Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center is located at 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, Maryland 21037, about 30 miles east of Washington, D.C. The campus sits on the Rhode River, a subestuary of the Chesapeake Bay. Directions to the campus from various parts of Maryland and D.C. are below.

Get directions to specific buildings on the SERC campus

From Washington, D.C.:

Follow US-50 East toward Annapolis
Take exit 16 to merge onto MD-424 South / Davidsonville Rd. toward Davidsonville
Turn left at the traffic light onto MD-214 / Central Ave.
Follow directions from Central Avenue in Edgewater below

From Baltimore:

Take I-695 East toward Glen Burnie / Annapolis
Keep left to continue onto I-97 South toward Annapolis / Bay Bridge
Take the US-50 East / US-301 North exit toward Annapolis / Bay Bridge
Take exit 22 on the right to merge onto MD-665 East
Keep left onto MD-665 East
Use the right lane to take the exit onto MD-2 / Solomons Island Rd. toward Edgewater
Turn right onto Solomons Island Rd. toward Edgewater and continue for about 4 miles
Turn left onto MD-214 / Central Ave.
Follow directions from Central Avenue in Edgewater below

From the Eastern Shore:

Take US-50 West over the Bay Bridge
Take exit 23A onto MD-2 South
Keep left to continue onto MD-2 South / Solomons Island Rd.
Turn left onto Solomons Island Rd. and continue for about 5 miles
Turn left onto MD-214 / Central Ave.
Follow directions from Central Avenue in Edgewater below

From Southern Maryland:

Take MD-4 North
Take the MD-258 exit toward MD-259
Turn right onto MD-259 North
Turn right onto MD-408 East
At the roundabout, take the 2^nd exit onto Solomons Island Rd.
Turn right onto Mill Swamp Rd.
Turn left onto MD-468 West / Muddy Creek Rd. and continue for about 1.5 miles
Turn right onto Contees Wharf Road. You'll see a brown Smithsonian Environmental Research Center sign at the turn.

From Central Avenue in Edgewater, MD:

Follow MD-214 / Central Ave. East to the traffic light at MD-468 / Muddy Creek Road, then turn right.
Proceed about 1 mile, then turn left onto Contees Wharf Road. You'll see a brown Smithsonian Environmental Research Center sign at the turn.

You will pass a security kiosk. After about 3/4 of a mile, you will come to an all-way stop sign (this refers to the normal-sized stop sign, not the smaller one for the crosswalk). Continue straight to go to the Reed Education Center and the SERC dock (there is an old wooden tobacco barn on the road to Reed). For all other SERC buildings, go right. Find instructions to specific buildings below:

Finding Your Way Around Campus

For the Reed Education Center / SERC Docks:

After passing the security kiosk, drive about 3/4 of a mile until you come to an all-way stop sign (this refers to the normal-sized stop sign, not the smaller one for the crosswalk). As you look straight, just past the stop sign, you will see an old wooden tobacco barn on the right side of the road. Go straight and follow the road until it ends. The Reed Education Center is the blue building on the right, near the water.

For the Woodlawn History Center:

After passing the security kiosk, the Woodlawn History Center is the first house on your left, with a sign to welcome you. The Woodlawn History Center is open on select Fridays and Saturdays. Find out when to visit.

For the New Dominion - Administration Building:

After passing the security kiosk, drive about 3/4 of a mile until you come to an all-way stop sign (this refers to the normal-sized stop sign, not the smaller one for the crosswalk). Turn right. You will come to another all-way stop sign. Continue straight. The Administration building is the beige two-story frame building on your right.

*For parking, turn right at the stop sign instead of going straight, and use the parking lot on your left. After crossing the lot, you will see a garden with a pond. The Administration building is the smaller beige building across from the pond.

For the Schmidt Conference Center, Green Village Dormitory, and Visitor Cottages:

After passing the security kiosk, drive about 3/4 of a mile until you come to an all-way stop sign (this refers to the normal-sized stop sign, not the smaller one for the crosswalk). Turn right. You will come to another all-way stop sign. Turn right. The Schmidt Center is a brown brick building on the right, just past the row of parking spots. The Green Village Dorm is a two-story gray building on your right. The Visitor Cottages are the newly built two-story blue, olive, and beige buildings behind the Green Village Dorm.

For the Mathias Laboratory:

After passing the security kiosk, drive about 3/4 of a mile until you come to an all-way stop sign (this refers to the normal-sized stop sign, not the smaller one for the crosswalk). Turn right. You will come to another all-way stop sign. Continue straight. The Mathias Lab is the large silver building at the end of the circular driveway.

*For parking, turn right at the stop sign instead of going straight and use the parking lot on your left. After crossing the lot you will see a garden with a pond. The Mathias Lab is the large building across the sidewalk with silver tables. To reach the front entrance, walk to the sidewalk and go left. You'll reach a circular driveway. The front entrance is up the stairs and through the glass doors.

Airports:

If you are visiting SERC from afar, Baltimore Washington International (BWI) Airport is the closest airport, at about 27 miles from SERC. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is also not far from SERC, at about 35 miles.