Nationals Park | Washington Nationals
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Quick Facts About Nationals Park
Year Opened
2008
Capacity
41,339
Home Club
Washington Nationals (1969)
Team Colors
Scarlet Red, Navy Blue, White
Upcoming Homestands at Nationals Park
Trying to visit multiple ballparks in one trip? Use our sortable home stand schedule to see when each team is playing at their home park.
Nationals Park | Ballpark Info
Accommodations for Disabilities
Nationals Park is still one of the newer parks in the MLB, and the Nationals have done a great job of making the park accessible for all. If we haven’t answered your question below, reach out to the Nationals at 202-675-6287.
Parking: Due to the ballpark’s location, there are a limited number of accessible parking spaces. They are in the GEICO Garage, and Garage C. You can only purchase accessible parking ahead of time, online, which you can do here. If you don’t plan on parking but need drop off access, the Police Department directs traffic during game days, and will allow you to be dropped off at the intersection of Potomac Ave and First Street SE.
Gates: All gates are accessible, so feel free to enter wherever makes most sense for your seat. The Center Field Gate opens 2 hours prior to first pitch, but only allows access to the Center Field stands and Center Field concourse area. All other gates open 30 minutes later and will allow access to the rest of the park.
Elevators: You can find elevators in the following locations:
- Section 113
- Section 120 (only accesses the Sky Club, Club Level and Press Box)
Ramps: If you’d prefer to use the ramps to get to your seat, those are located behind Sections 107 and 131.
Restrooms: Each restroom in Nationals Park includes accessible stalls. In addition, there are family and companion restrooms located in sections 104, 117, 139, 235, 307, and 319.
Seating: There are accessible seats throughout the park in each level except for the 400 level (which is only reachable by stairs), so you can choose your preferred view of the field. Call the Nats at 202-675-6287 or reserve your seats online.
Wheelchair Service: The Nationals offer courtesy wheelchairs which can be found at any Guest Services location. You can also flag down a Nationals fan host and ask for their help, which they will be happy to provide.
Bags
The Nationals follow MLB’s guidelines of not allowing bags larger than 16” x 16” x 8”. It must be soft-sided, and backpacks are not allowed. If you need to store a bag before entering the ballpark, there are storage lockers available on First Street.
Batting Practice
Fans are allowed into the Center Field Gate 2 hours before first pitch. If you are one of the first through the gate, you may even be able to catch the tail end of the home team’s BP. Just be aware that for the first 30 minutes that the CF gate is open, you won’t have access to the entire ballpark, just the Center Field area.
Bring Your Own Food
Feel free to bring your own food into Nationals Park. As long as you are bringing it in a soft-sided cooler that fits the National’s general bag guidelines, you can bring in outside food and beverage. Each item must be in a single serving bag (either from the factory or bagged at home). You can also bring in one clear, sealed water bottle per person as long as it is 1 liter or smaller. Juice boxes and baby food are allowed as well. Obviously, no glass containers or hard items that could be thrown are allowed.
Charging Stations
Low on phone juice? You can find charging stations at the following locations:
- Section 109
- Section 137
- PNC Diamond Club
- Section 312
Guest Services
If you have any issues or questions while at the ballpark, please utilize Guest Services. Each MLB team has this department, and they are solely focused on making sure each fan has a safe and memorable time at the ballpark.
You can find Guest Services desks at Nationals Park in sections 103, 131, and 320. They should be able to help answer any questions you have about the park, stamp your MLB Passport, or help address any concerns. If you have any issues or questions before your visit, you can reach the Nationals at service@nationals.com or 202-675-6287. Once inside the ballpark, you may be better off tweeting to @natsparkservice.
If you have problems with unruly fans, you can text “NATS”, your location, and a short description of what’s going on to 69050.
Gates
The Center Field Gate opens 2 hours before first pitch, but only allows access to the Budweiser Brew House, and the center field stands and concourse. The remaining gates open 90 minutes before first pitch, along with access to the entire park.
