Parking at The Anthem DC is trickier than it looks — the venue has no dedicated lot, it sits in one of the busiest entertainment districts in the city, and on sold-out nights the nearby garages fill up fast. Here’s how to handle it without missing the first song.
The Anthem Has No Dedicated Parking
This surprises a lot of first-timers. The Anthem at 901 Wharf Street SW has no attached or reserved parking lot. What it has is access to the three Wharf underground garages nearby — and those fill up on busy nights.
The venue itself recommends Metro. That’s not a disclaimer, it’s genuine advice. For full details on parking at the DC Wharf including rates and overflow options, we have a complete guide — but this post focuses specifically on concert nights at The Anthem.
Parking at The Anthem DC: The Wharf Garages
The three Wharf garages are the most convenient option if you’re driving. All are underground and open 24 hours.
- Garage 1 — 20 Blair Alley SW (closest to The Anthem)
- Garage 2 — 21 Parker Row SW
- Garage 3 — 602 Water St SW
On concert nights, event pricing kicks in at 4pm. A 4-hour visit runs $49. A full evening — dinner plus a show — can hit $62 for 12+ hours.
The garages do not offer reserved or prepaid parking. It’s first-come, first-served. On sold-out nights, they sell out. If a big act is playing, arrive 45 minutes to an hour before you need to be there just to get a spot.
The garages use ParkMobile Zone 326 — download the app before you go so you can pay and exit without stopping at the ticket machine.
Concert Night Parking Rates
| Duration | Weekday Rate | Weekend / Event Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30 minutes | $6 | $6 |
| 30–60 minutes | $11 | $11 |
| 1–2 hours | $23 | $24 |
| 2–3 hours | $29 | $29 |
| 3–4 hours | $33 | $38 |
| 4–12 hours | $39 | $49 |
| 12–24 hours | $62 | $62 |
Event pricing applies at 4pm on any day with a show on The Anthem’s calendar. Rates reset at 4am.
Option 2: Park at L’Enfant Plaza and Walk
This is the insider move for concert nights. L’Enfant Plaza is two blocks north of the Wharf and has two garages with 1,800 combined spaces. It almost never fills up the way the Wharf garages do.
- Ace Parking at L’Enfant Plaza — 420 10th St SW — accepts advance reservations through SpotHero, so you can lock in a spot before you leave the house
- L’Enfant East Parking Garage — 840 D St SW
The walk from L’Enfant Plaza to The Anthem is about 10–12 minutes. The free Southwest Wharf Shuttle also runs between L’Enfant Plaza and the Wharf, so if you don’t want to walk, you don’t have to.
Option 3: Metro
The Anthem is 4 blocks from two different Metro stations:
- Waterfront station (Green Line) — closest, about an 8-minute walk
- L’Enfant Plaza station (Blue, Orange, Silver, Yellow, Green lines) — more lines, same distance
Both stations connect to the free District Wharf Circulator, which drops off right in front of The Anthem. On concert nights the Circulator runs a continuous loop — no schedule to worry about, just show up and board.
If you’re coming from Virginia or Maryland, Metro is usually the fastest and cheapest option once you factor in parking costs and post-show traffic.
Option 4: Rideshare
Uber and Lyft have designated drop-off and pickup zones at The Anthem. On a normal night, rideshare is often cheaper than 4+ hours of garage parking. On sold-out nights when surge pricing kicks in, do the math first — it can cut either way.
Post-show rideshare wait times can be long when multiple venues empty at the same time. Request your ride before you leave the building.
Option 5: Bike
Capital Bikeshare has a station right at the corner of 900 Maine Avenue and 9th Street SW, steps from The Anthem entrance. The venue also has bike parking on-site. If you’re coming from Capitol Hill, Navy Yard, or anywhere along the waterfront trail, biking is one of the better options — no parking cost, no wait.
The Street Parking Reality
There is metered street parking in the blocks around L’Enfant Plaza — some meters go off at 6:30pm, others run until 10pm. Check the signs carefully. The residential streets around The Wharf are permit-only and strictly enforced on event nights. Don’t risk it.
What to Expect After the Show
Post-show traffic around The Wharf is real. If you drove and parked at the Wharf garages, expect a backup getting out. If you’re doing rideshare, request early. If you’re on Metro, the Waterfront station gets crowded fast after shows — L’Enfant Plaza is slightly less chaotic and worth the extra two-minute walk.
Quick Reference
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wharf Garage (concert night, 4 hrs) | $49 | No reservations, fills fast |
| Wharf Garage (full evening 12+ hrs) | $62 | Event pricing after 4pm |
| L’Enfant Plaza — Ace Parking | Varies | Reservations via SpotHero |
| Metro + free Circulator | Metro fare only | Drops off at Anthem entrance |
| Rideshare | Varies | Request pickup before leaving venue |
| Capital Bikeshare | Varies by membership | Station at 900 Maine Ave & 9th St SW |
Bottom Line
If you’re coming from inside DC, Metro is the move. If you’re driving from Virginia or Maryland, park at L’Enfant Plaza and reserve a spot in advance — it’s cheaper than the Wharf garages on event nights and you won’t be circling. If you insist on the Wharf garages, get there early and budget $49 for the night.