Office of Aviation Forces (CG-711)
Directions to CGHQ Information
United States Coast Guard Headquarters Building2100 2nd St SW
Washington, D.C. 20953
(202) 372-4653
Directions to USCG HQ by Metro & Shuttle Bus:
NOTE: Shuttle limited to Federal employees or military personnel.
1. On the Metro, take the Orange, Blue, Green, or Yellow line to L'Enfant Metro Station. Exit to "L'Enfant Plaza 9th & D Sts SW".
2. Take the escalator.
3. At the top, you'll see a Food Court with "Potbelly's" & "Starbucks". Make a right.
4. Go through the "D Street" exit door to the right of Starbucks.
5. Once outside, walk towards the metro direction pole. You will see a set of stairs to your right.
6. Take the stairs. At the bottom of the steps, make a right.
7. The Coast Guard shuttle bus shares a stop with metro bus. The shuttle goes straight to USCG Headquarters. Then, the shuttle continues to the Jemal Riverside building and then back to the Coast Guard building to start the loop again.
8. The bus will drop you off at the V Street entrance to Coast Guard Headquarters and will depart from there.
9. The main building entrance for all personnel not issued a CGHQ Security Badge is the 2nd Street entrance (flag pole side-facing the marina and Fort McNair). Visiting Coast Guard and U.S. government civilian, military and contract personnel who do not have a CGHQ Security badge must:
1. Provide a U.S. Federal Government ID.
2. Provide second form of identification (i.e. Drivers License)
3. Submit themselves and any carried items to weapons screening.
4. Wear and display the "Government Personnel" visitor badge at all times.
5. All non-government visitor's are only authorized access into the CGHQ building via the 2nd street entrance. Visitor's must show a valid picture I.D., must be met, signed-in and escort by the CGHQ badge holder being visited.
Directions to CGHQ by Driving
Where is Coast Guard Headquarters?
Geographically, USCG HQ is located at Buzzards Point in Southwest DC. We are next to Fort McNair (home of the National Defense University) and the Buzzards Point power station. James Creek Marina is next to USCG HQ. We are approximately one mile from the waterfront where the dinner cruise boats depart and about 2 miles from the Washington Navy Yard.
Taxi
Ask the driver to take you to the address above. Note: there will be a wait involved in getting a taxi to pick you up. Taxi's do not frequently drive to this area unless called or are bringing passengers.
Out of town note: Make sure you identify the street as "Southwest". Taxi's in Washington DC charge by an area system, not the distance or length of time. Area rates are posted in the cab and the driver should be able to tell you the rates at the start of the trip. If you take a cab out of DC or in from Maryland or Virginia, you will pay the meter rate.
Driving
Go to M street (in Southwest DC). An easy way to get there is via Maine Ave by the SW Waterfront. Once on M street turn, on to 4th St. This will be at an intersection were M and 4th form a "T" and is where the entrance to parking at the Waterside Mall and the Safeway is.
The road will curve 90 degrees to the left, following the brick wall surrounding Fort McNair, and you will be on P Street. Follow this road to the end of the brick wall and take a right on to 2nd street. Proceed to the end of the street to the blue HQ building.
Parking presents the greatest problem at USCG HQ. There are two general options for visitors:
•Park on the street.
There is on-street metered parking on 1st and 2nd streets; there is some limited metered parking on V street (where the shuttle bus stops). This parking is at your own risk. Take the usual precautions in securing your vehicle. The chances of harm coming to a vehicle in the form of theft or vandalism is slim, but increases the farther from HQ you park.
•Park at the James Creek Marina parking lot.
This lot charges a daily fee for parking and has a variety of rates for weekly and monthly parking passes. Parking passes can be purchased at the Marina office.
Directions to HQ by Walking
USCG HQ is about 3/4 of a miles from the nearest Metro Station (Waterfront-SEU stop) and the neighborhoods surrounding headquarters can be dangerous! Nevertheless, if you still want to do it...
When you exit the Waterfront-SEU station, cross M Street and head down 4th Street. The road will curve 90 degrees to the left, following the brick wall surrounding Fort McNair, and you will be on P Street. Follow this road to the end of the brick wall and take a right on to 2nd street. Proceed to the end of the street to the HQ building.
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Last Modified 9/12/2012