If there is a bobblehead giveaway, the Nationals will also open the Left Field and Right Field gates 2 hours before first pitch, but you’ll still be limited to the Center Field stands and concourse.
Promos
The Nationals will offer promotions and giveaways throughout the season. The best way to determine if your game is included is to check the Nationals website here.
Signature Sundays: Each Sunday, two Nationals players will sign autographs at the top of the Nationals dugout. The players start signing 1 hour and 10 minutes before first pitch. You’ll need to get a voucher in Section 103 to guarantee you get an autograph, so get to the park as early as possible.
Kids Run the Bases: Kids aged 4-12 can run the bases of Nationals Park after Sunday home games. Exit the ballpark through the Right Field Gate at the end of the game, then line up on the sidewalk.
Radio Broadcast
If you prefer to listen to the ballgame while in the park, tune to WJFK 106.7 FM.
Restrooms
You’ll find both men’s and women’s restrooms scattered throughout the park, so you’ll never be far from one. You can find family restrooms in Nationals Park in sections 104, 117, 139, 235, 307, and 319.
Retired Numbers
Currently, no numbers have been retired by the Nationals other than Jackie Robinson’s 42, which can be seen along the facade of the third deck down the right field foul line.
Ring of Honor
Even though the Nationals haven’t retired any numbers from their own players, they have created the “Ring of Honor”. The Ring of Honor includes players who made significant contributions to DC baseball, including past MLB Washington teams, Negro League Teams, and Expos teams (remember the Expos were moved from Montreal to Washington DC and re-named as the Washington Nationals. There are currently 23 players in the Ring of Honor: James “Cool Papa” Bell, Ray Brown, Gary Carter, Joe Cronin, Andre Dwason, Rick Ferrell, Josh Gibson, Goose Goslin, Clark Griffith, Bucky Harris, Frank Howard, Walter Johnson, Harmon Killebrew, Buck Leonard, Heinie Manush, Cumberland Posey, Tim Raines, Sam Rice, Frank Robison, Ivan “Pudge” Rodribuez, Jayson Werth, Jud Wilson, adn Early Wynn. Their names appear on the facade of the 200 and 300 level seating sections.
Tailgating
Unfortunately, there is no tailgating permitted in the official parking lots and garages of Nationals Park.
Tours
You can tour Nationals Park from March through November. They include stops on the Club Level, luxury suites, the home dugout and bullpen, and the visitor’s clubhouse (if available). The Nats offer two different levels of tours; the Senator’s Tour which does not give access to the baseball areas of the park ($15 for adults, $10 for seniors, children, and military), and the Governor’s Tour which does include the baseball area stops ($25 for adults, $20 for seniors, children, and military).
You can purchase tickets ahead of time here or simply walk up to the ticket counter the day of.
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Nationals Park| Must Do
Visit the DC Baseball Legends
On your way into Nationals Park, spend some time with DC baseball legends. Located outside of the Home Plate gate, you’ll find three statues — Josh Gibson, Frank Howard, and Walter Johnson.
Watch Presidents Race
Many ballparks feature some sort of race in between innings…But, only the Washington Nationals have the Presidents Race. In the middle of the fourth inning, watch George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abe Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt race from center field, down the right field line, and finish near the Nationals Dugout. Once the race is complete, the presidents gather in Section 131 where you can get your photo taken with them.
Check out the Washington Mural
Near the escalators leading to the Budweiser Terrace, you’ll find a mural (completed by No Kings Collective) highlighting DC area landmarks, Nationals history, and iconic baseball elements.
View the Capitol from the Upper Deck
If you stop by the 1B side of the 400 level, you’ll have a chance to see the dome of the US Capitol. The skyline view in Nationals Park leaves a lot to be desired. But once you consider that the reason there are no high rises in DC is to protect the views of the Capitol and Monument, it makes it a little more agreeable.
