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Children plant vegetables at the community gardens

Fort Dupont Park

This 361 acre wooded park was once home to an earthen fort built to protect Washington, DC, during the Civil War.

Photo: NPS / NPS

DC
state
8
things to do
6
parks within a day
OVERVIEW

About Fort Dupont Park

This 361 acre wooded park was once home to an earthen fort built to protect Washington, DC, during the Civil War. Today, visitors can see the fort's earthworks and escape to the great outdoors. Activities include picnics, nature walks, biking, gardening, environmental education, music, and ranger-led programs.

WITHIN A DAY'S DRIVE

Pair it with another park

6 in range
Bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln standing over an enslaved man rising from kneeling.
DC
Fort Dupont Park◆◆this park
District of Columbia
Capitol Hill Parks
0h 13m
one-way
drive time
Distance
3 mi
Round trip
0h 25m
Verdict
Easy day trip
View park→
Aerial view of Anacostia Drive and the playground
DC
Fort Dupont Park◆◆this park
Park · District of Columbia
Anacostia Park
0h 14m
one-way
drive time
Distance
3 mi
Round trip
0h 28m
Verdict
Easy day trip
View park→
Visitors take photos in front of a historic house
DC
Fort Dupont Park◆◆this park
National Historic Site · District of Columbia
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
0h 15m
one-way
drive time
Distance
4 mi
Round trip
0h 29m
Verdict
Easy day trip
View park→
Belmont-Paul Women's Equality NM House
DC
Fort Dupont Park◆◆this park
National Monument · District of Columbia
Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument
0h 15m
one-way
drive time
Distance
4 mi
Round trip
0h 31m
Verdict
Easy day trip
View park→
Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Entrance
DC
Fort Dupont Park◆◆this park
Memorial · District of Columbia
Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial
0h 16m
one-way
drive time
Distance
6 mi
Round trip
0h 32m
Verdict
Easy day trip
View park→
General Pershing Statue
DC
Fort Dupont Park◆◆this park
District of Columbia
World War I Memorial
0h 17m
one-way
drive time
Distance
7 mi
Round trip
0h 34m
Verdict
Easy day trip
View park→

Driving times from Fort Dupont Park, one way, via road — a realistic day is 8–10 hours behind the wheel.

WHEN TO GO

Hours

Fort Dupont Park

Mon
6:00AM - 10:00PM
Tue
6:00AM - 10:00PM
Wed
6:00AM - 10:00PM
Thu
6:00AM - 10:00PM
Fri
6:00AM - 10:00PM
Sat
6:00AM - 10:00PM
Sun
6:00AM - 10:00PM

Lanham Estates Picnic Area Gates

Mon
7:00AM - 10:00PM
Tue
7:00AM - 10:00PM
Wed
7:00AM - 10:00PM
Thu
7:00AM - 10:00PM
Fri
7:00AM - 10:00PM
Sat
7:00AM - 10:00PM
Sun
7:00AM - 10:00PM
THINGS TO DO

Activities

Arts and CultureBikingFoodJunior Ranger ProgramLive MusicMountain BikingPicnickingWildlife Watching
PLAN YOUR VISIT

Getting there

Open in all weather, unless otherwise noted under the alerts section of the parks website.

Directions →Official NPS page →

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do at Fort Dupont Park?
Popular activities include Arts and Culture, Biking, Food, Junior Ranger Program, Live Music, Mountain Biking.
Which national parks are within a day's drive of Fort Dupont Park?
Within about a day's drive you can reach Capitol Hill Parks (13 min), Anacostia Park (14 min), Frederick Douglass National Historic Site (15 min), Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument (15 min), Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial (16 min), World War I Memorial (17 min).