Nationals Park
Home to DC’s Major League Baseball team, the Washington Nationals (and its bald eagle mascot Screech, this LEED-certified stadium can seat over 41,000 fans. The Nationals, formed by the transfer of the Montreal Expos in 2005, are the city’s first baseball team since the Washington Senators folded in 1971, and the team became World Series champions for the first time in 2019.
The basics
Set in the formerly scruffy Navy Yard neighborhood by the Anacostia River, Nationals Park jump-started urban renewal and a thriving commercial district full of independently-owned shops, bars, and cafes; as a nod to its more historic and maritime Navy Yard surroundings, a submarine horn blares after every Nationals home run and win. The Nationals had played their first three seasons in R.F.K. Stadium before moving into their own dedicated stadium in 2008.
The park features views of the U.S. Capitol Building, National Cathedral, and Washington Monument from its upper deck, and in addition to concessions by local eateries like Ben’s Chili Bowl, the Red Porch sit-down restaurant offers full meals with a view of the field. Tours of the park are offered from March through November.
Things to know before you go
- There is a limited number of accessible parking spaces in the Geico Garage and Garage C; these spaces can only be purchased online.
- You can request a wheelchair at the guest services location at Center Field Plaza.
- Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the park.
- The Presidents Race takes place during the middle of the fourth inning and features giant versions of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt running the bases.
How to get there
Nationals Park is located in southeast Washington, south of the Capitol, between South Capitol Street, N Street, First Street, and Potomac Avenue. There are seven park-sanctioned parking lots and garages nearby, and parking can be limited on game days. The stadium is set one block from the Metrorail’s Navy Yard–Ballpark station via the Green Line. The DC Circulator bus, which runs along a Union Station-Navy Yard route, also offers extended hours during the summer.
Trip ideas
When to get there
Keep in mind, the baseball season runs from the end of March through the end of September, in case you want to catch a game. On Sundays, Nationals players sign autographs from the top of the dugout starting 70 minutes prior to the first pitch; vouchers for the autograph session are distributed on a first come, first served basis at Section 103.
Exploring the Capitol Waterfront
In addition to being the home of Nationals Park, this DC neighborhood features parks and green spaces, water activities such as kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, and a thriving restaurant scene that includes Bluejacket Brewery. Audi Field, which is home to Major League Soccer's D.C. United, is also located nearby.
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