The 25 Magical National Parks in Washington DC
Believe it or not, there are an impressive 25 National Parks in Washington DC! While we haven’t been to all of them yet, we have managed to hit quite a few. Besides… this way we’ll always have a reason to come back to the nation’s capital.
In this article, we’ll cover all 25 of the National Park Sites (sites managed by the National Park Service). Washington, DC is one of my favorite places to visit in the entire world. As a huge history nerd, I love seeing all of these historical sites firsthand. All of the National Parks in Washington DC are free, which makes them even easier to enjoy.
The National Mall and Memorial Park contains a handful of America’s most recognized landmarks. It is filled with many statues, memorials, and museums- including the Smithsonian Museums and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
The National Mall stretches from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington Monument. This hub of DC is the perfect place to stroll and reflect about our country’s past. Many of the monuments form a big cross in the center of DC. The apex is the Washington Monument and the tip of the cross is the Lincoln Memorial.
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Things to Know Before You Visit the National Parks in Washington DC
Entrance Fees- One of the best things about these National Park Sites is that they are FREE! The goal of these sites, including the Smithsonian Museums, is to have them be accessible to everyone so they are free to visit.
Come Prepared- Many of DC’s best attractions are outdoors. Be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen and stay hydrated. There are water bottle refill stations located throughout the National Mall.
White House Tour- Scheduling a White House Tour requires some advanced planning, as well. You’ll have to reach out to your Congressperson to help you arrange a tour.
US Capitol Building- You can also reach out to your Congressperson to get a tour of the Capitol Building.
Tickets- Some of the attractions require that you get a free timed-entry pass in order to visit. These include The National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Air and Space Museum, the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Library of Congress, Bureau of Printing and Engraving, and the Washington Monument. Be sure to research this before your trip as some other sites may require this as well.
Plan Accordingly- You’ll do a TON of walking while in DC. During our long weekend there we walked about 25 miles- and that’s with us using the Metro regularly. It’s easy to do, especially when you’re walking the National Mall and popping in and out of museums. Wear comfortable shoes, stay hydrated, take plenty of breaks, and do yourself a favor and don’t try to cram too much into your trip. Check out our itinerary for our long weekend to see what managed to see and do on our most recent trip.
National Parks in Washington DC
1. Belmont Paul Women's Equality National Monument
This was once home to the National Women’s Party for more than 90 years. It was here that Alice Paul and the National Women’s Party strategized and planned their campaigns to advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment and equality for women. The Belmont Paul Women’s Equality National Monument commemorates the struggle for women’s rights.
It was designated as a National Monument by President Barack Obama in 2016.
2. Carter G. Woodson National Historic Site
Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson was a distinguished black author, editor, publisher, and historian. He is remembered for his role in establishing Black History Month. Woodson worked tirelessly to teach the American public about the role of African Americans in American History and fought to include African American History in school curriculums.
At the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site, visitors can take a ranger-led interpretive tour of his historic home and get an in-depth look at Woodson’s life. The tours last for 45 minutes and are held on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Reservations are recommended.
3. Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
The C&O Canal was once used to ship goods such as coal, lumber, grain, and crops to communities along the Potomac. Construction of the canal started in 1828. Over the course of 22 years, 35,00 workers dug the canal, built aqueducts, culverts, and locks.
Today, the park is 184 miles of adventure! Today it is a popular spot for boating, hiking, and biking.
4. Constitution Gardens
Constitution Gardens is a park located within the boundaries of the National Mall. The land that became the Constitution Gardens was originally submerged by the Potomac River and was dredged at the start of the 20th century by the Army Corps of Engineers. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan formally declared the park a “living legacy tribute” to the United States Constitution.
The garden has a small pond which contains a memorial to the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. The park was created as a tribute to the American Revolution and its 200-year legacy.
5. Ford's Theater
On April 14, 1865, America was brought to its knees when its beloved leader, President Abraham Lincoln was shot by actor John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater.
Visitors can enter to the theater to learn about the events leading up to the President’s death, catch a glimpse of the President’s Box, listen to a park ranger tell the story of what happened that fateful evening, and follow JWB’s escape route down a back alley.
After Lincoln was shot, he was taken across the street to the Petersen House where he was tended to by doctors until he took his last breath. The house was also acquired by the NPS and is open to visitors.
The museum has a collection of over 3,000 artifacts related to the assassination of the president that enhance the experience.
6. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, affectionally known as FDR, led the nation through both the Great Depression and World War II. He is credited with being one of the most influential presidents our nation has seen. It is said that he has done more to change the American society and politics than any of his predecessors, with the exception of Abraham Lincoln.
He served an unprecedented four terms where he unleased policies such as the New Deal and enhanced the powers of the president to include chief legislator. The memorial chronicles his four terms through a series of quotes and bronze work.
7. Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery as a young man to become one of the leaders of the abolitionist movement. He fought for equal rights for African Americans and served in many government positions including US Minister to Haiti and US Marshal for the District of Columbia.
His legacy is preserved at Cedar Hill, where he spent the last 17 years of his life. Reservations are recommended for the ranger-led guided tour of his home.
8. George Washington Memorial Parkway
Known as the G.W. Parkway, the George Washington Memorial Parkway is a 25 mile long parkway that leads from Mount Vernon (home of George Washington) to McLean Virginia. It is located almost entirely in Virginia however, a portion of the parkway passes over Columbia Island within the District of Colubmia.
