U.S. Open: Where to Park and What Not to Bring

The 2011 U.S. Open opens today, Monday, June 13, and continues through Sunday, June 19, at Congressional Country Club, in Bethesda. Organizers are warning people to brace for thicker traffic and have issued the following guidelines for spectators.

Where to park

The US Golf Association (USGA) will operate approximately 275 shuttle buses from the three parking areas continuously from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily and will drop off spectators near the main admission gate. Spectators should allow extra time for to the screening process before boarding the shuttles at the parking locations.

Spectators traveling by car should follow event signs to general spectator parking off Interstate 270 in Gaithersburg at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds and at the Crown Farm property. 

For spectators traveling along Interstate 95 and west of Interstate 495 in Virginia, parking will be available in a reserved lot at Dulles International Airport, which requires a parking pass. 

Spectators in the local area or out-of-town spectators staying in Virginia should have called the championship office (888-823-4465) prior to June 10 to obtain parking passes.

What not to bring

Don’t bring these items to the U.S. Open:

• Cell phones, PDAs and other portable email devices
• Noise-producing electronic devices (including MP3 players)
• Cameras or camcorders (other than Monday through Wednesday for personal non-commercial photographic use only and without their cases)
• Bags larger than 8-inches wide-by-8-inches tall-by- 8 inches deep in their natural states
• Cases or covers (such as chair or umbrella covers)
• Signs, posters and banners
• Televisions or radios, unless provided by the USGA
• Food and beverages
• Containers and coolers
• Pets other than service animals
• Lawn and folding armchairs
• Bicycles
• Ladders, step stools or other similar items
• Metal-spiked golf shoes
• Weapons (regardless of permit, including but not limited to, firearms or knives). 
• Any other items deemed unlawful or dangerous by the USGA or championship security personnel

More information:

• www.usopen.com. 
• www.montgomerycountymd.gov
• www.usga.org