The District is filled with plenty of outdoor adventures that won’t cost you a cent. Explore the best free outdoor activities, from national parks in. And around the city to modern art on the National Mall.
You will have no issue finding free outdoor activities in Washington, DC. From hiking, running and biking routes such as the Capital Crescent Trail to awesome places like Rock Creek Park. There are so many things to do outdoors in the nation’s capital.
Explore Rock Creek Park
DC’s ultimate outdoor mecca is Rock Creek Park, a 4.4-square-mile expanse that includes numerous trails for hiking, biking and exploring. There’s more to like about the park, too, like a nature center. Picnic areas, riding stables, tennis courts and Peirce Mill, an historical site.
Walk or run along the C&O Canal Towpath in Georgetown
Grab your hiking boots and join the bikers trekking their way down the C&O Canal Towpath, which traces the Potomac River from Georgetown 184.5 miles north to Cumberland, Md. Expect awesome visuals along the way.
Enjoy modern art outdoors
Stroll through the National Gallery of Art‘s Sculpture Garden, which reopens on Feb. 14, and admire works from artists like Roy Lichtenstein, Alexander Calder and Robert Indiana. The garden features seating for visitors and a fountain that has turned into an ice rink past winters. The park also hosts Jazz in the Garden on Friday evenings in summertime – make sure to stay tuned for 2021 plans.
Make your way down the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail
The southeast pocket of DC has undergone significant development in recent years, including a continuous new 20-mile Anacostia Riverwalk Trail that runs along both sides of the Anacostia River through the Capitol Riverfront and Anacostia neighborhoods. Run, bike or stroll down the 10-12 foot wide trail that winds next to the revitalized waterway.
Visit Roosevelt Island
Reachable by footbridge off the George Washington Memorial Parkway, Theodore Roosevelt Island pays homage to the great conservationist. You will find nearly two miles of trails that traverse through forest and wetland, as well as a 17-foot statue dedicated to the historic figure. Via the trails, you can encounter beautiful views of the Potomac River.
About Destination DC:
Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, is a private, non-profit membership organization committed to marketing the area as a premier global convention, tourism and special events destination with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historic communities.