Chair of Honor
In center field near the American Flag and POW/MIA flag, you’ll find an empty black chair. The seat remains unoccupied as a reminder of those men and women who have gone missing in action or been taken as prisoners. In our Nation’s Capitol, it’s a somber reminder of the sacrifices made by those serving this country, and the reason we’re able to enjoy ballparks like this one.
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Nationals Park | Transportation and Parking
The DC metro is incredibly populated, which can mean awful traffic before and after a game. For Nationals Park, we stick to our standard suggestions of getting to the park early to help avoid the rush. You can check out some of the spots in the surrounding area before the game starts. The best option is most likely going to be public transportation, but we understand that’s not always feasible for everyone. Driving and parking are certainly possible.
Official Nationals Park Lots
The Nationals have a total of 7 official lots and garages. Some are located a decent distance from the park. The two most convenient choices will be the Geico Garage and Garage C, which open 3 hours prior to first pitch, and require very little walking. The remaining lots open 2.5 hours before the game. One thing to be aware of if you decide to park in one of the official lots is that they will close an hour after the game finishes. So if you’re looking to spend some time nearby after the game, you may want to look for off-site parking.
Lots L and Lot H are a short walk, while Lots T, U, and W are further away, but still less than a mile walk.
The official lots will be expensive, ranging from around $20 to near $50. Parking further away can save some money.
Off-Site / Free Parking Options Near Nationals Park
You’ll see plenty of unofficial lots near the ballpark since the Navy Yards are basically right next door. The garages directly across from the park are good options, but will fill up fast and can be expensive. You’ll also find unofficial parking lots along S Capitol St SE and M St SE. Look for signage.
If you are attending a Sunday game, the meters will be out of service, so you can find free street parking a few blocks away from the park. If you’re getting there early, this may be one of your best options. Just be sure to always double check the signage as you pull in to avoid a ticket.
One thing to be aware of at Nationals Park is that parking in the area is incredibly limited. For peace of mind, you may want to purchase an official parking pass ahead of time when you buy your tickets, or reserve a spot using one of the following websites:
Public Transportation
Public Transportation is the best way to get to Nationals Park, and you have plenty of options. Even if you’re driving in from outside of the city, we recommend choosing one of the options below and paying a small parking fee to leave your car at the station.
Metrorail: The Metro is going to be the easiest and least stressful way to get to Nationals Park. Hop on the Green Line to the Navy Yard-Ballpark Metrorail station, and you’ll be a block away from the park. You can also take the Orange, Blue, or Silver Line to Capitol South station, which is a 15 minute walk from the ballpark. Check out the metro’s trip planner ahead of time to determine your best route, times, and cost. Make sure to factor in your return trip so that you only need to load your Metrocard once.
Metrobus: WMATA’s trip planner mentioned above will also spit out options for the Metrobus. You can catch the Red Line bus from Union Station, or the Orange/Silver/Blue Lines bus from the Eastern Market Metrorail Station.
DC Circulator: The DC Circulator is independent from the city’s metro. It’s often much cheaper and less crowded than the Metrorail and buses. This bus will drop you off at the Navy Yard station, which is a very short walk to the park. Fares can be as low as $1! Check out the schedule here.
Baseball Boat: The Potomac Riverboat Company’s Baseball Boat is perhaps the coolest way to get to Nationals Park. The boat leaves from Old Town Alexandria and docks at Diamond Teague Park Pier, just across the street from Nationals Park. This is a great way to enjoy the ride to the ballgame. The tickets are about $30 per person round trip, but worth it just for the sightseeing alone. Find tickets here.
Hotel Shuttles: If you’re staying close to the park, don’t forget to ask your hotel if they can shuttle you to the game!
Uber & Lyft
There is a Taxicab stand on the north side of M Street SE. If you leave through the Center Field Gate, it’s one block north towards M Street SE. It will remain open from two hours after first pitch to 30 minutes after the game ends.
