Where Do the Washington Commanders Play? Your Complete Stadium & Travel Guide (2026)

Quick answer: The Washington Commanders play at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. It's about 5 miles east of downtown DC, just outside the District line in Prince George's County. The team is named for the city but hasn't actually played inside DC since 1996. That's changing: a new stadium is under construction at the old RFK site in DC, but it isn't scheduled to open until 2030. Until then, Northwest Stadium remains home. There's no direct Metro stop at the stadium — Morgan Boulevard station is about a mile away — so most fans either drive with a prepaid parking pass or use a car service for a door-to-door option that skips the walk and the post-game traffic.

Where Do the Washington Commanders Play?

The Commanders play their home games at Northwest Stadium, located at 1600 FedEx Way in Landover, Maryland. The stadium has gone through several name changes over the years — it opened in 1997 as Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, became FedExField in 1999, was briefly Commanders Field, and took its current name, Northwest Stadium, after a 2024 naming-rights deal with Northwest Federal Credit Union. Same building, same address, different sign out front.

Is Commanders Stadium Actually in Washington, DC?

No — and this is the source of most of the confusion. Northwest Stadium sits in Landover, Maryland, in Prince George's County, roughly 5 miles east of the District line. The "Washington" in Washington Commanders refers to the metro region and the franchise's history, not the stadium's current physical location.

Here's the fuller context: the team played inside DC, at RFK Stadium, from 1961 to 1996. Ownership at the time wanted a larger stadium with more parking than could be built within the city, and the franchise moved to the current Landover site in 1997. The team has not played a home game inside DC's borders since.

From RFK to Landover — and Back Again

That return is now official. In 2025, the Commanders reached a deal — approved by the DC Council — to build a new, roughly 65,000-seat roofed stadium on the old RFK Stadium site in DC. Groundbreaking is planned for around 2026, with an opening targeted for 2030. You can see the team's early renderings in NFL.com's coverage of the new stadium design.

How Far Is the Stadium From Downtown DC?

Northwest Stadium is about 10 miles from the National Mall and roughly 5 miles from the District line itself, typically a 20–35 minute drive depending on traffic and which part of DC you're starting from. It's close enough to feel like a DC-area venue day-to-day, but far enough that transit access and traffic patterns feel distinctly suburban rather than urban.

What's the Easiest Way to Get There?

Driving is how most fans arrive, and it's the most flexible option — but Northwest Stadium's parking is prepaid-only. There's no cash drive-up option for general lots, so buy your pass in advance through the team's official ticketing partners rather than assuming you can pay at the gate.

A car service is worth strong consideration given the stadium's layout: no Metro stop at the venue itself, a mile-long walk from the nearest station, and a suburban road network that backs up hard after the final whistle. A private car or SUV drops you at a designated pickup zone and skips both the parking-lot walk and the worst of the exit traffic — particularly useful for groups splitting the cost, since one shared vehicle often costs less per person than several rideshares plus everyone's individual parking.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) works but comes with real friction here: the designated pickup/drop-off zone is a walk from the gates, not curbside, and drivers frequently won't accept post-game pickup requests directly at the stadium due to surrounding traffic — riders are often advised to walk toward the Metro station or a nearby stop before requesting a ride home.

Can You Take the Metro?

Yes, but with a real caveat: there's no Metro station directly at Northwest Stadium. The closest stop is Morgan Boulevard on the Blue and Silver lines, and it's about a 1-mile, 20-minute walk from there to the gates — not a quick hop like at some other NFL venues. Metro service can also end before a late game finishes, so check the schedule if you're planning to ride home after a night game. The official Northwest Stadium site has current parking, transit, and rideshare details.

Is Parking Available?

Yes — Northwest Stadium has extensive surface-lot parking, and tailgating is a genuine institution here. The catch is that all general parking is prepaid only through official channels (typically the team's designated partners); there's no buying a spot with cash at the gate. Lots typically open 3–4 hours before kickoff, and buying your pass ahead of time is the difference between a smooth arrival and circling for a spot that doesn't exist.

Game-Day Arrival Plan

The stadium address is 1600 FedEx Way, Landover, MD 20785 (you'll also see 1600 Ring Road in some team materials — both point to the same site). Here's how to time your arrival.

1. Decide how you're getting there first. Prepaid parking, car service, or Metro-plus-walk — each needs to be sorted before game day, not on arrival.
2. If driving, buy parking in advance. General lots are prepaid-only through official partners; there's no cash drive-up.
3. Arrive 2–3 hours before kickoff. Earlier if you're tailgating — lots open 3–4 hours out, and surrounding roads back up fast near kickoff.
4. Plan the ride home before the game. Post-game traffic and limited transit make the exit the hard part — a scheduled pickup avoids the worst of it.

Frequently Asked Questions