Dumbarton Oaks Garden Tickets

The Dumbarton Oaks Garden is an oasis within the city.  A hidden gem of Georgetown. Designed by renowned landscape gardener Beatrix Farrand in collaboration with Mildred Bliss, the garden extends over ten acres of terraced gardens and vistas, orchards, and kitchen gardens. Beyond it extends a wilderness of meadows and wooded pathways. Farrand and Bliss worked together for almost thirty years to achieve their vision of the garden which includes many fine decorative ornaments—benches, gates, finials, and sculptures.

The Dumbarton Oaks Garden is open Tuesday–Sunday, from 2–6pm.  All tickets are valid for entrance on the date selected at any time between 2-6pm.

Please consult our website for more information. A map of the Garden can be found here.

FAQs

Is there anything I need to know before I come to the Garden? 

We ask that guests respect this historic garden and treat it as an outdoor museum space.

Please leave the garden as you found it, use only benches and chairs for sitting, and be courteous of other guests and Dumbarton Oaks staff.

• NO commercial or professional photography/videography
• NO tripods, monopods, selfie sticks, lights, or other bulky photographic equipment
• NO picnicking
• NO littering
• NO climbing on or hanging from trees
• NO picking flowers or other plants
• NO touching, climbing, or sitting on fountains, sculpture, or garden walls
• NO smoking
• NO pets, except trained service animals 
• NO bicycles, scooters, skateboards, rollerblades, or hoverboards
• NO weapons of any kind

By entering this property, guests agree to adhere to these rules.

What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the Garden?

The entry gate to the Garden is located on R St, which is separate from the Museum entrance. 

Unfortunately we do not have parking facilities for visitors. Two-hour street parking is available. There is no time limit on Sunday, but the District of Columbia is efficient about ticketing over the two-hour limit in this zone on weekdays and Saturdays. Additional parking information can be found on the Georgetown tourism website.

Bus

D.C. Metrobus routes 31, 33, 30N, and 30S, and the Georgetown Circulator, have a stop at Wisconsin Avenue and R Street. Metrobus routes D1, D2, and D3 stop at Q and 31st Streets, and the G2 route stops at P and 31st Streets.

Metro

The Dupont Circle metro station (red line) and the Foggy Bottom-GWU metro station (blue/orange/silver lines) are closest to Dumbarton Oaks. Visitors may either walk from the stations, or transfer to a Metrobus: D1, D2, D3, D6, and G2 (Dupont Circle), and 31, 33, 30N, 30S, and Georgetown Circulator (Foggy Bottom-GWU).

Bicycle

Dumbarton Oaks offers secure bicycle racks at the entrances to both the museum and gardens. The nearest Capital Bikeshare station is located two blocks from the museum entrance, at Wisconsin Avenue and 34th Street.

Is the Garden accessible?

The garden, in keeping with its topography and historic design, presents several challenges to visitors with mobility impairments, including steep inclines, slippery surfaces, loose gravel walkways, staircases, and other impediments. For detailed information, see Accessibility.

What can I bring into the Garden?

Visitors may bring water into the garden, but food and picnicking are not allowed.

What happens if there is inclement weather?

In the event of unsafe conditions caused by inclement weather, the Garden will close.  If the Garden is open, tickets will not be refunded or transferred.  If the Garden is closed, we will contact you through Eventbrite with next steps for rescheduling your visit.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

You can bring a printed or electronic copy of your ticket to the Garden. And don't forget to skip the line! Tickets purchased through EventBrite allow you to skip the line and enter directly at the gate, checking in with the security guard or gate attendant.

Is my registration fee or ticket transferrable? Is it ok if the name on my ticket or registration doesn't match the person who attends?

The Security Guard or Garden Gate Attendant will be monitoring entry to the Garden, matching tickets to the names listed.  You can give your ticket to a friend, who will then take your place.  If you opted to enter at a later time, you would need to purchase new ticket at the Garden Gate.

May I take photos?

Commercial, promotional, and professional photography are not permitted, but photography for personal use is welcome. Flash photography and video cameras are not allowed in the museum, but may be used in the garden. Photographs may be posted to personal websites and blogs, and to social media.

Tripods, lights, and bulky photography equipment, are not allowed in the museum and gardens.

For digital or print publication, including scholarly and educational use, please refer to Rights and Reproductions.

I have another question not listed, how can I have my question answered?

We recommend visiting the FAQs here. If your question is still not answered, please contact the General Information line at (202) 339-6400 ext. 6401.