The Children's Inn at NIH
A Place Like Home — Free NIH Family Lodging · About this organization
What you get
Family room, free lodging near the NIH Clinical Center, on-site family supports described by the Inn, and shared kitchens, laundry, toiletries, accessibility and resident amenities.
How to start
Your care team books your first stay under your child’s name. Tell them your travel dates and who needs a room.
Good to know
- Your child must be participating in an NIH pediatric research protocol.
- The child must be participating in an NIH pediatric research protocol.
The details, as published
Free Bethesda lodging for NIH research participants through age 30 and family. The NIH team must reserve the first stay; adult guests complete a free background check every three years. U.S. stays align within 24 hours of appointments and international stays within 48 hours.
What help you may get
Lodging Near Treatment
A Place Like Home — Free NIH Family Lodging — lodging near treatment
Free Bethesda lodging for NIH research participants through age 30 and family. The NIH team must reserve the first stay; adult guests complete a free background check every three years. U.S. stays align within 24 hours of appointments and international stays within 48 hours.
Noncash help · As Needed
Can cover
- Family room
- Free lodging near the NIH Clinical Center
- On-site family supports described by the Inn
- Shared kitchens, laundry, toiletries, accessibility and resident amenities
- Families never pay to stay at the Inn.
- Eligible families may stay as long and as often as needed for NIH research participation, subject to availability.
Practical Items And Home Help
A Place Like Home — Free NIH Family Lodging — practical items and home help
Free Bethesda lodging for NIH research participants through age 30 and family. The NIH team must reserve the first stay; adult guests complete a free background check every three years. U.S. stays align within 24 hours of appointments and international stays within 48 hours.
Noncash help · As Needed
Can cover
- Family room
- Free lodging near the NIH Clinical Center
- On-site family supports described by the Inn
- Shared kitchens, laundry, toiletries, accessibility and resident amenities
- Families never pay to stay at the Inn.
- Eligible families may stay as long and as often as needed for NIH research participation, subject to availability.
Check the main eligibility rules
Diagnosis
B-ALL is in scope. A patient with B-ALL may qualify only when enrolled in qualifying NIH clinical research.
Age
Age 0 to age 30.
- The Inn serves NIH pediatric protocol participants through age 30.
Treatment status
No specific treatment status is published.
- A provider must verify the patient or diagnosis.
- The NIH medical team generally must make the first reservation.
- Lodging is provided without charge; no income test is published.
Where you live and where your child is treated
Where your family lives
Residence coverage is not published clearly; confirm with the program.
Where your child is treated
Treatment must be connected to: The patient must be participating in an NIH pediatric research protocol at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland..
- The patient must be participating in an NIH pediatric research protocol at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Where the service, camp, stay, or experience happens
- Maryland — Maryland — Maryland
How to get started
Set up the ask for my care team
Does a social worker or care team need to start it? Yes. Ask your child’s social worker or care team to begin the request.
Who can start: Healthcare Team, Parent Or Guardian
- All guests age 18+ complete the required background check.
- Ask the NIH medical team to request the first reservation under the patient name.
- Complete any required family or background-check information.
- Confirm enrollment in an NIH pediatric protocol and an appointment at the NIH Clinical Center.
- Confirm room availability and appointment-linked arrival/departure.
- Confirm room availability or waitlist status.
- For the first visit, ask the NIH medical team to submit the reservation.
Ways to apply or ask
- Hospital Workflow · Open form or page — The NIH medical team generally makes a first-visit reservation.
- Online Portal · Open form or page
Documents to prepare
- Identity and background-check information when required
- NIH protocol and appointment information
- The Inn provides the room directly at no cost.
Availability and timing
| Program | Active |
|---|---|
| Applications | Not Published |
| Funding or space | Not Published |
| Application window | Not Applicable |
| Last checked | Aug 24, 2026 |
- The Inn remains open during construction with reduced footprint.
- Reservation timing depends on the NIH appointment and room availability.
Limitations and things to confirm
- Availability depends on NIH eligibility, resident status, schedule, and current construction-phase capacity.
- Room availability is limited and a waitlist may apply.
- The child must be participating in an NIH pediatric research protocol.
- The NIH medical team controls or supports the first reservation.
- Confirm capacity and current construction-phase operations.
Official sources
Program details were last verified Aug 24, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.
- FAQs | The Children’s Inn at NIH · checked Aug 22, 2026
- Make a Reservation | The Children’s Inn at NIH · checked Aug 22, 2026
- A Place Like Home — Free NIH Family Lodging · checked Aug 24, 2026
- A Place Like Home — Free NIH Family Lodging · checked Aug 24, 2026