Facility Overview

Parking At National Harbor, located at 149 National Plaza in Oxon Hill, Maryland, provides premier, central vehicular access to one of the mid-Atlantic’s most celebrated waterfront entertainment and commercial corridors. Situated directly along the Potomac River shoreline, this facility sits in immediate proximity to the Mariner and Fleet garage complexes and adjacent open-air waterfront staging lots. The parking infrastructure features modern multi-level covered decks with expansive floor layouts, intuitive interior circulation, and dedicated pedestrian elevators that discharge visitors directly onto the vibrant pedestrian esplanade of National Plaza.

The facility is engineered to accommodate standard passenger cars, crossovers, sedans, minivan fleets, and full-size SUVs with ease. Covered parking structures in this sector maintain a standard vertical clearance ceiling of approximately 7 feet (84 inches), which comfortably accommodates unmodified full-size pickup trucks and SUVs. Drivers operating lifted trucks, oversized camper conversions, high-roof cargo vans, or vehicles with roof-mounted cargo boxes are advised to utilize the open-air surface lots positioned along Waterfront Street, such as the Plateau Lot, where vertical limits do not apply.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Perched directly on National Plaza, this parking facility places drivers within steps of National Harbor’s most prominent landmarks and waterfront attractions:

• The Capital Wheel & Waterfront Plaza: Located less than a 2-minute walk (under 400 feet) from the garage exits, providing direct access to the iconic 180-foot observation wheel, seasonal carousel, and the famous 'The Awakening' cast bronze sculpture embedded in the sand beach.
• Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center: A premier Mid-Atlantic meeting hub featuring 500,000 square feet of convention space, located only a 4-minute walk (0.2 miles) south along Waterfront Street.
• National Harbor Marina & Potomac Water Taxi: Just 2 minutes on foot, connecting boaters and commuters to water taxi services operating direct routes to Old Town Alexandria, Georgetown, and The Wharf in Washington, D.C.
• Waterfront Dining & Entertainment District: Footsteps from dozens of acclaimed dining destinations including Succotash, Rosa Mexicano, Redstone American Grill, Walrus Oyster & Ale House, Fogo de Chão, and Bobby McKey’s Dueling Piano Bar.
• MGM National Harbor & Tanger Outlets: Situated a short 4-to-5-minute drive (1.2 miles) uphill via National Harbor Boulevard or accessible through local circulator shuttles for premier casino gaming, live theater, and brand shopping.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress are straightforward via Waterfront Street, Mariner Passage, and Potomac Passage, connecting smoothly to National Harbor Boulevard and Harborview Avenue. Positioned right off the Capital Beltway (I-495 / I-95) and the southern terminus of I-295 (Anacostia Freeway), the location offers rapid, seamless transit across the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge into Northern Virginia and northward straight into downtown Washington, D.C.

For regional transit users, the facility sits within a short walk of major bus stops serving the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrobus routes NH1 and NH2, providing direct links to the Metrorail Green Line at Southern Avenue and the King Street–Old Town Station in Alexandria. The National Harbor Circulator bus and City Cruises water taxi services further extend local connections across the river and throughout the resort district.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Covered Multi-Level Parking: Shielded parking structures protect vehicles from inclement weather, sun exposure, and seasonal conditions.
• Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging: Designated EV charging stations (Level 2) situated in dedicated amenity bays on lower parking tiers.
• Motorist Convenience Bays: Select adjacent parking amenity bays offer self-service windshield cleaning stations, tire inflation air pumps, and interior vacuums.
• Contactless & Mobile Payments: Full digital ticketing and payment compatibility through ParkMobile (Zones 4388–4392), SpotHero, and ParkWhiz, alongside on-site automated kiosks accepting all major credit and debit cards.
• ADA Accessibility: Broad accessible parking stalls prominently located adjacent to elevator lobbies and ground-level pedestrian ramps.
• 24/7 Security Presence: Continuous surveillance via closed-circuit security cameras, bright energy-efficient LED deck lighting, emergency call stations, and active patrols by Harbor Security and local law enforcement.

Ideal For

• Convention Attendees & Business Travelers: Walking-distance parking for major conferences, trade shows, and banquets hosted at Gaylord National Resort.
• Sightseers & Families: Direct, hassle-free staging for visits to The Capital Wheel, family boat rentals, seasonal festivals, and outdoor movie nights.
• Waterfront Diners & Nightlife Guests: Fast entry and exit for an evening of dining, live music at Bobby McKey's, or evening harbor strolls.
• Potomac River Commuters: Convenient park-and-ride option for passengers taking the Potomac Water Taxi across the river to Alexandria or D.C.

Visitor & Driver Tips

During summer weekends, food and wine festivals, Fourth of July festivities, and holiday lightings, demand surges rapidly; pre-booking a parking reservation online through SpotHero or the National Harbor parking site guarantees entry before garages reach capacity. If visiting during peak evening departure hours following major conventions or firework displays, allow extra time for exiting onto Harborview Avenue toward the I-495 ramps. To ensure the smoothest exit, take your entry ticket with you while touring the harbor and pay at a walk-up pedestrian pay station or through the ParkMobile app before returning to your car, allowing you to bypass the gate payment lanes upon departure.