Visiting the United States Botanic Garden, Washington DC: practical guide for first-timers

The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) is a free, federally funded living plant museum located at 100 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington DC, adjacent to the US Capitol, with a collection of more than 44,000 plants and over 200 years of history. This guide covers opening hours, admission, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical tips for planning your visit.

Last updated: May 2026. The USBG is currently hosting America’s State Flowers: An America250 Celebration, a major 2026 exhibit tied to the 250th anniversary of the United States. Separately, the outdoor gardens now have extended evening hours from 1 April to 15 September (closing at 7pm) — older guides may state only summer extension, or give the wrong end date. All hours and details on this page are sourced from the official USBG website.

Quick facts

United States Botanic Garden opening hours

The Conservatory is open 10am to 5pm daily, including weekends and most public holidays. It is closed on Christmas Day (25 December) only. The gated outdoor gardens (also known as the National Garden) are open from 7:30am to 5pm daily, with extended hours until 7pm from 1 April to 15 September. Bartholdi Fountain and Gardens, located across Independence Avenue, are open from dawn to dusk every day including public holidays.

Extended hours occasionally apply for specific programmes and events. Check the Programs and Events calendar before visiting to confirm.

United States Botanic Garden admission and ticket prices

Admission to the United States Botanic Garden is completely free. No tickets are required and no advance booking is needed for a standard visit. This applies to the Conservatory, the gated outdoor gardens, and Bartholdi Fountain and Gardens.

The USBG is not included in any Washington DC city pass scheme such as Go City or CityPASS.

Hours and admission status were checked on the official USBG website and last updated in May 2026.

How to get to the United States Botanic Garden

The USBG strongly recommends arriving by public transport. The nearest Metro station is Federal Center SW on the Orange, Blue, and Silver lines. Exit the station, walk north (left) along Third Street SW for two blocks, cross Independence Avenue, then continue one more block to Maryland Avenue. The glass dome of the Conservatory is visible from this point. The Conservatory entrance faces Maryland Avenue.

By Metrobus: The D10 bus stops directly behind the Conservatory on Independence Avenue at First Street SW. The D1X stops on Independence Avenue SW at Third Street SW.

For tailored journey planning, use the WMATA trip planner.

Visitors who use paratransit services can request a drop-off on Maryland Avenue in front of the accessible paths. Visitors to Washington DC who cannot use standard transit due to disability can apply for a visitor MetroAccess Paratransit pass valid for up to 21 days.

Parking at the United States Botanic Garden

The United States Botanic Garden has no dedicated visitor parking lot. Metered street parking, including eight accessible “red top” single-space meters, is available within two blocks of the Conservatory. Current locations and rates for accessible parking spaces can be found on the ParkDC Parking Meter Map.

A limited number of accessible spaces are available on Maryland Avenue SW directly in front of the Conservatory. There is no tour bus parking at the Garden; tour bus drivers should use the designated route from the Capitol to Parking Lot B at Union Station. The USBG recommends public transport for all visitors given the limited parking in this part of central Washington DC.

How long to spend at the United States Botanic Garden

Most visitors spend one to two hours at the USBG. The Conservatory alone offers a full hour of varied plant environments. Adding the gated outdoor gardens and a visit to Bartholdi Fountain and Gardens across Independence Avenue can extend this to two to three hours. Those attending a programme or special event should allow additional time. Check the events calendar in advance.

The USBG is worth repeat visits as the collection changes significantly with the seasons. Quieter periods are generally January through early March and mid-July through early September. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are typically the least busy days, and afternoon times tend to have fewer visitors.

Accessibility at the United States Botanic Garden

The USBG is accessible throughout, with step-free routes marked across the Conservatory and outdoor gardens. These routes are indicated on the Visitor Guide map, available in the Conservatory lobby and as a downloadable PDF. Most plant houses in the Conservatory have automatic doors between them.

Wheelchairs — including a bariatric wheelchair — are available to borrow at no cost from Visitor Services in the Conservatory lobby. A valid government-issued photo ID must be left as a deposit while in use.

Elevator access: The Canopy Walk is accessible via a lift in the north-east corner of the Tropics section.

Note: Some areas have surfaces that can become wet or slippery due to water features and misters. These include the Garden Court, the Tropics wood bridge, the Canopy Walk metal grating, and the Orchids wood pathway. Take care in these areas.

Sensory bags — containing noise-reducing headphones, weighted lap blankets, and a selection of fidgets — are available to borrow from Visitor Services (photo ID required as deposit). A sensory tip sheet is available on the website.

For deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors: Assisted Listening Devices are available on request for tours and programmes. Real-time captions are provided for all online programming. Sign language interpretation can be requested by emailing [email protected] with at least five business days’ notice.

Audio tour: The self-guided audio tour is available by calling (202) 730-9303 or visiting usbg.oncell.com. Transcripts of all stops are on the mobile website. The Visitor Guide is also available in Braille and large print.

Colour vision deficiency glasses (indoor and outdoor lenses) are available to borrow from Visitor Services.

