fits easily around a flight.
• Old Town Alexandria: south on the Yellow or Blue Line, and worth an afternoon.
• The National Mall: a quick Metro ride back into DC, for a Pentagon morning and a Mall afternoon.

Staying Near the Pentagon

Pentagon City and Crystal City hotels put you walking distance from the Memorial, a short ride from Reagan National, and on the Blue and Yellow lines into DC.

There’s no public parking at the Pentagon. Park at the mall, walk through the tunnel, and you’re at the Memorial in five minutes.

Pentagon Parking FAQ

Is there public parking at the Pentagon?
No. Parking on the Pentagon Reservation is for authorized personnel only. Visitors park at the Pentagon City mall garage and walk through the pedestrian tunnel, which takes under five minutes.

Where do you park for the Pentagon Memorial?
At the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City mall garage any day. The Hayes Street lot is also open to Memorial visitors on weekdays from 5pm to 7am and all day on weekends and holidays, with no overnight parking.

Is there accessible parking at the Pentagon Memorial?
Yes. Five accessible spaces are in Lane 1 of the Pentagon South Parking lot, next to the Memorial, available 24/7 with a valid disabled parking permit.

What Metro stop is closest to the Pentagon?
Pentagon station on the Blue and Yellow lines, right at the building.

Is the Pentagon Memorial open at night?
Yes. It’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the benches are illuminated after dark.

Also on UnscriptedDC

• How to Visit the Pentagon
• Marine Corps Marathon Road Closures & Parking 2026
• Arlington National Cemetery Trolley Guide
• DC Monuments & Memorials for Mobility-Limited Visitors
• Accessible DC Travel Guide
• DC Rush Hour Parking

UnscriptedDC is an independent Washington DC area travel guide. Pentagon access rules, security procedures, and parking availability change, so check the official Pentagon Memorial site before you visit. This post contains affiliate links. If you book or buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.