NRL Visitor Center
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
4555 Overlook Ave. S.W.
Washington, DC 20375
(202) 767-2996
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Visitor Center (Building 72) is located in the Southwest quadrant of Washington, D.C., next to Joint Base Bolling (JBAB) to the north, and DC Water-Blue Plains, to the south. For commuting instructions and proximity to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the District of Columbia, please reference the printer-friendly PDF directions or online interactive map at the bottom of this page.
- Visitor Control Hours of Operation: 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and closed for federal holidays and weekends.
- The Security Operations Center (SOC) is available 24/7 for assistance, should visitors need access to the laboratory.
- In the event Visitor Control doors are locked, buzz-in buttons are located near the entry doors to request assistance from the SOC.
Entering the NRL-DC Campus
NRL is a controlled-access facility. Prior arrangements must be made with an NRL point of contact before visiting the Laboratory.
Media interest must contact the NRL Corporate Communications Office for further instruction at (202) 480-3746 or via email at: nrlpao@us.navy.mil.
Unless otherwise instructed by your NRL host, visitors must check in at the NRL Visitor Center, Bldg. 72, located just outside and to the right of the Laboratory's front gate. If your host has not informed you that you are pre-registered, you are required to fill out an NRL Visitor Pass request form upon arrival in the Visitor Center. You may download the form below and fill it out prior to your arrival to speed up your processing through the Visitor Center. Non-DoD visitors are also required to fill out and submit SECNAV form 5512-1 to the Visitor Center upon check-in to the Laboratory.
You must have a current government-issued photo ID in your possession when checking in through visitor control. You will not be admitted without proper photo identification and if driving on base you will be required to show your driver's license at the gate. Visits by foreign nationals require special processing. Foreign nationals must provide valid documents, either an original passport or an original green card for entry into the Laboratory. For more information, you may contact the NRL Visitor Center at (202) 767-2996.
Special Accommodations
Traveling and Commuting Resources
For commuting instructions and proximity to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the District of Columbia, please reference the below printable PDF directions or reference the available online interactive map below.