Pets: Leashed pets are allowed in the outdoor gardens only. Pets are not permitted inside the Conservatory. Trained service animals are welcome throughout all areas.

For accessibility queries, contact [email protected] or speak to a Visitor Services staff member in the Conservatory lobby.

Inside the United States Botanic Garden: what to see

The Conservatory is the centrepiece of the USBG and houses the permanent collection in a series of interconnected plant houses. Key areas include: the Tropics (a tall glass house with a rainforest canopy walk); Garden Court (an airy central hall with a long reflecting pool and seasonal flower displays); the Jungle (dense tropical planting); the Orchids collection; Medicinal Plants; Economic Plants; Endangered Species; and the Hawaiian Plants exhibit. The air-conditioned East and West Galleries provide a cooler rest area and house the gift shop and additional exhibits.

The gated outdoor gardens (National Garden) are adjacent to the Conservatory, with entrances from Independence Avenue, Maryland Avenue (at Third Street), and the Conservatory Terrace. They include a Rose Garden, Regional Garden, Butterfly Garden, and the First Ladies’ Water Garden. These gardens are at their best during the extended hours season (April 1–September 15).

Bartholdi Fountain and Gardens are located directly across Independence Avenue from the Conservatory. The centrepiece is a 19th-century cast-iron fountain, known as the Fountain of Light and Water, designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. The surrounding garden includes seasonal plantings and a kitchen garden. Open dawn to dusk daily.

Current exhibits (May 2026): America’s State Flowers: An America250 Celebration is running throughout the USBG as part of the 250th anniversary of the United States. It showcases the official flower of every US state and territory through living plants, artistic displays, botanical illustrations, and herbarium specimens. The exhibit Fierce Flora: Tales of Survival and Demise is also on display in the Conservatory. Check the exhibits page for the full current listing.

Dining: On weekend days through the end of summer, the local vendor Vintage Views operates a seasonal stand inside the Garden offering hot and cold beverages, coffee, lemonades, and light snacks. A water fountain and bottle refill station are available every day. Outside food and drink are permitted; tables and chairs are provided outdoors.

Gift shop: The Friends of the USBG gift shop in the West Gallery is operated by local business Rewild and offers plants (including orchids and cacti), plant-themed items, seeds, books, and USBG-custom merchandise.

Practical visitor tips

Frequently asked questions about the United States Botanic Garden

Things to do near the United States Botanic Garden

US Capitol Building – The Capitol is immediately adjacent to the USBG, steps from the Conservatory’s north side. Free guided and self-guided tours of the Capitol are available; book in advance through your congressional representative’s office or at visitthecapitol.gov.

Library of Congress – Around a five-minute walk east of the USBG, the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building is free to visit and contains the Great Hall, the Main Reading Room (viewable from a gallery), and regular public exhibitions.

National Mall and Smithsonian museums – The National Mall begins immediately north-west of the USBG. The nearest Smithsonian museums include the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the Freer Gallery of Art, all within a 10–15-minute walk and all free to enter.

National Museum of the American Indian – Around 10 minutes north-west of the USBG on the National Mall, this Smithsonian museum explores the culture, history, and living traditions of Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Free admission.

Bartholdi Fountain and Gardens – Directly across Independence Avenue from the USBG Conservatory, Bartholdi Park is part of the USBG complex but is accessed separately. Open dawn to dusk; free.

What to visit tomorrow: botanic gardens and arboreta within two hours of Washington DC

US National Arboretum, Washington DC – Around 20 minutes north-east of the USBG by car, the National Arboretum is a 446-acre federal research garden with collections including the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, the National Herb Garden, and a grove of historic Capitol Columns.

Dumbarton Oaks, Washington DC – Around 5 miles north-west of the USBG in the Georgetown neighbourhood, Dumbarton Oaks is a historic estate with 10 acres of formal gardens designed by Beatrix Farrand.

Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, Maryland – Around 40 minutes north of Washington DC, Brookside is a 50-acre public garden within Wheaton Regional Park, with indoor conservatories and outdoor display gardens.

Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania – Around 2 hours north of Washington DC near Philadelphia, Longwood Gardens is one of the premier horticultural display gardens in the United States, with 1,100 acres, an indoor conservatory, outdoor fountains, and seasonal displays.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond, Virginia – Around 2 hours south of Washington DC, Lewis Ginter is a 50-acre botanical garden with themed outdoor gardens, a glass conservatory, and a children’s garden.

More Washington DC travel

Other Washington DC travel guides on Planet Whitley include:

• Discovering Abraham Lincoln’s private life at Lincoln’s Cottage.
• The most impressive memorials on the National Mall – including the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Franklin D Roosevelt Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
• What to expect at the Museum of the Bible, National Postal Museum, National Building Museum and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC.
• Plan your visit to Washington DC’s quirkiest sight – the National Capital Columns.
• National Mall bus tour vs bike tour: What’s the best way to see Washington DC’s monuments and memorials?