Places To Go

Parkways were still a new idea when this one was designed in the 1930s. In addition to calling for a scenic road, Congress protected a diverse array of sites along it as a "park and playground" near the nation's capital. Visit each of these sites to get a full taste of the parkway idea.

There is no visitor center on the parkway. Information, brochures, maps, and National Park Passport stamps are available at parkway headquarters and at ranger contact stations at Arlington House, Glen Echo Park, and Great Falls Park.

Arlington House
Arlington House, Robert E. Lee Memorial

Arlington House was the home of Martha Washington's grandson and later the home of Robert E. Lee.
Arlington Memorial Bridge
Arlington Memorial Bridge and Avenue

Arlington Memorial Bridge is more than a bridge: it is a physical and symbolic link between the reunited North and South.
Clara Barton National Historic Site
Clara Barton National Historic Site

Clara Barton National Historic Site preserves the last home of Clara Barton.
Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve
Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve

Dyke Marsh is one of the largest remaining freshwater tidal wetlands in the Washington metropolitan area.
Fort Hunt Park
Fort Hunt Park

Built during the Spanish-American War, Fort Hunt has a long history through World War II and is a popular recreation area today.
Fort Marcy
Fort Marcy

Part of the Civil War Defenses of Washington, Fort Marcy is one of the best preserved Civil War forts in the area.
George Washington Memorial Parkway
Parkway history

Learn about the history of the George Washington Memorial Parkway
Glen Echo Park
Glen Echo Park

Glen Echo was an early twentieth century amusement park and site of Civil Rights protests.
Great Falls Park
Great Falls Park

At Great Falls, the Potomac River builds up speed and force as it falls over a series of steep jagged rocks.
Jones Point Park
Jones Point Park

A recreation park in Alexandria, Virginia, Jones Point is home to an old riverine lighthouse.
Lady Bird Johnson Park
Lady Bird Johnson Park

Named for the former First Lady of the United States, Lady Bird Johnson Park offers unique views and flowers.
LBJ Memorial Grove on the Potomac
LBJ Memorial Grove on the Potomac

A landscape of serpentine paths, white pines, a granite monolith, and an open meadow honors LBJ.
Mount Vernon Trail
Mount Vernon Trail

The Mount Vernon Trail is an 18-mile paved multi-use trail that stretches from Mount Vernon to Theodore Roosevelt Island.
Navy and Marine Memorial
Navy and Marine Memorial

A monument which honors members of the U.S. Navy and Marine Services who lost their lives at sea.
Netherlands Carillon
Netherlands Carillon

The Netherlands Carillon is a symbol of freedom and friendship between the Netherlands and the U.S.
Theodore Roosevelt Island
Theodore Roosevelt Island

An island that is also a memorial to America’s 26th president.
Turkey Run Park
Turkey Run Park

Turkey Run Park preserves a vertical slice of the Potomac Gorge ecosystem.
U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial

Dedicated to "the Marine dead of all wars and their comrades of other services who fell fighting beside them."
Collingwood Picnic Area
Collingwood Picnic Area

Collingwood Picnic Area is a place to relax and enjoy beautiful views of the Potomac River.
Daingerfield Island
Daingerfield Island

No longer an island, this area is accessible from the Mount Vernon Trail.
Gravelly Point
Gravelly Point

Gravelly Point is popular among plane-spotters who watch the arriving and departing aircraft from the adjacent Ronald Reagan Washington Nati