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Getting to Us

Bordering Rock Creek Park in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Washington, D.C., Hillwood allows you to escape the bustle of downtown without leaving the city. Accessible by foot, bike, or car, Hillwood encourages you to choose the transportation option best suited for your visit.

Parking

Hillwood provides complimentary parking.* Handicap parking is also available on a first-come, first-served basis. On busier days, visitors may be directed to offsite parking. Hillwood staff will direct you to designated parking areas when you arrive at the entrance gate. We encourage bicycle riding and provide bike racks at the visitor center. Walking directions from the Metro Rail and Metro Bus are listed below.

*Limited complimentary parking is available onsite. As parking space is not guaranteed, we recommend using ride share, public transportation, or carpooling when visiting on busy days. If onsite parking is full, guests will be directed to offsite street parking nearby.      

 

Getting Here by Car

Hillwood is located in a residential neighborhood approximately 5 miles north of the White House and 1 mile north of the National Zoo.      

Please note: Some GPS systems will direct you to Albemarle and Linnean Avenue NW, however, Linnean Avenue NW splits and Hillwood is not accessible from this direction, only via Tilden Street NW. Please follow the instructions below to avoid taking this route.

From Downtown D.C.

  • Hillwood is located in a residential neighborhood approximately 5 miles north of the White House and 1 mile north of the National Zoo.
  • Take Connecticut Avenue heading north for approximately 3 miles.
  • Pass the National Zoo (on your right), and continue over the bridge. 
  • At the 5th traffic light after the bridge, turn right onto Tilden Street NW.
  • Continue on Tilden for 3/10 of a mile, passing 29th Street (at a separated median), and then 28th Place.
  • After the median strip separates a second time, Linnean Avenue will be on your immediate left, angled as if at 11 o'clock.
  • Turn left onto Linnean continuing uphill. [PLEASE NOTE: If you happen to pass a large brown sign in the median saying "Welcome to Rock Creek Park" you have gone too far and will want to make a U-turn back onto Tilden.]
  • Proceed on Linnean about 1/4 mile. The gated entrance to Hillwood—4155 Linnean Avenue NW—will be on your right.
 
From Rock Creek Parkway/Beach Drive Heading North from Downtown
 
In light of the Beach Drive Rehabilitation project, please refer to the National Park Service project site before you plan your route. The directions below may not be current, given ongoing road closures.
  • Take Rock Creek Parkway north to Beach Drive.
  • Follow Beach Drive beyond the National Zoo.
  • Go to the stop sign (intersection of Beach Drive and Piney Branch Parkway). After stopping, continue straight on Beach Drive.
  • Take a left at your first traffic light onto Tilden Street NW. [PLEASE NOTE: If you go right you'll be on Park Road and will need to turn around.]
  • Pass Peirce Mill and take your first right onto Linnean Avenue NW.
  • Proceed about 1/4 mile. The gated entrance to Hillwood—4155 Linnean Avenue NW—will be on your right.
 
