Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center

National Harbor, MD

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center is a large full-service resort on the Potomac River waterfront in National Harbor, Maryland, minutes from Washington, D.C. The property is built around a 19-story indoor garden atrium and serves both leisure travelers and major convention traffic, with renovated rooms and suites, multiple dining and lounge options, a spa, fitness center, indoor pool, seasonal splash area, and direct access to the National Harbor waterfront district.

For poker travelers, the main appeal is location. Gaylord National is not attached to a casino, but it sits close enough to MGM National Harbor to work as a practical tournament or cash-game hotel when players want a resort-style stay outside the casino itself. Marriott lists MGM National Harbor at 1.3 miles from the hotel, and registered overnight guests have access to the National Harbor Circulator Bus to MGM National Harbor during posted operating hours. That makes the hotel especially useful for players attending major poker events at MGM National Harbor who also want restaurants, waterfront walking areas, convention amenities, and a quieter separation from the casino floor.

Phone Number

(301) 965-4000

Address

201 Waterfront Street
National Harbor, Maryland 20745

Poker Room Access

1.3 miles

Resort Fee

Parking

Paid

Not clearly disclosed
verify at booking

Official Hotel Website

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Why Players Like This Hotel

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center is best suited for poker players using MGM National Harbor as their primary poker destination. The hotel is not connected to the casino and should not be treated as a walking-first option for most players, but the distance is short enough that rideshare, taxi, private car service, or the National Harbor Circulator can make it practical for multi-day poker trips.

MGM National Harbor is the meaningful nearby poker room relationship for this hotel. Marriott lists MGM National Harbor at 1.3 miles from Gaylord National, and the hotel’s destination page says registered overnight guests receive free transportation on the National Harbor Circulator Bus throughout National Harbor and to MGM National Harbor during posted daily hours. MGM National Harbor’s own casino information identifies its poker room on the second level of the casino floor and lists 53 tables, making it the clear poker anchor for this lodging page.

For early tournament starts, Gaylord National can work well if players build in transportation time instead of assuming they can walk over at the last minute. For late-night cash sessions, the location is also workable because the hotel is close by and Marriott lists Circulator service into the early morning, though players should verify current shuttle timing and availability before relying on it after a long session.

The property’s biggest strength is comfort away from the casino floor. Players get a full resort environment, multiple restaurants and bars, a market-style café, spa, indoor pool, fitness center, waterfront access, and National Harbor dining nearby. That can be valuable during longer tournament series when players want a larger hotel footprint, meeting-space amenities, or a quieter reset between sessions.

The main drawbacks are cost and logistics. Parking is expensive by regional standards, with Marriott listing paid on-site self-parking and valet rates, and the hotel is not as convenient as staying directly at MGM National Harbor for players who want to return to their room between levels or quickly step away from a cash game. Gaylord National is a strong option for players who value a resort setting, National Harbor access, Marriott loyalty benefits, or convention-style amenities, but MGM National Harbor remains the more direct lodging choice for maximum poker-room convenience.