Thing to Do

Take a walk on the Mount Vernon Trail

The Mount Vernon Trail

 
Details
Duration
1-4 Hours

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.

To request a ranger program along the Mount Vernon Trail call 703‑235‑1530.

Pets are allowed on the trail but must remain leashed at all times. Please remember to pick up after your pet. 

Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

The Mount Vernon Trail parallels the parkway between Theodore Roosevelt Island and Mount Vernon.

By Car

Parking is available at every site along the trail except Lady Bird Johnson Park and the Navy-Marine Memorial. Visit the individual webpages for those sites for directions.

By Metro

The Mount Vernon Trail is a short ride or walk from the Arlington Cemetery, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Rosslyn Metro stations.

Reservations
No
Season
Year Round

The Mount Vernon Trail is open year-round from 6 am to 10 pm. Commuters may use the trail at any time.

Accessibility Information

If you have questions concerning accessibility, please contact us at 703-289-2500 or e-mail us.

Cognition
Material about the park's natural and cultural history, including brochures, wayside signs, and ranger-led programs are designed to engage multiple senses and learning styles, and often include audio components and/or tactile objects.

Hearing
If you are Deaf or hard of hearing and you would like to attend a ranger-led program, please contact the park ahead of time. This gives rangers an opportunity to adjust their plans to ensure good visibility or accommodate assistive technology. A ranger who signs or frequently works with American Sign Language interpreters may be assigned to your group.

Rangers for park sites south of Theodore Roosevelt Island can be reached at 703-235-1530. Rangers for park sites north of (and including) Theodore Roosevelt Island can be reached at 703-285-2965. If you prefer email, rangers at all sites can be reached at gwmp@nps.gov.

Mobility
Park staff are working to update trail descriptions with detailed information about surfaces, grades, and potential impediments to mobility. You are the best judge of your abilities, and good information about what to expect on trails will help you decide which ones you will enjoy most.

Park staff also mark ranger-led programs and events that may be accessible to people with mobility concerns in the calendar.

Please contact a ranger for advice specific to your abilities. Rangers for park sites south of Theodore Roosevelt Island can be reached at 703-235-1530. Rangers for park sites north of (and including) Theodore Roosevelt Island can be reached at 703-285-2965.

Vision
Wayside signs along an interpretive trail at Jones Point Park include tactile elements that help explain the park's natural and cultural history.

If you are blind or have low vision and you would like to attend a ranger-led program, please contact the park ahead of time. Rangers work to engage multiple senses and learning styles, and often include audio components and/or tactile objects in their programs. Prior notice gives them an opportunity to adjust their plans to incorporate fewer images or accommodate assistive technology.

Rangers for park sites south of Theodore Roosevelt Island can be reached at 703-235-1530. Rangers for park sites north of (and including) Theodore Roosevelt Island can be reached at 703-285-2965.

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