Entrances and Access
Public Entrances
There are four primary public entrances to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
The entrance on Mt. Vernon Place, between 7th and 9th Streets NW is frequently
referred to as the main entrance. This is the pedestrian entrance for guests walking
from downtown and is the entrance closest to taxi drop-off and pick-up.
The entrances on either side of L Street NW (the north side near Rooms 140 and 156, and the south side by Rooms 102 and 103) are also heavily used, especially by guests arriving via shuttle buses. Both sides of L Street can be used for shuttle buses, depending on the number of shuttle bus routes, or the number of events with active shuttle bus activity on a given day.
These entrances are typically open during standard business hours, but hours are adjusted based on your specific daily requirements and overall event activity.
The Metrorail (subway) entrance is near the southwest corner of M and 7th Streets, NW. The Green and Yellow subway lines stop at this exit, called the “Mt. Vernon Square/ 7th St,/ Convention Center” exit. All other subway lines connect to these two lines, so the Center is served by the entire Metro system. Guests arriving via Metro can see the entrance to the center directly in front of them as they travel up the escalators exiting the Metro. For more information on Metro routes, rates and hours, please consult Metro’s website,
www.metroopensdoors.com.
General Service Contractors ("Show") Labor ad Exhibitor Appointed Contractors (EAC) Entrance
The entrance at the northeast corner of 9th and L Streets, NW is typically designated as the show labor entrance. The security services department manages this entrance. Workers arriving at this entrance must show their Center issued badge, or show a photo identification and union card to receive a temporary work badge and report to their designated work area.
Loading Docks/Loading Dock Access Procedures
Trucks must enter the loading docks from M Street driving eastbound. The entrance to the Hall ABC docks is near the 7th Street corner of M Street. Access to the Hall DE loading docks is near the 9th St corner of M Street.
Guests with “show management” or other Center parking passes use the Hall ABC dock entrance. Private vehicles with Center parking passes stay to the right, and follow the “Authorized Parking Only” signs.
The transportation services department manages the operation of the loading dock and schedules officers at the entrances. Following are general procedures:
- General service contractors must assign personnel at the loading dock entrance(s) on M Street to provide direction to traffic moving to and from the exhibit hall (s) they are servicing.
- All trucks must enter the docks from the west at 9th and M Streets.
- Traffic for Halls A, B or C may be temporarily directed to wait on the M Street south side curb lane until that traffic can be directed to the Halls A, B or C docks.
- Traffic for Halls D or E should wait on northbound 9th Street until they can be directed to the Halls D or E docks.
- All trucks must exit the center on westbound M Street to 9TH Street (turn right from the docks.)
- Your contractor is required to hire Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to facilitate their traffic flow when heavy traffic is expected on M Street.
- There is limited space for truck staging on the loading dock ramps. Your contractor must constantly monitor that trucks staged for Hall ABC bays do not extend beyond the entrance to the center staff parking area; trucks staged for Hall DE bays must not extend beyond the crossover ramp near the house docks.
- Standard loading dock access hours for the loading docks are 7am-7pm daily. Hours may be adjusted based on your contractor’s receiving schedule.
- Your event manager must be notified of all freight delivery schedules and will coordinate with the transportation services department.
- Please inform us if your loading dock hours change. Changes made within 48 hours may result in additional labor charges if we are unable to accommodate the additional hours with scheduled staff.
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Hand-Carry Entrance
The entrance at the southwest corner of 9th St and Mt. Vernon Place has been designated as the hand-carry entrance. Exhibitors may use this entrance to transport materials they can carry in one trip to their booths.
Examples of acceptable hand-carry materials include boxes, suitcases or fiberboard shipping cartons, portable displays on wheels and small luggage racks.
The following items are not considered hand-carry items: two wheel dolly loads, hotel Bellman’s carts, boxes or crates requiring two people to carry.
Other entrances for hand-carry may be designated based on the event location, and other events in the building.
24 Hour Access
We secure the public entrances and loading docks at the end of event activities each day. Please discuss overnight access, if required, with your event manager, who will identify the best entrance(s) for you to use, and coordinate with our security and transportation services departments.