Thing to Do

Take a walk on the Mount Vernon Trail

George Washington Memorial Parkway

The Mount Vernon Trail

George Washington Memorial Parkway

United States Navy and Merchant Marines statue.
United States Navy and Merchant Marines statue along Mount Vernon Trail.

NPS

The Mount Vernon Trail is an 18-mile paved multi-use trail that stretches from George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate to Theodore Roosevelt Island. It connects with regional trails, including the Potomac Heritage, Custis, Rock Creek, Four Mile Run, and Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trails.

The Mount Vernon Trail winds alongside the Potomac River offering uninterrupted views of Washington, D.C.'s skyline. A run, walk, or cycle along the trail leads to all of the same sites that can be reached by car on the parallel section of the parkway.

Explore

  • Cyclists on the Mount Vernon Trail across from Capital Hill.
    Mount Vernon Trail

    A run, walk, or cycle alongside the Potomac River offers uninterrupted views of Washington, D.C.'s skyline.

  • Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial.
    Arlington House

    Explore nearby Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial.

  • Joggers in the morning at Theodore Roosevelt Island.
    Theodore Roosevelt Island

    Explore neighboring Theodore Roosevelt Island.

  • View of the Tidal Basin from the Washington Monument
    Tidal Basin

    One of the best places to view the Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial is from the top of the Washington Monument

  • Ford's Theatre

    Explore the exhibits to learn what happened the night of April 14, 1865, when President Abraham Lincoln was shot in Ford's Theatre.

  • People walking on Georgetown Waterfront Path.
    Georgetown Waterfront Park

    Georgetown Waterfront Park stretches along the banks of the Potomac River from 31st Street NW to the Key Bridge.

Last updated: August 29, 2022