Virtual Tours
Would you like to learn about Jefferson Lab virtually? Please visit the Jefferson Lab Virtual Tour. Here, you can take a self-guided, virtual tour of our unique facilities from the comfort of your own home. Take an exclusive tour through the lab’s Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility and its four experimental halls to learn about our research inside the nucleus of the atom. Go behind the scenes of world-leading particle accelerator research and development in the SRF institute and learn about the incredible machinery that makes it all work. Users can also visit the largest superfluid helium refrigerators in the world in the rarely accessible Central Helium Liquefier with just the click of a button.
You can also view the Jefferson Lab Virtual Tour videos by clicking here. Additionally, you can visit the Virtual Field Trip website by clicking here.
You can also view other videos from Jefferson Lab by visiting their YouTube Channel.
Campus Tours
Please read all of the information below before scheduling a tour.
For the tour and for your safety:
- Tours cannot be accommodated to anyone under the age of 18 years old.
- Wear long pants or slacks - Shorts, Capri pants, skirts, and dresses are not permitted.
- Wear short or long-sleeved shirts - Sleeveless shirts or tank tops are not permitted.
- Wear flat or low-heeled, closed-toe shoes - Sandals, open-toe or high heel shoes are not permitted.
- It is advisable to wear comfortable walking shoes as tours do involve quite a bit of walking and going up and down stairs.
- Food and drinks are not allowed on the tour. This includes gum and cough drops.
Tours of many of our research facilities are available for groups of five or more from colleges, universities and professional groups in the STEM disciplines who represent research partner institutions and who request a tour at least two weeks in advance of their preferred date.
Tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are dependent on electron-beam schedule, facility and staff schedules. Tours can typically be scheduled on weekdays between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and generally require two to three hours to complete. All guests are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes before the tour begins to allow time for ID verification and a safety briefing.
We currently do not offer tours to public groups not associated with the lab and its mission. These groups are encouraged to visit the lab during the biennial open house event (next event tentatively offered TBD). We are also unable to accommodate groups of more than 14 people without provided group transportation (vans or buses).
Please view these tour safety awareness concerns prior to requesting a tour.
Acceptable Forms of Identification
For identification purposes:
• Provide a Driver's license, state issued photo ID, military ID, or passport. Student ID’s are not an acceptable form of ID. See a full list of acceptable identification here.
• Electronic (cell phone or tablet) and paper pictures of original documents will not be accepted.
Scheduling a Tour
Please read and understand all protocols before scheduling a tour with Jefferson Lab. For additional information, or to schedule a tour, email tours@jlab.org
Please note: You may be denied access to a tour if you are unable to provide an acceptable form of identification or if you are not wearing the appropriate clothing.
Directions & Parking
Directions and parking may be found here.
Important Notice for Non-U.S. Citizens
As a U.S. Department of Energy national lab, Jefferson Lab is a federally funded research and development center. All non-U.S. citizens (including those with U.S. Legal Permanent Resident status), who wish to visit the lab for any reason are required to register at least seven days in advance, bring documents to verify identity and immigration status, attach a resume or curriculum vitae to the visit request, and be prepared to present proof of institutional affiliation. If members of your group include non-U.S. citizens, please schedule your tour early to allow additional time for this online registration process.
In addition, DOE also requires additional screening for any non-U.S. citizen guest born in, is a citizen of, is employed by, or represents a government, institution or other organization based in a country identified as a State Sponsor of Terrorism by the U.S. Department of State. Guests from these countries may not be on site or tour Jefferson Lab without first going through this formal approval process, which also requires appropriate justification. This process may take up to one year or longer for a determination.
All international guests to Jefferson Lab must carry their original passports and immigration documents with them. Electronic (cell phone or tablet) and paper pictures of original documents will not be accepted.
Guidance for Elected Officials
As a DOE national laboratory, visits to Jefferson Lab are subject to the provisions of the Hatch Act. Elected officials and other guests are discouraged from displaying campaign paraphernalia and/or conducting campaign activities while on-site. Officials are also asked to limit personal guests to a minimum of personal assistants and/or security personnel.
Cancellation Notice
Jefferson Lab reserves the right to cancel or postpone tours due to unforeseen circumstances that would make it unfeasible to conduct a tour. Should it become necessary to cancel or postpone a tour, the Communications Office will use all reasonable efforts to notify the group point of contact or individuals signed up for the tour.
School Group (K-12) Visits
While Jefferson Lab does not offer tours for anyone under the age of 18, we do offer Physics Fest, an engaging, informative and entertaining presentation that includes a brief interactive summary of the science and technology at Jefferson Lab followed by a cryogenics and plasma presentation. For more information about Physics Fest and other activities for students, visit our Science Education website at: https://education.jlab.org/