Parking Near the Pentagon: What Visitors Need to Know (2026)

Parking near the Pentagon is one of DC’s most misunderstood visitor logistics challenges. Most people assume a facility that size has ample public parking. It doesn’t — not for visitors. The Pentagon has thousands of parking spaces, but they’re reserved for Department of Defense employees and credentialed personnel. Public visitor parking is extremely limited, strictly controlled, and requires knowing exactly where to go before you arrive.

Here’s what actually works for visitors to the Pentagon Memorial and the Pentagon itself.

Understanding Pentagon Visitor Access

The Pentagon sits in Arlington, Virginia — just across the Potomac from DC, about 3 miles from the National Mall. It’s the largest office building in the world by floor area and one of the most security-conscious facilities in the country. Public access is strictly controlled:

Pentagon Memorial — the outdoor memorial honoring the 184 victims of the September 11 attack is open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with no reservation required. This is what most visitors come to see.

Pentagon Tours — interior tours of the Pentagon building are available to the public but require advance reservation through your congressional representative’s office. Tours must be booked weeks to months in advance and require government-issued photo ID. Read our full guide to visiting the Pentagon for the complete tour reservation process.

Parking for the Pentagon Memorial

Pentagon Memorial Visitor Parking

A small public parking area serves the Pentagon Memorial directly — located off Washington Boulevard (Route 27) on the north side of the Pentagon complex. This lot is free and open to memorial visitors. It’s small and fills quickly on weekends and especially around September 11 each year. Arrive early on busy days.

The memorial parking area is accessible directly from Washington Boulevard — follow signs for the Pentagon Memorial. Do not attempt to enter other Pentagon parking areas — they require DOD credentials and you will be turned away at the security checkpoint.

Pentagon City Area Garages

Pentagon City — the commercial and residential neighborhood immediately south of the Pentagon — has several public parking garages serving the Pentagon City Mall, hotels, and residential buildings. These are about a 10–15 minute walk from the Pentagon Memorial and a reasonable alternative when the memorial lot is full.

The Pentagon City Mall garage at 1100 South Hayes Street is the largest and most accessible option — covered, consistent availability, and a straightforward walk north along Army Navy Drive to the memorial.

Crystal City Garages

Crystal City, just north of Pentagon City along Jefferson Davis Highway, has additional public garage options. About a 15–20 minute walk to the Pentagon Memorial or a quick rideshare. Crystal City has undergone significant redevelopment as Amazon HQ2 construction continues — parking availability and rates have shifted in recent years.

Taking the Metro to the Pentagon

Pentagon station (Blue/Yellow Line) is directly adjacent to the Pentagon complex — one of the most convenient Metro-to-destination connections in the entire system. From the Pentagon Metro station to the Pentagon Memorial is about a 5-minute walk following the signs.

From DC:

• From Metro Center: About 12 minutes on the Blue or Yellow Line
• From Reagan National Airport: One stop north on the Blue/Yellow Line — about 4 minutes
• From King Street/Old Town Alexandria: About 10 minutes north on the Blue/Yellow Line

For most visitors coming from DC or the Virginia suburbs, the Metro is the right call. The Pentagon station drops you almost at the memorial entrance and eliminates the parking uncertainty entirely.

Driving to the Pentagon: What to Know

The Pentagon sits at the intersection of I-395 and Washington Boulevard in Arlington. From DC, the most direct route is I-395 South across the 14th Street Bridge — take the Pentagon exit and follow signs for the Pentagon Memorial visitor parking.

Rush hour warning: The I-395 corridor between DC and the Pentagon is one of the most consistently congested stretches of highway in the metro area during morning and evening rush hours. If you’re visiting the Pentagon Memorial during a weekday, aim to arrive before 9am or after 3pm to avoid the worst of the DOD employee commute traffic.

GPS note: Enter “Pentagon Memorial” specifically into your GPS rather than “Pentagon” — the navigation will route you to the correct visitor entrance rather than attempting to access a credentialed employee entrance.

Accessibility at the Pentagon Memorial

The Pentagon Memorial is fully accessible — flat, paved paths throughout, with 184 illuminated benches arranged by victim age, each oriented toward either the sky or the Pentagon building depending on where the victim was when the attack occurred. No steps, no uneven terrain. The memorial lot has accessible parking spaces adjacent to the accessible memorial entrance.

For visitors with mobility limitations combining the Pentagon Memorial with other DC sites, read our guide to DC monuments and memorials for mobility-limited visitors — including bus tour options that include the Pentagon area.

Combining the Pentagon with Other Sites

The Pentagon’s location in Arlington makes it a natural pairing with:

• Arlington National Cemetery — about 1 mile north of the Pentagon, accessible via the Cemetery Metro station one stop north on the Blue Line
• Reagan National Airport — one Metro stop south, making a Pentagon memorial visit easy to combine with airport arrival or departure
• Old Town Alexandria — about 3 miles south on the Yellow Line, a beautiful historic neighborhood worth an afternoon
• The National Mall — 12 minutes by Metro, making a Pentagon morning + Mall afternoon a natural full-day itinerary

For the Arlington National Cemetery visit, read our guide to the Arlington National Cemetery trolley — the best way to navigate the cemetery, especially for visitors with mobility limitations.

Quick Reference: Pentagon Parking

• Pentagon Memorial lot: Free, small, fills fast — off Washington Blvd (Route 27)
• Best alternative garage: Pentagon City Mall, 1100 South Hayes St — 10-15 min walk
• Best Metro: Pentagon station (Blue/Yellow Line) — 5-min walk to memorial
• From DC by Metro: ~12 minutes from Metro Center
• From Reagan National: One stop north on Blue/Yellow — ~4 minutes
• GPS tip: Enter “Pentagon Memorial” not “Pentagon”
• Rush hour: Avoid I-395 weekdays 7-9am and 4-7pm
• September 11 anniversary: Take Metro — memorial lot fills completely
• Accessibility: Fully accessible, flat paved paths throughout
• Pre-book: SpotHero for Pentagon City area garages