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What You Can Bring Into Stadiums and Arenas in Washington DC

We cover 8 venues in Washington DC, and all of them have verified pages: 2 stadiums, 1 arena and 5 attractions. Their bag rules differ, so the table below puts each rule next to its official source and the date we checked it. Check each venue before you pack.

Last updated

At a glance

Venues covered
8
Verified so far
8
Last checked
Oct 7, 2026

Bag, bottle and food rules in Washington DC

These rows come from each Washington DC venue's own policy page.

Bag policy

  • Audi FieldConditional

    No bags larger than 14 x 14 x 6 inches are allowed, and no backpacks or luggage. Cinch bags that fit the size limit are allowed. Fans are strongly encouraged to bring no bag, and there are separate lanes for fans with and without bags.

    Audi Field A-Z guide, checked

  • Capital One ArenaConditional

    The arena has a strict no bag policy. Bags, backpacks and purses are not permitted, while wallet-size clutches up to 4 x 6 inches and medical or parenting bags up to 14 x 14 x 6 inches are, after security screening.

    Capital One Arena policies page, checked

  • National Air and Space MuseumConditional

    All visitors go through a security checkpoint that may include additional bag inspection. The museum asks visitors to minimize bags and personal items. It gives no bag size limit.

    National Air and Space Museum what to expect page, checked

  • National Museum of African American History and CultureConditional

    Security staff hand-check all bags, briefcases, purses and containers, and visitors are encouraged to limit what they bring. Luggage may be carried through the museum if needed, and no bag size limit is stated.

    NMAAHC frequently asked questions page, checked

  • National Museum of American HistoryConditional

    All visitors walk through a metal detector, and bags are checked by hand or X-ray. The page says fewer items mean faster entry and gives no bag size limit.

    National Museum of American History visit page, checked

  • National Museum of Natural HistoryConditional

    Bags may be subject to a thorough search, and the museum encourages visitors to limit what they bring. It gives no bag size limit.

    National Museum of Natural History visit page, checked

  • Nationals ParkConditional

    Any bag larger than a 5 x 7 x 0.75 inch clutch must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and no larger than 16 x 16 x 8 inches. A one-gallon freezer bag counts, and a small non-clear clutch can come in with one of the clear options. All bags are searched.

    Nationals Park bag policy page, checked

  • Washington MonumentConditional

    Bags larger than 18 x 16 x 8 inches are not allowed within the monument. The page gives no other bag rule.

    Washington Monument restricted items page, checked

Water bottle

  • Audi FieldConditional

    Glass, metal or plastic containers of any kind are not permitted. During a heat advisory, D.C. United allows one sealed bottle of water per person up to 20 ounces, and says so in advance.

    Audi Field A-Z guide, checked

  • Capital One ArenaConditional

    Each guest may bring in one empty plastic water bottle for personal use. Cans and bottles are on the prohibited list.

    Capital One Arena policies page, checked

  • National Air and Space MuseumAllowed

    Bottled water is on the allowed list.

    National Air and Space Museum entry and guidelines page, checked

  • National Museum of African American History and CultureAllowed

    Visitors may bring a bottle of water into the museum.

    NMAAHC frequently asked questions page, checked

  • National Museum of American HistoryAllowed

    Water is permitted throughout the building, and spilled liquids should be reported right away.

    National Museum of American History visit page, checked

  • National Museum of Natural HistoryAllowed

    Bottled water is on the list of items permitted in the museum.

    National Museum of Natural History visit page, checked

  • Nationals ParkConditional

    One clear, factory-sealed or empty plastic water bottle of up to 1 liter per person is allowed. Metal and glass containers are not, and frozen bottles are not allowed except ones holding infant or human milk.

    Nationals Park bag policy page, checked

  • Washington MonumentConditional

    Food and drink are not allowed, except sealed food, water and baby formula in clear plastic containers. Glass and ceramics are not allowed.

    Washington Monument restricted items page, checked

Outside food

  • Audi FieldNot allowed

    Outside food and beverage is prohibited.

    Audi Field A-Z guide, checked

  • Capital One ArenaNot allowed

    Outside food and beverages, alcohol included, are not allowed for any game, concert or event.

    Capital One Arena policies page, checked

  • National Air and Space MuseumNot allowed

    Food and drink are not allowed, and the museum asks visitors not to bring outside food. Bottled water is permitted.

    National Air and Space Museum entry and guidelines page, checked

  • National Museum of African American History and CultureConditional

    All other outside food or drink must be closed and secured and may not be consumed in the museum. Bagged lunches can be eaten outside on the National Mall.

    NMAAHC frequently asked questions page, checked

  • National Museum of American HistoryConditional

    Open containers of food and drink are not permitted. Food and drinks that are closed and secured may be carried through the museum, and food may be eaten only in the designated cafeterias. Brown bag lunches may be eaten on the terrace or the National Mall, and there is no storage for them inside.

    National Museum of American History visit page, checked

  • National Museum of Natural HistoryNot allowed

    Seating for bagged lunches is not available. Bagged lunches must be stowed away at all times and eaten outside the museum, and there is no refrigerated storage.

    National Museum of Natural History visit page, checked

  • Nationals ParkConditional

    Single-serving food items may be brought in if they are in one of the approved bags or carried in your hands so they can be screened. Juice boxes, insulin containers and baby food are also named as allowed.

    Nationals Park bag policy page, checked

  • Washington MonumentConditional

    Food and drink are not allowed within the monument, except sealed food, water and baby formula in clear plastic containers.

    Washington Monument restricted items page, checked

Every venue we cover in Washington DC

8 venues in Washington DC are on our list. A verified page shows its bag rule here, and the others say they are still being checked.

Showing 8 of 8

How bag limits compare in Washington DC

Among the 8 verified venues, the bag rules we read were: Nationals Park (clear up to 16 x 16 x 8 in, plus small clutch), Capital One Arena (wallet clutch 4 x 6 in, medical bags 14 x 14 x 6 in), Audi Field (any bag up to 14 x 14 x 6 in, no backpacks), National Museum of Natural History (searched, travel light), Washington Monument (up to 18 x 16 x 8 in), National Air and Space Museum (inspected, minimize bags), National Museum of American History (checked by hand or X-ray, no size limit) and National Museum of African American History and Culture (hand-checked, no size limit).

Questions about Washington DC venues

  1. Not by default. The bag rules we have verified in Washington DC differ, so read the table above. A small clear bag is the easier choice if you visit more than one venue, but read each page.

  2. No. We add venues in waves, starting with the places people search for most. A venue we have not read yet says so, and we show no rule for it.

  3. Often they do. A game, a concert and a festival at the same venue can have different limits, so each venue page says which events its source covers.

Sources for this page

Every verified rule comes from one of these official pages. They open in a new tab.

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Not affiliated with any venue. Always confirm with the venue for your event. How we verify