Facility Overview

The NIH Building 10 Parking Facility is the primary underground and visitor parking hub servicing the world-renowned Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center and the Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) main campus in Bethesda, Maryland. Located beneath and adjacent to Building 10 along Center Drive, this multi-tier underground parking facility provides direct, climate-controlled elevator and concourse access to inpatient units, outpatient clinics, and research administrative wings. The garage features well-demarcated lanes, bright overhead illumination, and clearly labeled parking bays across multiple subterranean levels. Standard passenger sedans, crossovers, minivans, and mid-size SUVs can comfortably navigate the facility; however, drivers of full-size pickup trucks, commercial transit vans, and high-roof conversion vehicles should note the standard 6-foot-6-inch (1.98 m) clearance bar. Taller accessible vans and oversized vehicles are directed to designated surface parking areas adjacent to the Clinical Center or the campus Gateway Center.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Situated in the heart of Montgomery County\'s premier biomedical corridor, this facility places patients, clinical fellows, visiting scientists, and guests steps from key institutions:

• NIH Clinical Center (Building 10): Direct elevator access to clinical care, admissions, and ambulatory care services.
• National Library of Medicine (NLM): Located less than a 5-minute walk (0.3 miles) to the east on the NIH Bethesda campus.
• The Children\'s Inn at NIH: Accessible within a 5-minute walk (0.2 miles) via campus pathways.
• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center: Directly opposite Rockville Pike, accessible in approximately 10 to 12 minutes on foot via the pedestrian underpass or a short 3-minute drive.
• Downtown Bethesda: Located 1.5 miles south, featuring hundreds of dining destinations, boutique retail, and entertainment options such as Bethesda Row.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Because Building 10 is located inside a secured federal research installation, non-credentialed visitors driving private vehicles must first enter through the NIH Gateway Center Security Pavilion located at Rockville Pike (MD-355) and South Drive. Following vehicle inspection and visitor credentialing, drivers proceed west along South Drive and turn onto Center Drive directly to Building 10. Departing the facility offers efficient egress back toward Rockville Pike, Old Georgetown Road (MD-187), and Wisconsin Avenue, providing rapid links to the Capital Beltway (I-495) and I-270. For public transit users, the Medical Center Metro Station (WMATA Red Line) is located at the campus perimeter along South Drive, complemented by campus shuttle circulators connecting directly to the Building 10 main entrance every 15 to 20 minutes.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Direct indoor elevator access into the Building 10 Clinical Center concourse and lobby.
• Complimentary valet parking options for registered clinical research patients and authorized companions.
• Designated accessible (ADA) parking bays located adjacent to all primary elevator vestibules.
• Campus security patrols, high-definition CCTV coverage, emergency call boxes, and 24/7 Federal Police presence.
• Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations available on select levels for credentialed and authorized vehicles.
• Automated multi-lane pay stations accepting major credit cards and debit cards.
• Continuous wayfinding signage and digital space counters at key entry portals.

Ideal For

• Clinical trial participants, outpatients, and medical research visitors visiting Building 10.
• Families and caregivers visiting inpatient units at the NIH Clinical Center.
• Visiting research fellows, academic lecturers, and healthcare professionals attending conferences in the Masur or Lipsett Auditoriums.
• Contractors and federal personnel assigned to central campus clinical wings.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Allow at least 20 to 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment for federal vehicle screening and security credential checks at the Rockville Pike Gateway Pavilion. Patients with clinical appointments should present their appointment letters or parking slips at clinic reception desks to receive parking validation, eliminating standard visitor parking fees. If traveling in an oversized vehicle or accessible van exceeding 6 feet 6 inches in height, alert security officers upon arrival at the Gateway Center so they can route you to ground-level oversized vehicle spaces.