Best Parks in Washington, D.C.

East Potomac Park (Hains Point)

A 329-acre island park jutting into the Potomac, ringed by a flat 4-plus-mile loop on Ohio Drive that locals use for running, cycling, and skating with wide-open river and skyline views. It also has a public golf complex, mini golf, a public pool, and picnic areas, making it a relaxed, less touristy outdoor day. Practical note: open daily during daylight hours year-round; the southern tip at Hains Point is one of the best quiet spots for cherry blossoms away from the crowds.

Parks

Georgetown Waterfront Park

A 10-acre linear park along the Potomac in Georgetown with a riverfront promenade, a popular plaza fountain, and views of crew teams and kayakers. It is a great place to stroll, grab waterfront dining, or watch the sunset, and it connects to the Capital Crescent and C&O Canal trails. Practical note: the park is open to the public 6 a.m.–midnight, and the fountain near Wisconsin Avenue and K Street is a summer favorite for cooling off.

Parks

Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens

The only national park dedicated to aquatic plants, with elevated boardwalks winding through ponds of lotus, water lilies, and abundant wildlife along the Anacostia River. It is a tranquil, off-the-beaten-path gem best seen when the lotuses peak in mid-July. Practical note: open daily (8 a.m.–4 p.m. most of the year, with extended summer hours), admission is free, and arriving in the morning gives the best blooms before flowers close in the afternoon heat.

Parks

Meridian Hill Park (Malcolm X Park)

An elegant Italian-style terraced park with a 13-basin cascading fountain, formal gardens, and skyline views, beloved by locals as a sunbathing and picnic spot. It is best known for the long-running Sunday afternoon drum circle, a multicultural gathering of drummers, dancers, and acrobats. Practical note: the drum circle convenes most Sundays around 3 p.m. in warm months; the park sits between 15th/16th and Euclid/W Streets NW.

Parks

National Mall and Memorial Parks

The iconic two-mile greensward stretching from the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, lined with monuments, memorials, and the free Smithsonian museums. It is the single most essential outdoor space for a first-time visitor, best walked early morning or after dark when the lit memorials are stunning. Practical note: memorials are open 24 hours a day year-round and rangers staff them roughly 9:30 a.m.–10 p.m.; the Washington Monument interior requires a timed ticket.

Parks

Rock Creek Park

One of the largest urban national parks in the country, this forested valley running through Northwest DC offers 32 miles of hiking and biking trails, horseback riding, a nature center and planetarium, and Civil War fort ruins. It is the city's go-to escape into real woods, far quieter than the monumental core. Practical note: the park is open sunrise to sunset, but the Nature Center at 5200 Glover Road NW is open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday only.

Parks

Theodore Roosevelt Island

An 88-acre wooded island in the Potomac, accessible only by footbridge, honoring the conservationist president with a memorial plaza and roughly 1.7 miles of swamp, woodland, and upland trails. It feels remarkably wild given its location just across from the city, ideal for a quick nature walk or birding. Practical note: open daily 6 a.m.–10 p.m.; the parking lot off the northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway is the only vehicle access, and there is no entry fee.

Parks

Tidal Basin

A scenic reservoir ringed by a 2.1-mile loop path and roughly 4,000 cherry trees, with the Jefferson, MLK Jr., and FDR Memorials along its shore. It draws crowds for the spring cherry-blossom bloom but is a lovely walk or paddleboat outing any time. Practical note: pedal-boat rentals run daily from the pavilion at 1501 Maine Ave SW; expect a section of the basin to remain fenced off through 2026 due to ongoing seawall reconstruction.

Parks

U.S. National Arboretum

A 446-acre living museum of trees and plants run by the USDA, famous for the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum and the photogenic National Capitol Columns standing in an open meadow. It is a peaceful, uncrowded spot for driving, biking, or strolling through azalea collections and open fields. Practical note: grounds are open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. daily (until 8 p.m. on summer weekdays), closed only on Christmas, and admission is free; the New York Avenue entrance gate closes to incoming traffic at 2 p.m. on weekdays.

Parks

Yards Park

A modern 5.4-acre riverfront park in the booming Capitol Riverfront district, with a great lawn, a sculptural pedestrian bridge, a wading-pool waterwall, and a splash-pad fountain popular with families. It is a lively spot to relax near Nationals Park and the Navy Yard restaurant scene. Practical note: the Canal Basin wading pool and Dancing Fountains run in summer, and free Friday-night concerts are held there in the warmer months.