National Zoo Metro Park and ride

Question

Hello,

We are visiting the national zoo on a Saturday in a couple weeks. Staying north of the city by BWI. I see we can take the metro on the red line to get to the zoo at the cleveland park stop. Do any of the stops on the red line have parking where we could park our car and take metro a few stops to the zoo? Bethesda maybe? Would rather not have to find parking at the zoo. Thank you.

Answer

Visiting the National Zoo in Washington DC by Metro is a smart choice, especially on a Saturday when parking near the zoo is extremely limited. The Cleveland Park Metro station (Red Line) is the closest stop to the zoo, but as you mentioned, it doesn’t have parking facilities for riders. Parking along the street nearby is very restricted and often enforced strictly.

Fortunately, several Red Line stations further out from the city have parking lots where you can park your car and ride the Metro to Cleveland Park. Bethesda is one of the most convenient options:

Bethesda Station: Bethesda has a large Metro station with paid parking garages nearby. You can park here and take the Red Line just a few stops to Cleveland Park. This is a very popular choice for zoo visitors.
Friendship Heights Station: Another Red Line stop with parking facilities. A bit further north, but still only a few stops from Cleveland Park. The parking is paid and may fill up on weekends, so arriving early is recommended.
Van Ness-UDC Station: Slightly closer to the zoo than Bethesda, Van Ness has a small parking garage. Limited spots, but if you can secure a space, it’s a convenient option for the zoo.

Other considerations:

All Metro parking lots are paid and can fill up quickly on weekends, so plan to arrive early (ideally before 10 AM) to guarantee a spot.
The Red Line from Bethesda to Cleveland Park is only about 3–4 stops, making the ride short and convenient for families.
If parking at a Metro station seems uncertain, another option is to park near a nearby shopping center or public garage with easy Metro access, though be aware of local parking rules.

Overall, using Bethesda or Friendship Heights as a park-and-ride hub is the most reliable way to avoid the hassle of finding parking at or near the National Zoo, especially on a busy Saturday. The Metro ride is short, and the walk from Cleveland Park station to the zoo is manageable for most visitors.