There isn’t a designated rideshare lot or pick-up location at Nationals Park. Our advice is to walk a block or two away from the park and request your ride there. Your driver will thank you. The Nationals even go as far as asking you not to request pickup on South Capitol Street because of how congested the area is.
If you’re new to Uber, you can use this link to get a discount on your first few rides.
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Nationals Park | Best Seats
Best Seats for Nationals History
This is one of the coolest things about Nationals Park. All of the seats in Nationals Park are blue…unless they mark one of the Nationals historic or significant home runs. Those seats are red, and there are a lot of them!
Section 100, Row A, Seat 14: This seat marks where Ryan Zimmerman hit a walk-off homer off of Peter Moylan in the very first game played at Nationals Park (March 30, 2008 vs Braves)
Section 236, Row A, Seat 14: A mammoth home run hit by Adam LaRoche off of Julio Teheran on April 5, 2014 vs the Braves.
Section 234, Row F, Seat 11: An upper-deck home run from Bryce Harper off of Brand Hand on April 9, 2014 vs the Marlins.
Section 234, Row C, Seat 5: An upper-deck home run from Bryce Harper off of Hunter Strickland in NLDS Game 1 on October 3, 2014 vs the Giants.
Section 236, Row A, Seat 11: Another upper-deck home run from Bryce off of Mike Leake vs the Cardinals on May 26, 2016.
Section 236, Row J, Seat 12: Another BH homer to the upper deck off of Bud Norris on July 20, 2016 vs the Dodgers.
Section 236, Row A, Seat 6: BH off of Luis Perdomo vs the Padres on May 26, 2017.
Section 234, Row E, Seat 2: Matt Adams 11th inning walk-off home run off of Matt Wisler vs the Padres on April 28, 2019.
Best Seats for Game Views
This park really doesn’t have a bad seat, and even the third deck doesn’t seem far from the action. Our favorites for game views are from behind home plate in this park. The club level seating in sections 212-216 in particular. If you move up a level to the 300’s, 311-316 offer great views at decent prices.
Where not to Sit
Nationals park is beautifully constructed and really has no obstructions to speak of. Of course, you’ll have to deal with the typical foul pole views in the corners, and the inability to see the scoreboard from the outfield. But other than that, nearly every seat has a view of the entire field and park.
Best Seats for Shade
The sun will set behind the third base line at Nationals Park, so anything on the 3B side will get shade first. Any seats in the last few rows of most sections will have shade provided by the next section’s overhang, with the exception of left field and the right field upper deck. For day games, it’s best to avoid the outfield and the lower portion of the interior seating bowl.
Best Seats for Foul Balls
According to foulballz.com, your best chances of snagging a foul ball at Nationals Park are in sections 114-117 on the 3B side and 128-131 on the 1B side.
Nationals Park | Ballpark Food
The Must Have: Half Smoke from Ben’s Chili Bowl
Ben’s Chili Bowl is a DC institution. The original location is located on U Street, but you can find their famous offerings at Nationals Park in sections 109, 140, and 315. Order the Half Smoke, which is DC’s signature dish. The half-pork and half-beef sausage is placed on a steamed bun with mustard and onions. The best part is the chili on top. Can you add cheese? Sure, but it definitely doesn’t need it.
Something Special: Po’Boy with Old Bay Fries
Get your seafood fix with an Oyster Po’Boy from Hank’s Oyster Bar in section 108. Complete the dish with an order of Old Bay fries.
The Challenge: See. You. Tater.
This stand gets its name from a play on the famous home run call of Bob Carpenter. “See. You. Later!” Is Carpenter’s call whenever a Nat hits a homer. For us, that’s reason enough to eat at this stand. If you need further convincing, take a look at their mammoth tots dishes. They offer traditionally topped totchos, and themed dishes like Chesapeake Bay Tots that featured crab queso, poblano corn salsa, and queso fresco. If you can finish these on your own, we’ll be impressed.
