SPX COVID Policy:
While not required, SPX strongly encourages everyone attending the festival to wear a mask while indoors to limit the transmission of Covid-19 and other illnesses that commonly arise from crowded conventions.
If you are unable to provide your own, masks will be made available outside the ballroom and programming rooms. We thank you for considering the health of SPX’s community of exhibitors, special guests, volunteers, staff, and attendees.
SPX is held at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Marriott Bethesda North Hotel & Conference Center
5701 Marinelli Road.
North Bethesda, MD 20852
301-822-9200
Getting to SPX via the Metro
The Conference Center is a short 5-minute walk from the North Bethesda Metro station on the Metro’s Red Line.
Parking
- Parking at the North Bethesda Metro station is free on weekends. The parking garage for the station is located at 11845 Citadel Avenue, North Bethesda, Maryland 20852, a short 10-minute walk to the Conference Center. The entrance is directly behind the pedestrian exit from the Metro station.
- Conference Center parking for attendees with a hotel reservation: $19 daily.
- Conference Center parking for attendees without a hotel reservation: $2.50 hourly, max of $30 per day.
Out-of-Town Travelers
By Rail
AMTRAK – Union Station is the Amtrak and regional train depot, where you can connect to the Metro. Board the Red Line train towards Shady Grove and exit at the North Bethesda Metro station. It is approximately a 30 minute trip from Union Station to the North Bethesda Metro station.
MARC (Maryland Area Regional Commuter) – Take MARC to Union Station and change to the Red Line towards Shady Grove and exit at the North Bethesda Metro station.
VRE (Virginia Railway Express) – Take VRE to Union Station and change to the Red Line towards Shady Grove. Exit at the North Bethesda Metro station.
By Air
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) is probably the easiest route to take if you do not rent a car because it is metro accessible. However, it is probably the most expensive airport to fly into. The Metro (subway) system is connected to National and the White Flint station is only a block from the Mariott. Take the Yellow Line heading into the city (towards Fort Totten), and get off at Gallery Place/Chinatown. From there, switch to the Red Line towards Shady Grove. Take the Red Line to the White Flint. For a map of the Metro system, go here. For more information on the Metro system, including fares, check out the Washington Area Transit Authority Home Page at http://www.wmata.com.
Dulles International Airport (IAD) is about 30 minutes with no traffic (to Bethesda). If you fly in the morning, you’re golden. Take 495 north out of the Dulles access road. When you get to where 495 bears to the right, stay in the right hand lane (still on 495). Then follow that about another 10 minutes, and take the Old Georgetown Road (187) exit north. Take a right on Rockville Pike and a right on Marinelli.
Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) is a 40 minute drive. If you go BWI, take I-195 (West) to I-95 (South). When I-95 splits, stay on I-495 heading towards Northern Virginia. You’ll be on that for 40 minutes, then take the Rockville Pike (355) exit north. Left on Marinelli.