The Parkway is adjacent to the Potomac River north and south of Washington, D.C., running from Mount Vernon Estate to I-495 near the American Legion Bridge.  It is accessible from all major travel routes from the south and west of Washington, including I-495, I-95, and I-66. 

For Your Safety

The Parkway is a narrow and winding road. The speed limit varies from 25 mph to 50 mph. Do not exceed posted speed limits. Much of the Parkway has forested areas adjacent to the road so please watch for deer, wild turkeys and other small animals on the roadway.

Things to Consider

Rush hour traffic can be very heavy during weekdays. Try to plan your trip and visits to Parkway sites during less heavy traffic use times. Rush hour traffic runs from approximately 6:00 AM to 9:30 AM and from 3:00 PM to around 7:00 PM. Weekends have relatively light to moderate traffic. The Parkway also goes through the City of Alexandria where traffic can be slow.