From Beach Drive/Rock Creek Parkway Heading South
 
In light of the Beach Drive Rehabilitation project, please refer to the National Park Service project site before you plan your route. The directions below may not be current, given ongoing road closures.
  • Take Rock Creek Parkway beyond Rock Creek Golf Course, the Park Police Station and the intersection at Bladgen Avenue, NW.
  • At your first traffic light, take a right onto Tilden Street NW [PLEASE NOTE: If you turn left you’ll be on Park Road and will need to turn around.]
  • Head uphill, passing Peirce Mill and Barn.
  • At your next right, turn onto Linnean Avenue NW.
  • Continue uphill about 1/4 mile.
  • The gated entrance to Hillwood—4155 Linnean Avenue NW—will be on your right.
From the South via I-395 in Virginia
  • Follow I-395N toward Washington D.C.
  • Follow signs that say 395N/14th Street (Route 1 North). You will soon slow down to 35 mph.
  • After going over the bridge, stay in the left two lanes and take Exit 1—North Route 1/14th Street/ National Mall.
  • You will be on 14th Street for 1.5 miles, passing Independence Avenue, the Washington Monument and US Capitol, and Pennsylvania Avenue. After passing New York Avenue, get into your left-most lane and continue 3 blocks to K Street.
  • Take a left onto K Street. Stay in the right lane.
  • At the traffic light at K Street and 16th Street, get on the K Street service road (which is the far right lane) for 2 blocks. On your right will be a Starbucks and Farragut North Metro.
  • Make a right turn from the service road onto Connecticut Avenue. You will follow Connecticut for 2.9 miles, passing under a tunnel, over a bridge, the National Zoo, and a second bridge. At the 5th traffic light after the second bridge, turn right onto Tilden Street, NW.
  • Continue on Tilden for 3/10 of a mile passing 29th Street (at a separated median), and then 28th Place.
  • After the median strip separates a second time, Linnean Avenue will be on your immediate left, angled as if at 11 o’clock.
  • Turn left onto Linnean continuing uphill. [PLEASE NOTE: If you happen to pass a large brown sign in the median saying “Welcome to Rock Creek Park” you have gone too far and will want to make a U-turn back onto Tilden.]
  • Proceed on Linnean about 1/4 mile. The gated entrance to Hillwood—4155 Linnean Avenue NW—will be on your right.
From the North via 16th Street NW
  • Head south on 16th Street beyond the traffic lights at Kennedy Street NW, Carter Barron Tennis Complex and Amphitheatre, and Colorado Avenue.
  • Take your next right onto Blagden Avenue until it dead ends.
  • Turn left at the dead end onto Beach Drive.
  • Turn right at the first traffic light onto Tilden Street NW. Head uphill, passing Peirce Mill and Barn.
  • At your next right, turn onto Linnean Avenue NW.
  • Continue uphill about 1/4 mile.
  • The gated entrance to Hillwood—4155 Linnean Avenue NW—will be on your right.
From the I-495 Beltway: Hillwood is approximately 5.6 miles south of Exit 33 Connecticut Avenue off the I-495 Beltway.
  • From I-495, take Exit 33 Connecticut Avenue heading toward downtown D.C.
  • Continue for 4.6 miles on Connecticut Avenue.
  • You will pass through a traffic circle and from that point you will have another 1.8 miles to go on Connecticut.
  • After passing traffic lights at Brandywine and Albemarle Streets NW, you will want to move into the left lane. You will pass a Days Inn and a Burger King on your right. Continue beyond the traffic light at Van Ness Street, still in your left lane. At your next traffic light, turn left onto Tilden Street NW.
  • Continue on Tilden for three-tenths of a mile passing 29th Street and a separated median, and then 28th Place.
  • After the median strip separates a second time, Linnean Avenue will be on your immediate left, angled as if at 11o’clock.
  • Turn left onto Linnean continuing uphill. [PLEASE NOTE: If you happen to pass a large brown sign in the median saying “Welcome to Rock Creek Park” you have gone too far and will want to make a U-turn back onto Tilden.]
  • Proceed on Linnean about 1/4 mile. The gated entrance to Hillwood—4155 Linnean Avenue NW—will be on your right.
From Baltimore via I-95
  • Follow I-95 heading south.
  • Take Exit 27 onto I-495 W toward Silver Spring/Bethesda.
  • Continue to Exit 33 Connecticut Avenue. Stay in the left two lanes on the exit ramp. Turn left onto Connecticut Avenue from the exit ramp. From this point, you are approximately 5.8 miles away from Hillwood.
  • Continue on Connecticut Avenue for 4.8 miles.
  • You will pass through a traffic circle, and from that point you will have another 1.8 miles to go on Connecticut.
  • After passing traffic lights at Brandywine and Albemarle Streets NW, you will want to move into the left lane. You will pass a Burger King and a Days Inn on your right. Continue beyond the traffic light at Van Ness Street, still in your left lane. At your next traffic light, turn left onto Tilden Street NW.
  • Continue on Tilden for 3/10 of a mile passing 29th Street at a separated median then 28th Place.
  • After the median strip separates a second time, Linnean Avenue will be on your immediate left, angled as if at 11o’clock.
  • Turn left onto Linnean continuing uphill. [PLEASE NOTE: If you happen to pass a large brown sign in the median saying “Welcome to Rock Creek Park” you have gone too far and will want to make a U-turn back onto Tilden.]
  • Proceed on Linnean about 1/4 mile. The gated entrance to Hillwood—4155 Linnean Avenue NW—will be on your right.

Public Transportation

By Metro Rail: Hillwood is a mile-long walk from the Van Ness/UDC station on Metro’s Red Line. [PLEASE NOTE: There is no bus service from the Metro to Hillwood.]

  • From the Van Ness/UDC station, exit on the east side of Connecticut Avenue.
  • After stepping off the escalator turn 180 degrees and head uphill toward the green street sign saying Veazey Terrace.
  • Continue walking on Connecticut Avenue two blocks until you reach Upton Street.
  • Turn left onto Upton.
  • Proceed for 1/2 mile. You will pass Howard Law School, 29th Street, and the Levine School of Music.
  • Take a right onto Linnean Avenue.
  • The gated entrance to the estate will be on your left.
By Metro Bus: Hillwood is a 1/2 mile walk from the corner of Connecticut and Tilden Streets NW.
  • Take the L1 or L2 bus to the corner of Connecticut Avenue and Tilden Street NW.
  • Take Tilden east, heading toward Rock Creek Park for three-tenths of a mile passing 29th Street (at a separated median), and then 28th Place.
  • Linnean Avenue will be your next left—angled as if at 11 o’clock.
  • Turn left onto Linnean continuing uphill.
  • Proceed on Linnean about a quarter mile. The gated entrance to Hillwood—4155 Linnean Avenue NW—will be on your right.