Home to the Washington Nationals Baseball Club, Nationals Park is located along the Anacostia River and attracts millions of visitors each year. Be prepared for your Washington D.C. visit with information on the Nationals Park bag policy, how to get there, and where to stay in the area.
About the Nationals Baseball Stadium Complex
Nationals Park, sometimes referred to as Nationals Stadium, was the first LEED-certified stadium in the U.S. when it opened in 2008. The stadium’s design was actually inspired by the East Wing of the National Gallery of Arts. The stadium features 41,888 seats and hosts an average of over 2.25 million visitors annually. Besides ballgames, you can also catch festivals, concerts, and local events at the stadium.
Fans also don’t go hungry at Nationals Park. You can find traditional ballpark food, drink stands, bars, restaurants, and specialty food selections, such as the Lobster Shack or Old Hickory BBQ. They also have a mobile ordering service where you can avoid waiting in long lines by ordering from your seat.
Nationals Park Bag Policy
Visitors will be screened when entering the stadium, and backpacks are prohibited. The only backpacks you can have in Nationals Park are those purchased at the stadium on the day of the event. You are allowed to bring purses, drawstring bags, and soft-sided coolers under 16 x 16 x 8 inches. One clear, empty, or factory-sealed water bottle under 1 liter is also allowed per person.
Items that are prohibited inside the stadium include:
- Bags exceeding 16 x 16 x 8 inches
- Hard coolers or ice chests
- Metal or glass containers
- Camera lenses longer than 8 inches
- Tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks
- Non-collapsible umbrellas
- Inflatable items
- Weapons or any item deemed inappropriate or dangerous
Luggage Storage Near Nationals Park
Nationals Park offers Binbox locations where you can choose between a medium or large locker to store belongings. However, there is no guarantee a locker will be available. To ensure you have a place to store your belongings or luggage -regardless of the size – consider booking a location through Stasher. It’s a safe, affordable, and fully insured service. Search on Stasher for luggage storage locations in Washington D.C.
Nationals Park Transportation
The two closest public parking locations are under 300 feet from the stadium on South Capitol Street. They are the Nationals GEICO Garage and Nationals Garage C. Around 685 feet to the north is also West Half parking on Half Street. However, if you don’t want to drive there, you can also conveniently take the metro. The two nearby Navy Yard metro entrances are the:
- M Street Entrance – 935 feet
- New Jersey Avenue Entrance – 0.3 miles
You can also get to Nationals Park by water taxi. The Potomac Riverboat Company offers a service from Old Town to the Diamond Teague Park Pier, which is right across from Nationals Park. You can also take the DC Circulator bus from Union Station for only $1 or hop on one of the following Metrobus lines:
- Red Line
- Orange Line
- Silver Line
- Blue Line
Hotels Near Nationals Park
There are plenty of hotels located near Nationals Park to accommodate your visit to Washington D.C. To help you narrow down your list of options, here are 3 hotel choices that are walking distance away.
Hampton Inn & Suites – Closet
When you consider the amenities and how close the Hampton Inn & Suites Washington D.C. is to National Parks, it’s a budget-friendly deal that is hard to pass up. Expect a 2-minute walk to the stadium, free WiFi, on-site restaurant, rooftop terrace, pet-friendly vibes, and more.
Thompson Washington D.C – Highly Rated
Thompson Washington D.C. is a 4-star hotel with exceptional guest ratings that’s only 0.3 miles or a 5-minute walk from Nationals Park. There’s free internet, a 24-hour fitness center, and a restaurant on-site, including a rooftop bar. The hotel is also pet-friendly.
WhyHotel – Budget Option
Although the furthest away, the WhyHotel is still a 21-minute walk to Nationals Park and only a 7-minute walk to the National Mall. You can get deals for around $100 while still enjoying 3.5-star hotel amenities, including free WiFi, a 24-hour fitness center, and a pet-friendly environment.