Paws for Purple Hearts (VA0739P)

Directions to Cemetery

Navigation systems do an adequate job finding the cemetery. When you arrive, please follow the people and signs to the site of the ceremony itself.

Note: The traffic circle to Memorial Drive will be closed to motorists. No personal vehicles will be allowed into the cemetery.

Parking Instructions

Use Metro to Access the Cemetery

Due to anticipated congestion at the Arlington Cemetery Station, Metro recommends volunteers exit via the Rosslyn or Pentagon stations and walk to the cemetery. From these locations it is a short 15-minute walk to one of the cemetery entrances. If exiting at Rosslyn, you must enter the cemetery via the Ord & Weitzel gate by walking along the North Meade Street sidewalks. If exiting at the Pentagon, you must enter through the cemetery’s South Gate entrance. 

Pentagon Parking  

Limited general public parking will be available at the Pentagon North and South Parking lots. There will be Wreaths Across America volunteers and signage positioned in the parking lots guiding visitors to walk to the nearest cemetery entrances. For those parking in Pentagon South Parking, recommend walking to the cemetery’s South Gate entrance for screening and entry to the grounds. For those parking in Pentagon North Parking, recommend walking to the cemetery’s main entrance on Memorial Ave. by using the Route 27 pedestrian walkway. 

There will be additional parking lots available for volunteers at a reduced $7 per day rate, within walking distance to the cemetery. These garages are located at: 1616 Fort Myer Drive; 1300 Wilson Blvd.; and 1655 North Fort Myers Drive.

Family Pass Holders/Handicapped Placards

ONLY family pass holders and those with handicapped placards will be allowed to park in the ANC Welcome Center parking garage. 

Instructions: Family pass holders and those with handicapped plates/placards will need to go to Pentagon North Parking where their pass will be verified. They will then be directed to the ANC Welcome Center parking garage. Once the parking garage is full, drivers will be directed to other parking options.

Note: This is a change from last year. There is NO pre-registration required for family pass holder parking this year. 

Ride Share Drop-off Locations

For those volunteers who plan to arrive via a ride share (i.e. Uber, Lyft), the drop off location is the Hayes lot (599-549 Army Navy Drive). From this point, volunteers will need to walk to the cemetery’s South Gate entrance. 

Ceremony and Volunteer Information

Event Details

The Arlington National Cemetery gates – Main Entrance, South Gate and Ord & Weitzel – will open to the public at 8 a.m. All volunteers must pass through the cemetery’s security screening process before entering the cemetery.

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall will be accessible to DoD ID card holders only; however, parking will be limited to the Tri Services parking lot located across from the Spates Community Center and Henderson Hall. Due to ongoing construction, the sole entry point to the cemetery from Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall will be the Old Post Chapel Gate.

There will be a brief opening ceremony inside the cemetery at the McClellan Gate at 8:30 a.m. General wreath placement will also begin at this time with the exception of those trucks in vicinity of the opening ceremony. They will begin wreath placements no later than 9 a.m.

Visit Arlington National Cemetery's website www.arlingtoncemetery.mil for regular updates about access and security.

Please follow the Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ArlingtonWreaths/ for regular updates.