Kryptos
Kryptos is a sculpture by the American artist Jim Sanborn located on the grounds of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) headquarters, the George Bush Center for Intelligence in Langley, Virginia.
A landmark inside McLean
Places to stay 2.0 miles away
Top Notch Lifestylez LLC is 2.0 miles away; Conference Planning International (2.0 mi) and Staybridge Suites Tysons - McLean by IHG (2.3 mi) are close too. 34 places to stay are within 4 miles. Hotels nearby ↓
One of the most looked-up attractions in the U.S.
About 177K people a year read its Wikipedia article, more than for 98% of the 7,799 attractions we track.
A day trip from Baltimore
Baltimore is about 37 miles northeast (straight-line). Hotels nearby ↓
Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep and Oct
April, May, June, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 66–83°. When to go ↓
An airport 9 miles away
Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) has airline service, about 9 miles from Kryptos.
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in McLean. Green months are the mild ones.
Kryptos
Kryptos is a sculpture by the American artist Jim Sanborn located on the grounds of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) headquarters, the George Bush Center for Intelligence in Langley, Virginia.
Since its dedication on November 3, 1990, there has been much speculation about the meaning of the four encrypted messages—most using a Vigenère cipher with a keyed alphabet that uses the keyword "KRYPTOS"—it bears. Of these four messages, the first three have been solved, while the fourth message remains one of the most famous unsolved codes in the world. Artist Jim Sanborn has hinted that a fifth coded message will reveal itself after the first four are solved. The sculpture continues to be of interest to cryptanalysts, both amateur and professional, attempting to decode the fourth passage. The artist has so far given four clues to this passage.
- Type
- Landmark
- Established
- 1990
- Wikipedia readers
- 177K a year
Hotels near Kryptos
34 places to stay within 4 miles. The closest is Top Notch Lifestylez LLC, 2.0 miles away.
Closest places to stay
- 1Top Notch Lifestylez LLClodge or cabins · 2.0 mi southwestDirections
- 2Conference Planning Internationalhotel · 2.0 mi northeastDirections
- 3Staybridge Suites Tysons - McLean by IHGhotel · 2.3 mi southwestDirections
- 4Sharon Masonic Lodgehotel · 2.6 mi westDirections
- 5Ritz-carlton Hotel Companyhotel · 3.2 mi eastDirections
- 6Courtyard by Marriott Bethesda Chevy Chasehotel · 3.2 mi eastDirections
- 7Pm Hotel Grouphotel · 3.3 mi eastDirections
- 8Baltimore Hotel Xlv Owner, Llchotel · 3.3 mi eastDirections
- 9Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington DC Chevy Chase Pavilionhotel · 3.3 mi eastDirections
- 10The Darcyhotel · 3.4 mi northeastDirections
Places to eat nearby
12 restaurants, cafés and bars within 1½ miles
Compare 8 towns to stay in
| Town | From Kryptos | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McLean | in town | — | 3 2 hotels · 1 lodge or cabins | 49,627 | $1,413K | — |
| Washington | 8 mi southeast | 10 min | 247 201 hotels · 2 motels · 24 inns & B&Bs · 6 lodges & cabins · 12 hostels · 2 campgrounds | 693,645 | $737K | D− |
| Arlington | 6 mi southeast | 10 min | 58 54 hotels · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins | 236,254 | $895K | — |
| Bethesda | 3 mi northeast | 5 min | 26 23 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins | 69,397 | $1,170K | — |
| Alexandria | 10 mi south | 15 min | 44 41 hotels · 2 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins | 160,662 | $735K | C |
| Tysons | 5 mi southwest | 5 min | 25 25 hotels | 28,936 | $640K | — |
| North Bethesda | 6 mi north | 10 min | 13 13 hotels | 49,677 | $732K | — |
| Rockville | 9 mi north | 15 min | 13 12 hotels · 1 lodge or cabins | 67,563 | $682K | B− |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Kryptos
Other well-known places within 8 miles.
Big draw7 mi National park siteWhite House311K visitors a year
Big draw7 mi National MemorialWashington Monument204K visitors a year
Big draw7 mi LandmarkArlington National Cemetery
Big draw7 mi LandmarkUnited States Triumphal Arch
Big draw8 mi MuseumSmithsonian Institution30.0M visitors a year
Big draw7 mi National MemorialLincoln Memorial7.7M visitors a year
Big draw7 mi LandmarkTomb of the Unknown Soldier
Big draw8 mi National Historic SiteFord's Theatre National Historic Site394K visitors a yearPhoto credits
White House: This image or media was taken or created by Matt H. Wade. To see his entire port, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Washington Monument: Oren Rozen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Arlington National Cemetery: Protoant, Public domain · United States Triumphal Arch: Hstoops, CC0 · Smithsonian Institution: Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer, Public domain · Lincoln Memorial: Aerial_view_of_Lincoln_Memorial_-_east_side.jpg: Carol M. Highsmith derivative w, Public domain · Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: Arlington National Cemetery, Public domain · Ford's Theatre National Historic Site: Ingfbruno, CC BY-SA 3.0
Visiting Kryptos
Is Kryptos in McLean?
Yes. It’s inside McLean, VA.
When is the best time to visit Kryptos?
April, May, June, September and October, with highs of 66–83°.
How far is Kryptos from Baltimore?
About 37 miles northeast of Baltimore, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Kryptos?
Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), about 9 miles away.
What hotels are near Kryptos?
Top Notch Lifestylez LLC (2.0 mi), Conference Planning International (2.0 mi) and Staybridge Suites Tysons - McLean by IHG (2.3 mi). 34 places to stay are within 4 miles.
Tips from people in McLean
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in McLean’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.