Hours
Grounds: 8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Visitors Center: 9:00 AM–4:30 PM

Restrooms
Restrooms are located in the Visitors Center, open 9:00 AM–4:30 PM.  Restrooms are not available on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, when the Visitors Center is closed.

Medical Service Dogs Only 
In consideration of the safety of our visitors, we allow only medical service dogs on the holy grounds. 

No Smoking
No smoking is allowed on the Grotto Grounds, Parking Lot, or the grounds of Mount St. Mary’s Cemetery.
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Access to Entrance
Accessible parking spaces are limited; however, you may drop off your family at the Miller Family Visitors Center. Transportation is available from the parking lot to the Miller Family Visitors Center or St. Mary's Chapel.  Call (301) 447-5318 or email  us for reservations.

Accessibility Throughout the Grounds
All places at the National Shrine Grotto are wheelchair accessible, except the steps immediately before Corpus Christi Chapel, the amphitheater seating steps at the Grotto Cave, and the end of the lane leading to the Calvary Scene statue beyond the Grotto Cave. Wheelchairs are available, free of charge, in the Miller Family Visitors Center.

Parking
There is one paved parking lot for cars, with more than 240 spaces, located approximately 1/8 of a mile from the Miller Family Visitors Center and entrance to the Grotto.

Our parking is on a downhill grade and may be a challenge for motorcycle parking. We also have a designated flat, gravel area beyond the entrance of the Mount St. Mary’s Cemetery entrance.

Attention Bus Drivers! 
Please drop off your group at the Miller Family Visitors Center and park your bus at Mount St. Mary's University Parking Lot 10, surrounding Memorial Gym (refer to campus map).

Picnic Area
We have a small picnic area near the John Hughes Cabin and overlooking Mount St. Mary's Seminary and the country below. Please help us keep the area clean and free of food and trash. A trash bin is located near the picnic area. Recycling bins are located in the Miller Family Visitors Center. See the Interactive Map of the Grotto for picnic area details. 
NO picnics in the Grotto Parking Lot and no picnics on the grounds of Mount St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Schedule Group Visit