9. Korean War Veterans Memorial
Located on the National Mall near the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial is dedicated to honor the men and women who served in the Korean Conflict.
10. Lincoln Memorial
This massive statue of Honest Abe is quite impressive. Be sure to take a moment, sit on the steps, and reflect on our country’s history and legends. Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States. He held office during the Civil War and is noted for emancipating enslaved people in the south. Just days after the Civil War Ended, he was assassinated in 1865. Check out our article: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Lincoln Memorial
11. Lyndon Gaines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac
The Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) Memorial Grove is located just off the George Washington Memorial Parkway on the banks of the Potomac River. At the heart of the grove is a massive 19-foot monolith made of Texas Granite mined from LBJ’s home state of Texas. Dotting the landscape around the memorial are dogwoods, azaleas, and rhododendrons.
12. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
The MLK Jr. Memorial was dedicated in 2011 near the spot where the famous activist gave his “I Have a Dream” speech during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The memorial is a granite 30 foot sculpture of MLK Jr. with his arms crossed symbolizing a “stone of hope”. There is also a wall inscribed with quotes from some of his most memorable speeches.
13. Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site
Mary Mcleod Bethune, the child of former slaves, was born in 1875. She grew to be one of the most influential African Americans in the mid-20th century. She believed that a formal education would be pivotal in the empowerment of African American women. In 1904, she started a school for impoverished black girls in Daytona Beach, Florida. This school would grow to become Bethune-Cookman University.
Amazingly, she would be appointed director of the Office of Negro Affairs of the National Youth Administration by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This appointment made her the first African-American woman to head a federal agency.
Today, you can tour the home that she lived in during the 1940s. The tour features a video talking about her life and work.
14. National Capital Parks
National Capital Parks-East is a collection of 13 park sites, parkways, and statuary covering 8,000 acres of parklands from Capitol Hill to the nearby Maryland suburbs.
The National Capital Parks include:
Anacostia Park
Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Capitol Hill Parks
Civil War Defenses of Washington – Fort Circle Parks
Fort Dupont Park
Fort Foote Park
Fort Washington Park
Greenbelt Park
Harmony Hall
Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
Langston Golf Course
Oxon Cove Park/Oxon Hill Farm
Piscataway Park
Potomac Heritage Trail
Sewall Belmont House and Museum
Shepherd Parkway
15. National Mall & Memorial Parks
The National Mall is one home to some of the most iconic structures in America. It stretches for two miles from the steps of the US Capitol Building to the Lincoln Memorial. Some of the most famous museums in the US line the original mall including the National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Museum of the American Indian, and more.
16. Pennsylvania Avenue
This unique site preserves locations related to the creation of Federal City, Presidential Inaugurations, and historically significant events. It is not uncommon to find protestors demonstrating along the avenue.
17. President's Park (White House)
The White House is located within what is known as President’s Park. This park encompasses open spaces, monuments, statues, and the White House.
Tours of the White House must be scheduled in advance by contacting your local Congressperson. Requests can be submitted up to three months in advance and no less than 21 days in advance.
We strongly suggest visiting the White House Visitor’s Center, even if you aren’t touring the White House. The Visitor Center has over 100 historical artifacts, interactive displays, and other relics that offer insight into the life of the presidents.
18. Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park stretches for more than 10 miles from the Potomac River, along Rock Creek, to the border of Maryland. The park is popular for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The Nature Center features the only planetarium in the National Park Service.
19. Theodore Roosevelt Island
Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States. Many consider him to the the grandfather of the National Park System. He was dedicated to conservation and is known for protecting sites such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park, Montezuma Castle, Lewis & Clark Caverns, and more!
20. Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States, chief author of the Declaration of Independence and responsible for the Louisiana Purchase. His memorial offers a statue of Jefferson along with several marble panels engraved with some of his most memorable quotes.
21. Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Located in the National Mall near the Lincoln Memorial, is one of the most popular war memorials in DC. The Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial features a 246 long slab of black granite engraved with all of those who died or went missing in action during the Vietnam War.
22. Washington Monument
The Washington Monument is at the heart of the National Mall. The giant obelisk was erected to honor our country’s first president, George Washington. Interesting, construction was stopped for a 30 year period due to a lack of funds and the Civil War. There’s a noticeable color change where the work was resumed.
There is an elevator that you can take up to the observation level 500 feet up the obelisk. Tickets are $1 each and are required for everyone 2 and up. The tickets can be extremely hard to come by and must be booked up to 90 days in advance at www.recreation.gov
23. Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
In 1781, General Rochambeau’s French arm joined George Washington’s Continental Army to fight the British in Yorktown, Virginia. This park follows the trail to the victory at Yorktown which led to American independence.
The trail is popular for hiking, biking, and paddling.
24. World War I Memorial
This memorial opened in 2021 and honors the 4.7 million American that served during World War I including the 116,516 who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. The memorial is located along Pennsylvania Avenue across from the White House Visitor Center. It features a sculpture known as “A Soldier’s Journey”
25. World War II Memorial
One of my favorite memorials, and once of the most ornate, is the World War II Memorial. It is located in the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. the memorial is dedicated to the 16 million men and women who served in the US Military and those who supported the war effort at home.
The memorial includes a field of stars honoring those who passed away in the war and those listed as missing in action. There are two semi-circles of pillar denoting the states and territories.
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