Facility Overview
The Clopper Road Park & Ride (Clopper Road P+R) is a convenient, well-established public commuter parking facility situated at 13520 Clopper Road (Maryland Route 117) in Germantown, Montgomery County, Maryland. Configured as a spacious, open-air surface lot, this location offers straightforward ground-level parking with clearly demarcated stalls and generous driving lanes. Because there are no overhead clearance barriers or parking garage ceiling restrictions, the lot is fully accessible for standard passenger sedans, full-size pickup trucks, commercial vans, and high-profile SUVs, making it an exceptionally flexible park-and-ride option along the northwestern I-270 technology corridor.
Prime Location & Nearby Attractions
Located in the heart of upper Montgomery County, the Clopper Road P+R is adjacent to diverse recreational, commercial, and government facilities:
- Seneca Creek State Park: Located immediately adjacent, offering over 6,300 acres of scenic trails, Clopper Lake, disc golf, and picnic areas, accessible within minutes.
- U.S. Department of Energy (Germantown Campus): Situated less than 2 miles away, making this lot a strategic meet-up or staging point for federal personnel and contractors.
- Germantown Town Center & BlackRock Center for the Arts: Approximately 2 miles east, providing dining, retail, live theater performances, and cultural events.
- Maryland SoccerPlex & South Germantown Recreational Park: Located just a 10-minute drive southwest, hosting regional sporting tournaments, splash parks, and miniature golf.
- Kingsview Village Center: Located under 1.5 miles away, offering grocery stores, cafes, and convenient fast-casual dining options.
Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity
Accessing the lot is smooth via the signalized corridor along Clopper Road (MD-117), which provides direct connections to Father Hurley Boulevard, Great Seneca Highway (MD-119), and Interstate 270 (Exit 15). The facility serves as an essential transit link for daily commuters into Bethesda, Rockville, and Washington, D.C. Montgomery County Ride On bus routes serve stops adjacent to and within the facility, providing direct connections to the Shady Grove Metro Station (Red Line) and the Germantown MARC Commuter Rail Station on the Brunswick Line.
Facility Amenities & Key Features
- Ample open-air surface parking spaces with wide driving aisles.
- Designated ADA-compliant accessible spaces located close to pedestrian paths and transit boarding zones.
- Free public commuter parking with no parking meters or daily permit requirements.
- Direct boarding areas for Montgomery County Ride On bus routes.
- Overhead street lighting across the asphalt lot for early-morning and late-evening visibility.
- Unlimited vertical vehicle clearance accommodating tall work trucks and recreational vehicles.
Ideal For
- Daily D.C. and suburban commuters connecting to Ride On buses or carpool/vanpool groups along I-270.
- Visitors and outdoor enthusiasts spending the day hiking, boating, or biking at Seneca Creek State Park.
- Federal contractors and employees traveling to regional government and biotechnology hubs.
- Carpoolers meeting up for weekend trips or youth sporting tournaments at the Maryland SoccerPlex.
Visitor & Driver Tips
Because parking at this lot is free on a first-come, first-served basis, spaces tend to fill up early on typical weekday mornings between 6:30 AM and 8:30 AM. Evening return commuters should exercise caution when merging onto westbound Clopper Road during rush hour, as cross-traffic can be heavy. Drivers planning carpools for weekend sports events or park visits can expect lighter parking demand on Saturdays and Sundays.
