Facility Overview

Southwest Garage is the primary official visitor and daily parking facility serving Georgetown University's historic Hilltop Campus in Northwest Washington, DC. Seamlessly integrated beneath the Southwest Quadrangle—a complex comprising Kennedy Hall, McCarthy Hall, and Reynolds Hall adjacent to Cooper Field—this modern, subterranean multi-level parking garage offers clean, covered, and weatherproof parking. Its centralized layout allows visitors to park securely underground and immediately access campus grounds via passenger elevators that surface directly into Kennedy Hall and the main campus walkways.

The facility is designed to accommodate standard passenger cars, minivans, crossovers, and full-size standard sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and light pickup trucks. Because the garage is a subterranean, covered structure, it features fixed overhead clearances of approximately 6 feet 8 inches. High-profile commercial vans, lifted trucks, vehicles with tall rooftop gear or cargo carriers, and motorcoaches cannot be accommodated underground; oversized charter buses and tour groups must coordinate dedicated campus surface parking arrangements in advance with university administration.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Situated in the historic Georgetown district, Southwest Garage serves as the ultimate gateway to Georgetown University campus activities, collegiate athletics, and the bustling surrounding neighborhood:

• Georgetown University Campus Landmarks: Directly on campus, steps away from Cooper Field (home of Hoyas football and lacrosse), McDonough Arena, the Rafik B. Hariri Building (McDonough School of Business), the Intercultural Center (ICC), Yates Field House, Healy Hall, and Riggs Library.
• Davis Performing Arts Center: Located within a short 5-minute walk on campus, hosting student productions, recitals, and visiting performing artists.
• Georgetown Historic District & M Street: A scenic 10- to 15-minute walk brings visitors to M Street NW and Wisconsin Avenue NW, internationally famed for designer boutiques, historic rowhouses, specialty bakeries (including Georgetown Cupcake), and renowned dining.
• Potomac River Waterfront & C&O Canal: Approximately a 12-minute walk south leads to the Georgetown Waterfront Park, the Capital Crescent Trail trailhead, and the historic Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath, ideal for scenic walks and waterside dining along K Street NW.
• Historic & Cultural Sites: Just minutes on foot from Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the famous "Exorcist Steps" at 36th and Prospect Street NW, and Francis Scott Key Memorial Park.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Vehicular ingress and egress are situated on Canal Road NW. When navigating via GPS, drivers must use the physical entrance address: 3611 Canal Road NW, Washington, DC 20057. Direct access from Canal Road enables motorists to bypass the narrower, congested historic residential side streets of upper Georgetown. Once turning into the campus entrance road from Canal Road, drivers take their second immediate right to enter the automated gate queue.

The garage offers excellent regional highway connectivity via Canal Road, which links directly to the Whitehurst Freeway (US-29), Clara Barton Parkway, Chain Bridge, and the Key Bridge. Through Key Bridge, drivers have immediate links into Rosslyn, Arlington, Interstate 66, Route 50, and the George Washington Memorial Parkway. For public transit users, the university operates the Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle (GUTS) from the nearby campus bus turnaround, offering frequent express shuttles to the Rosslyn Metro Station (Blue, Orange, and Silver lines) and the Dupont Circle Metro Station (Red line). Metrobus lines G2, D6, and Wisconsin Avenue bus lines (31, 33) also connect within a brief stroll of the campus gates.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Fully Automated Access: Modern automated ticket dispensers at the entry barrier gate and quick-exit scanners.
• Flexible Payment Options: Digital pay-on-foot kiosk located in the Kennedy Hall ground lobby accepting credit cards and cash, along with automated credit card tap-and-pay terminals at all exit barrier lanes.
• Weather-Protected Covered Parking: Multi-level underground decks protect vehicles from heat, snow, and rain year-round.
• Elevator & ADA Accessibility: High-capacity elevators connecting directly from parking decks up to ground-level campus plazas, accompanied by clearly marked ADA-compliant accessible spaces reserved for vehicles displaying valid state disability placards or license plates.
• Campus Safety & Security: Monitored round-the-clock with bright energy-efficient illumination, CCTV coverage, emergency call boxes, and routine patrols by the Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD).

Ideal For

• Prospective Students & Campus Visitors: Families and students attending official Georgetown University campus tours, admissions interviews, and academic conferences.
• Athletics Fans & Event Attendees: Hoyas fans attending games at Cooper Field, Shaw Field, or McDonough Gymnasium, as well as patrons of events at the Davis Performing Arts Center.
• Visiting Lecturers & Business Travelers: Corporate delegates and academic visitors attending seminars at the McDonough School of Business or the Intercultural Center.
• Georgetown Diners & Explorers: Visitors seeking reliable off-street parking before heading to Georgetown’s historic commercial hub or scenic riverfront trails.

Visitor & Driver Tips

• GPS Destination Tip: Set your navigation precisely to 3611 Canal Road NW. Entering general Georgetown University gate addresses (such as 37th & O Streets) will lead to pedestrian-only wrought iron gates where vehicular entry is prohibited.
• Tiered Pricing Value: Standard visitor parking is charged at an hourly rate ($5.00/hour) up to a daily maximum cap of $25.00. Those visiting later in the day benefit from discounted evening flat rates (typically reducing after 3:00 PM and after 7:00 PM).
• Sunday Bonus: Visitor parking in Southwest Garage is typically free on Sundays, making it one of the absolute best-kept parking secrets in Georgetown for weekend brunch and river strolls (regular paid rates resume early Monday).
• Keep Your Ticket Safe: Always take your entry ticket with you when exiting your vehicle, as pay stations in the Kennedy Hall lobby allow you to pay prior to returning to your car, avoiding departure queue bottlenecks. A steep lost ticket fee applies.