Driving to Campus
American University is located on Ward Circle, at the intersection of Massachusetts and Nebraska Avenues, NW, in Washington, DC.

Guests are asked to park in the Nebraska Avenue parking lot (entrance on New Mexico Avenue) or the Katzen Arts Center garage (entrance on Massachusetts Avenue).  All lots will be open on February 8.

Guests requiring disability parking will be permitted to park in the lots next to the Asbury and Osborn buildings (see campus map). We recommend that you arrive at least 45 minutes prior to the ceremony, when doors open to Bender Arena. Disability parking spaces are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Here are some driving directions to AU's campus:

From northeast of Washington (New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore), follow Interstate 95 south to Interstate 495 west toward Silver Spring. See from Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway).

From south or west of Washington (Norfolk, Richmond, Charlottsville) follow interstate 95 north or Interstate 66 east to Interstate 495, the Capital Beltway. Follow Interstate 495 north. See from Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway).

From northwest of Washington (western Pennsylvania, western Maryland), follow Interstate 270 south. Where Interstate 270 divides, follow the right-hand branch toward norther Virginia (not towards Washington). Merge with Interstate 495, the Capital Beltway, and soon afterwards take exit 39, River Road. See from Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway).

From Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway), take exit 39 and carefully follow the signs for River Road (Maryland Route 190) east toward Washington. Continue east on River Road to the fifth traffic light. Turn right onto Goldsboro Road (Maryland Route 614). At the first traffic light, turn left onto Massachusetts Avenue (Maryland Route 396). Continue on Massachusetts Avenue for about two miles, through the first traffic circle (Westmoreland Circle). About on mile further on, enter a second traffic circle (Ward Circle). Take the first right turn out of the circle, onto Nebraska Avenue. The campus is on your right.

From Nebraska Avenue, you may enter the university's visitor parking lot by turning left at the first traffic light onto New Mexico Avenue and then left into the parking lot adjacent to the Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church. Or you may drive directly onto the campus by driving past the first traffic light on Nebraska Avenue and turning right at the first gate. Very shortly, you will see a campus map on the right. It will direct you to the The Admissions Welcome Center, located in Centennial Hall.

Arriving by Train or Metro
Amtrak trains regularly arrive in Washington at Union Station, and Metro (Washington's subway) trains run from Union Station to the Tenleytown/AU stop on the Red Line.

If you are coming by public transportation via the Metro, you will need to take the Red Line train to the Tenleytown/American University stop. From the Metro stop, take the AU shuttle bus to campus (free) or walk the three-quarters of a mile to the main campus.

Taking the Campus Shuttle

The AU shuttle bus stops outside of the Tenleytown/American University Metro stop. When you leave the metro station, you should take the escalator on your left. This will lead you to the Metro bus stops at the corner of Albemarle and 40th Street. The AU shuttle runs approximately every 15 minutes. The shuttle makes multiple stops at different parts of campus. Let the driver know you are attending the Inauguration Ceremony in Bender Arena.