Getting around: National Harbor, DC and nearby towns
MGM National Harbor sits at 101 MGM National Ave in Oxon Hill, MD, on the National Harbor waterfront and is easy to reach by car, rideshare, and Potomac water taxi. From the hotel you can walk to many Harbor attractions and take short trips to Tanger Outlets, Old Town Alexandria, or Reagan National Airport.
In this guide
Getting to MGM National Harbor
The hotel address is 101 MGM National Ave, Oxon Hill (Fort Washington), MD 20745. By car or rideshare you drive right to the resort entrance; on-site self parking and valet parking are available for daily fees.
Nearest major airport is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA); other regional airports include Washington Dulles (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington (BWI). If you plan to drive, note that on-site parking has posted daily fees and height restrictions may apply.
- Self parking: listed as available on-site (daily fee reported on property listings).
- Valet parking: available on-site (daily fee reported on property listings).
- Airports: DCA is the closest airport commonly used for National Harbor transfers.
| To/from | Typical option |
|---|---|
| Reagan National (DCA) | Short drive or rideshare |
| Dulles (IAD) / BWI | Longer drive or airport transfer; use rideshare or shuttle services |
| Local roads / rideshare | Direct drop-off at resort entrance |
Getting around National Harbor & nearby towns
Many National Harbor attractions are within a short walk of the resort, including waterfront walking paths, shops and restaurants on the Harbor waterfront. The area is described as somewhat walkable with many points of interest within about 0.75 miles.
Short trips to nearby towns and attractions are convenient by car or water: Old Town Alexandria, Mount Vernon, and Tanger Outlets are commonly reached in under 20 minutes by road. Water taxi service runs seasonally and connects National Harbor with Alexandria and Georgetown.
- Walk: Harbor waterfront, shops, restaurants and The Awakening sculpture are walkable from the resort.
- Water taxi: seasonal Potomac water taxi links National Harbor with Alexandria and Georgetown; schedules vary by operator.
- Short drives: Old Town Alexandria and Mount Vernon are typical short excursions by car.
| Nearby destination | Typical travel mode |
|---|---|
| Capital Wheel | Short local trip (waterfront) |
| Tanger Outlets | Short shuttle or bus / short drive |
| Old Town Alexandria | Short drive or water taxi |
Public transit, bikes and water transport
National Harbor has local transit links and a free Circulator bus that runs to Tanger Outlets and other Harbor stops. Capital Bikeshare maintains a station at National Harbor for short rides along the waterfront and nearby neighborhoods.
Seasonal water taxi and riverboat services offer an alternative scenic route to Georgetown, Alexandria, and other Potomac River stops — schedules and seasonal routes vary, so check operators directly before traveling.
- Free Circulator bus: connects National Harbor with Tanger Outlets and Harbor stops.
- Capital Bikeshare: station available at 250 Waterfront Street (National Harbor) for short cycling trips.
- Water taxi / riverboats: seasonal; useful for Alexandria, Georgetown, and select sightseeing routes.
| Mode | Where it goes |
|---|---|
| Circulator bus | Tanger Outlets and National Harbor stops |
| Capital Bikeshare | Waterfront and local streets |
| Potomac water taxi / riverboats | Alexandria, Georgetown and select sightseeing routes |
On-site facilities that affect movement
MGM National Harbor is a full-service casino resort with on-site restaurants, shops, a 3,000-seat Theater, meeting rooms and event spaces — you can accomplish much of your stay without leaving the property. The resort has many dining venues ranging from casual to signature restaurants.
The Spa & Salon and fitness center are on-site and included in practical arrival planning: spa services have age limits (guests under 18 are not allowed in the spa) and the fitness center is included with the mandatory resort fee.
- Spa & Salon: two-level, 27,000 sq ft facility with treatment rooms; guests under 18 are not permitted in the spa.
- Fitness center: advanced fitness equipment; access is included as a resort fee amenity.
- Theater & meeting space: a 3,000-seat Theater and multiple ballrooms/meeting rooms reduce the need to travel for events.
| Facility | Notes |
|---|---|
| The Spa & Salon | Adult-only policy for spa guests; hydrotherapy and treatment rooms |
| Fitness center | Complimentary with resort fee; listed as 24-hour on some sites |
| Theater & ballrooms | Large on-site event spaces (Theater seats 3,000) |
Dining and nightlife — moving within the resort
MGM National Harbor has a broad dining lineup so guests can walk between casual and formal restaurants without leaving the property. Options include Voltaggio Brothers Steak House, Ginger, Diablo's Cantina, Osteria Costa, Bread + Butter, Shake Shack, National Market and more.
Nightlife and sports-watching venues are also on-site: BetMGM Sportsbook & Lounge and TAP Sports Bar are convenient meeting spots inside the resort, and Diablo's Cantina provides a late-night nightlife option.
- Signature and casual restaurants are all inside the resort building — no external travel required for most meals.
- National Market is a food-hall option for quick, varied choices in one indoor space.
- Make reservations for higher-demand venues (Voltaggio Brothers Steak House and some specialty restaurants) through the concierge or the restaurant’s reservation line.
| Type | Example venues |
|---|---|
| Signature dining | Voltaggio Brothers Steak House; Harbor Provisions |
| Casual / quick | Bread + Butter; Shake Shack; National Market |
| Lounge / bar | BetMGM Sportsbook & Lounge; TAP Sports Bar; Diablo's Cantina |
Day trips and walking routes
Popular short excursions from the resort include the Capital Wheel on the National Harbor waterfront, Tanger Outlets for shopping, and historic Old Town Alexandria. Mount Vernon is a frequently-cited day trip by car and is reachable in about 14 minutes by road from National Harbor.
If you want to stay local, the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail and nearby marina provide easy outdoor options for walking, biking or short waterfront strolls.
- Capital Wheel: short trip on the Harbor waterfront; year-round operation with climate-controlled gondolas.
- Tanger Outlets: shoppers often use the free Circulator bus from the Harbor.
- Mount Vernon and Old Town Alexandria: short drives or combined water/land routes depending on season and water taxi availability.
| Destination | Typical travel time from MGM |
|---|---|
| Capital Wheel | A few minutes at the Harbor (short walk/drive) |
| Tanger Outlets | Short drive or short Circulator bus trip |
| George Washington’s Mount Vernon | About a 14-minute drive (check seasonal water options) |
Practical tips for getting around during your stay
Check-in at MGM National Harbor begins at 3:00 PM and check-out is at 11:00 AM. The property requires a credit-card authorization or refundable deposit at check-in for incidental charges as listed on booking pages.
A mandatory resort fee applies and typically includes fitness center access, in-room bottled water, in-room coffee and internet access. Parking and valet carry separate daily charges on many booking pages, and service animals are welcome while pets are not allowed.
- Check-in: 3:00 PM. Check-out: 11:00 AM.
- Minimum age to check in and to gamble: 21 years.
- Resort fee: a mandatory nightly resort fee is charged (see booking confirmation for the current amount).
- Deposit: a refundable incidental deposit is collected at check-in per property listings.
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Check-in / check-out | 3:00 PM / 11:00 AM |
| Minimum check-in age | 21 years |
| Resort fee / deposit | Mandatory resort fee plus refundable incidental deposit at check-in |
