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
One of the most looked-up attractions in the U.S.
About 168K people a year read its Wikipedia article, more than for 97% of the 2,009 attractions we track.
You can stay in McLean
Kryptos is inside McLean, which has 1,621 hotel and restaurant jobs, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Washington
Washington is about 8 miles southeast and Baltimore is about 37 miles northeast (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
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, Census job and 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 vigenere cipher with key word 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
- 168K a year
Stay in McLean, or close by
Towns within 30 miles, closest first. Hotel and restaurant jobs show how many places there are to stay and eat.
| Town | From Kryptos | Hotel & restaurant jobs | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McLean | in town | 1,621 | 49,627 | $1,413K | — |
| Brookmont | 1 mi east | 11 | 3,671 | $1,361K | — |
| Glen Echo | 1 mi north | 39 | 276 | $1,164K | — |
| Cabin John | 2 mi northwest | 137 | 2,179 | $1,313K | — |
| Somerset | 3 mi east | 0 | 1,088 | $1,775K | — |
| Bethesda | 3 mi northeast | 5,472 | 69,397 | $1,170K | — |
| Friendship Heights Village | 3 mi east | 174 | 4,002 | $484K | — |
| Chevy Chase Village | 4 mi east | 416 | 1,903 | $2,000K | C+ |
| Chevy Chase | 4 mi northeast | 37 | 2,906 | $1,671K | — |
| Pimmit Hills | 4 mi southwest | 127 | 6,589 | $967K | — |
| Chevy Chase Section Three | 4 mi northeast | 0 | 887 | $1,606K | — |
| Chevy Chase Section Five | 4 mi northeast | 35 | 803 | $1,643K | — |
Day trip from
Straight-line miles.
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Kryptos
Other well-known places within 9 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
Big draw17 mi🏞 National park siteWhite House311K visitors a year
Big draw27 mi📍 LandmarkArlington National Cemetery
Big draw38 mi🏛 MuseumSmithsonian Institution30.0M visitors a year
Big draw47 mi🏛 National MemorialLincoln Memorial7.7M visitors a year
Big draw58 mi🏞 National park siteNational Mall
Big draw68 mi🏛 National Historic SiteFord's Theatre National Historic Site394K visitors a year
Big draw78 mi🏛 MuseumNational Air and Space Museum6.9M visitors a year
Big draw88 mi🏛 MuseumQ2148671.7M 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 · Arlington National Cemetery: Protoant, Public domain · 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 · National Mall: Raul654 at en.wikipedia. Later version(s) were uploaded by Michael Shields at e, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ford's Theatre National Historic Site: Ingfbruno, CC BY-SA 3.0 · National Air and Space Museum: David Bjorgen, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Q214867: AgnosticPreachersKid, 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 Washington and Baltimore?
About 8 miles southeast of Washington and 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.
Where should I stay near Kryptos?
McLean (in town, 1,621 hotel and restaurant jobs), Cabin John (2 mi, 137 hotel and restaurant jobs) and Bethesda (3 mi, 5,472 hotel and restaurant jobs).
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 · photos via Wikimedia Commons · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.