Campus Access and Security
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The National Institutes of Health, like all Federal Government facilities, has instituted security measures to ensure the safety of our patients, employees, guests and facilities. Please visit the Department of Homeland Security National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS)(link is external) site to learn more about any current terrorist threat alerts for government and public entities that may impact NIH security.
All visitors must enter through the NIH Gateway Center. You will be asked to submit to a vehicle or personal inspection. Visitors over 15 years of age must provide a form of government-issued ID such as a driver's license or passport. Visitors under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
Please be aware: Federal law prohibits the following items on Federal property: firearms, explosives, archery equipment, dangerous weapons, knives with blades over 2½ inches, alcoholic beverages and open containers of alcohol.
Visitors are encouraged to use public transportation such as the Metrorail subway system which has a convenient stop (Medical Center) on the NIH campus. Visit the "Metro" site for information on fares and schedules(link is external).
Read our list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to safety and security at the NIH, including information about pedestrian entrances, parking and general campus access.
NIH Gateway Center
Visitors will be required to show one (1) form of identification (a government-issued photo ID-driver's license, passport, green card, etc.) and to state the purpose of their visit.
The NIH Gateway Center is located adjacent to the Medical Center Metro Station at the South Drive entrance to campus from Rockville Pike / Wisconsin Avenue (Route 355). It combines visitor parking, non-commercial vehicle inspection and visitor ID processing, all in one location. The NIH will process all visitors in vehicles or as pedestrians.
Patients and patient visitors should continue to enter campus at the West Drive/Cedar Lane entrance during the hours of 6 a.m.–10 p.m., 7 days a week.
View a map detailing the Patient Visitor Entrance.
REAL ID
The REAL ID Act prohibits federal agencies from accepting for official purposes driver’s licenses and identification cards issued by states that do not meet the law’s standards for secure issuance and production. While American Samoa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, and Washington currently do not comply and do not have an extension from DHS, NIH is currently accepting driver’s licenses from these states and territory. This may change based on the Office of General Council’s (OGC) interpretation of the law.
On October 13, 2015, DHS implemented Phase 3 of the Act, which applies the REAL ID act to all federal facilities “except those providing healthcare, federally protected benefits and participation in law enforcement functions.” The current NIH policy is to accept all driver’s licenses so that patients, invited speakers, and medical students are not turned away. The Office of Security and Emergency Response has asked OGC to determine REAL ID enforcement applicability for NIH.
For additional information about the Real ID Act, please visit: http://www.dhs.gov/secure-drivers-licenses(link is external).
Pedestrians
Gateway Center (for Pedestrians) – Building 66
- Open Monday–Friday, 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
- Closed on Weekends and Observed Holidays
- After 10 p.m. on weekdays, all day weekends and holidays, pedestrian visitors should enter campus via the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Facility (CVIF) – Building 67 (on Rockville Pike between North Drive and Wilson Drive)
For individuals arriving as pedestrians, the Gateway Center (Building 66) is capable of handling single individuals to large busloads of visitors, quickly and efficiently.
Vehicles
For visitors arriving in vehicles, on motorcycles or bicycles, the Gateway Vehicle Inspection Station (Building 66A), provides multiple inspection lanes and allows visitors to go through inspection and get a visitor badge in one centralized, efficient process. Vehicles enter the Gateway Center complex through a new roadway, "NIH Gateway Drive," just south of the intersection of the previous visitor entrance at South Drive and Rockville Pike. Vehicles that choose to bypass parking in MLP-11 will go through inspection and enter campus at Center Drive near the National Library of Medicine. (See Gateway Map)
Gateway Center Vehicle Inspection (Building 66A)
Hours of operation: Monday–Friday, 5 a.m.–10 p.m.
After 10 p.m. on weekdays, and on weekends and holidays, visitors in vehicles should enter via the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Facility (CVIF) – Building 67. The CVIF is located on Rockville Pike (Route 355) between the North Drive and Wilson Drive employee entrances. Visitors gain entry into the CVIF traveling southbound on Rockville Pike.
Taxies may enter campus via the Gateway Center Vehicle Inspection Center (or CVIF), and must use the CVIF when the Gateway Center Vehicle Inspection Center is closed.