Vegetarian and Vegan Options at Nationals Park
You’ll find several meatless dishes throughout the park, including nachos, pizza, peanuts, pretzels, and fries. However, the vegan options at Nationals Park leave a lot to be desired. There used to be a vegan friendly stand, but it appears to have been removed. The veggie dog is vegan and can be found at almost any hot dog stand throughout the park. You can find a few salads, and the impossible burger at the Budweiser Brewhouse. Just skip the cheese and cilantro crema.
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Nationals Park | Surrounding Area
The Bullpen
Huge outdoor venue which is the spot to gather before or after a Nats game.
Dacha Navy Yard / The Salt Line
Dacha Navy Yard: Unassuming restaurant offering great cocktails and a fun outdoor space.
The Salt Line: Somewhat upscale oyster bar offering some of the freshest seafood in DC.
Bluejacket
Microbrewery located in an old factory building. Known for awesome craft beers and food.
Bars and Restaurants
We believe that in order to fully experience a ballpark, you should spend some time in the nearby area. We’re also big believers that pre and post game rushes are awful. We suggest you spend some time at these local establishments instead of sitting in traffic or rushing to the train.
The Bullpen | 1201 Half St SE, Washington, DC 20003| Website | Click to Call
This is the spot to gather before or after a Nationals game. The Bullpen is a huge, casual outdoor venue (full disclosure: basically a parking lot surrounded by shipping containers) crammed with food trucks, bars, live music and fun-loving Nats fans. It opens two hours before games, it’s free to get in, and it’s super close to the ballpark’s center field gate.
TIP: Draft beers are $5 bucks from the third through the seventh inning.
The Salt Line | 79 Potomac Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003 | Website | Menu |Click to Call
This somewhat upscale oyster bar/restaurant is directly across from the ballpark and offers some of the freshest seafood in the D.C. area. We recommend getting a table on their waterfront patio and ordering a lobster roll, onion rings and obviously, some oysters. They also have an awesome brunch/lunch menu and open 90 minutes before every afternoon home game.
Dacha Navy Yard | 79 Potomac Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003 | Website | Menu | Click to Call
Across from Nationals Park, close to home plate gate, is this unassuming restaurant with really good cocktails and a fun outdoor space. Head out back to their beer garden and grab a spot facing the Anacostia River. The river views, comfort food, drinks and service make this place a go-to if you’re in the area, and they are kid and dog friendly!
FYI: Dacha is cashless.
Bluejacket | 300 Tingey St SE, Washington, DC 20003 | Website | Menu | Click to Call
Located in a really cool old factory building, this microbrewery is known for their awesome craft beers and amazing food. They usually have about 20 different types of beers on tap (they also have wine and cocktails available) and the fried chicken sandwich with mambo sauce is a must-try. Bluejacket is only about a 10 minute walk from the ballpark so it’s a great place to check out before heading to a Nats game.
Local Attractions
If you’re traveling with a family or just trying to make the most out of your trip to the DC area, here are some recommended nearby attractions.
Champions Exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery | Website
The Champions exhibit is a collection of memorabilia, portraits and artifacts paying homage to American sports legends. It features many iconic athletes whose lives and achievements have had an influence and impact not only on history, but on us as fans. It’s a pretty cool way to remember and learn more about some of the “greats”.
Boating In DC at Ballpark Boathouse | Website
Boating in DC is located on the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail and has kayak, canoe, paddleboard, sailboat, and rowboat rentals. They also offer a lot of different tours and boating lessons. One of their most popular activities is paddling around the Capitol Riverfront, around the Navy Yard area (you can even watch a Friday evening concert at Yards Park from the water) and just outside of Nationals Park. Talk about cool views.
International Spy Museum | Website
If you’re a fan of code-cracking, undercover missions, James Bond or an espionage movie buff, you have to check this place out. The museum has floors and floors of interactive experiences and exhibits, making it a neat way to spend an afternoon, especially if you’re traveling with a family. General admission tickets run about $25 per adult, kids 6 and under are free.
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