Thing to Do

Red Line - DC Metro

Ford's Theatre , The White House and President's Park , Rock Creek Park

A ranger leads a tour of the Peterson House.

Embrace the outdoors, explore interactive exhbits and stand where history happened by taking the Red Line to visit some of DC's National Park Sites. Each of the parks listed here are 1 mile or less from each metro stop (about a 20 minute walk) or a 10 minute bus ride away.
Details
Duration
1-2 Days
Activity
Self-Guided Tours - Walking

Pets are excluded from most memorials and NPS and public buildings. Pets are welcome on the National Mall but must be kept on leashes, no more than 6 feet in length at all times. For parks outside of the mall, please visit indiviudal park websites to see if pets are allowed.  Pets may not be unattended or tied to an object. Visitors with pets must pick up all pet waste and dispose of it in a trash receptacle.

Service animals are allowed at all National Park Service sites. 

Rock Creek Park, Ford's Theatre and the White House Visitor Center are all free and open to the public. For information about metro fares visit Metro's Fares page. 

The Red Line runs from the Shady Grove stop in Montgovery County, Maryland into the heart of DC, and back out to the Glenmont stop also in Mongovery County, MD. The Metro Accessible NPS sites can be accessed at the following locations: 

Van Ness
Rock Creek Park: The Van Ness Station is the closest metro stop to Peirce Mill, but it is still about a mile away. From Van Ness, walk south on Connecticut Avenue to Tilden Street and make a left. Follow Tilden to the bottom of the hill and the mill is on your left.

Friendship Heights
Rock Creek Park: The Friendship Heights or Fort Totten Metro stations are the closest to the Nature Center. Take the E-2, E-3 bus (from either Metro stop) to the intersection of Glover & Military Rd. Get off, look to your left and follow the trail up to the Nature Center. 

Metro Center Station
Ford's Theater National Historic Site:The closest Metro stop is Metro Center Station which is a 5-10 minute walk from Ford's Theatre. The Red, Orange, Silver and Blue lines all connect here. From Metro Center Station, head South on 11th St toward F ST N. Turn left onto F St NW. Turn right onto 10th St NW and the theatre will be on the left.

White House Visitor Center:The closest Metrorail stations to the White House are Federal Triangle (blue, orange, and silver lines) and Metro Center (red, blue, orange, and silver lines). From Metro Center, head south on 13th St NW toward F St NW. Turn right onto Pennsylvania Ave NW and the Visitor Center will be on the left.

To see a map of the Metro System, visit Metro's website. 

Reservations
No
Season
Year Round

Four specific hours, visit park websites. 

Accessibility Information

Service Animals

Service animals are allowed in national parks. For a definition of a service animal, please see the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) definition.

Facilities

For information about individual park facilities, please visit park websites. Accessibility information is located under the Plan Your Visit tab.

Programs

Assistive listening devices, or large print brochures may be available by request or with advance notice. For information about individual park programs, please visit park websites. Accessibility information is located under the Plan Your Visit tab.

Ford's Theatre , The White House and President's Park , Rock Creek Park

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Ranger led tour of the Peterson House.
Ranger led tour of the Petersen House.

NPS

Embrace the outdoors, explore interactive exhibits and stand where history happened by taking the Red Line to visit some of DC's National Park Sites. Each of the parks listed here are 1 mile or less from each metro stop (about a 20 minute walk) or a 10 minute bus ride away.

Red Line Stops

Van Ness
Stop at Van Ness to visit Rock Creek Park.

Friendship Heights
Take the bus from Friendship Heights to explore Rock Creek Park.

Metro Center Station
Jump off at Metro Center Station to visit Ford's Theater National Historic Site, or the White House Visitor Center.

Metro Information

To see a map of the Metro System, visit Metro's website. Metro's Trip Planner provides instant itineraries and detailed information you need to get around the city.

Explore

  • 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.

  • The White House
    White House Visitor Center

    Adjacent to the White House, explore the White House Visitor Center, where exhibits and artifacts tell the story of the house as a home.

  • A cyclist rides through Rock Creek Park.
    Rock Creek Park

    Hike, bike or drive through this natural oasis in our nation's capital, that offers visitors the opportunity to escape the bustle of DC.

Metro Accessible DC

  • Aerial view of Arlington House, Lady Bird Johnson Park and Arlington Memorial Bridge going into DC.
    Blue Line

    From the National Mall to the Mount Vernon Trail, travel the Blue Line to see what the southern portion of Washington DC has to offer.

  • Speaker at 4th of July Event at Frederick Douglass Home.
    Green Line

    History, culture and nature come together to provide a variety of parks for visitors utilizing the Green Line.

  • Lotus at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens.
    Orange Line

    Discover lotus and lily flowers at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, or explore the many memorials just a short walk from the Orange Line.

  • A Ranger answers a visitor question at Theodore Roosevelt Island.
    Silver Line

    Step off the Silver Line to take a walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island, or sight see from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

  • A ranger leads a tour of the house where President Lincoln died.
    Red Line

    Embrace the outdoors, explore interactive exhibits and stand where history happened by taking the Red Line to visit some of DC's parks.

  • African American Civil War Memorial sculpture.
    Yellow Line

    Explore Washington, DC from top to bottom on the Yellow Line.

Red Line DC

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Last updated: January 8, 2025