RoadRangeROADRANGE
Stone bridge and fall leaves
PARK

Rock Creek Park

Rock Creek Park is truly a gem in our nation's capital.

Photo: NPS Photo / NPS

DC
state
27
things to do
6
parks within a day
OVERVIEW

About Rock Creek Park

Rock Creek Park is truly a gem in our nation's capital. This 1,754 acre city park was officially authorized in 1890, making it the third national park to be designated by the federal government. It offers visitors the opportunity to escape the bustle of the city and find a peaceful refuge, recreation, fresh air, majestic trees, wild animals, and thousands of years of human history.

WITHIN A DAY'S DRIVE

Pair it with another park

6 in range
A woman in a 19th-century dress stands along an earthwork fortification
DC
Rock Creek Park◆◆this park
District of Columbia
Civil War Defenses of Washington
0h 11m
one-way
drive time
Distance
2 mi
Round trip
0h 23m
Verdict
Easy day trip
View park→
MAMC
DC
Rock Creek Park◆◆this park
National Historic Site · District of Columbia
Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site
0h 19m
one-way
drive time
Distance
4 mi
Round trip
0h 38m
Verdict
Easy day trip
View park→
Bronze statue of African American Civil War soldiers.
DC
Rock Creek Park◆◆this park
District of Columbia
African American Civil War Memorial
0h 19m
one-way
drive time
Distance
5 mi
Round trip
0h 38m
Verdict
Easy day trip
View park→
The restored facades of three historic Victorian row-homes on an urban street in Washington, DC
DC
Rock Creek Park◆◆this park
National Historic Site · District of Columbia
Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site
0h 21m
one-way
drive time
Distance
6 mi
Round trip
0h 42m
Verdict
Easy day trip
View park→
General Pershing Statue
DC
Rock Creek Park◆◆this park
District of Columbia
World War I Memorial
0h 22m
one-way
drive time
Distance
5 mi
Round trip
0h 43m
Verdict
Easy day trip
View park→
A bronze statue of Theodore Roosevelt standing and pointing.
DC
Rock Creek Park◆◆this park
District of Columbia
Theodore Roosevelt Island
0h 22m
one-way
drive time
Distance
7 mi
Round trip
0h 45m
Verdict
Easy day trip
View park→

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

WHEN TO GO

Hours

Rock Creek Park lands

Mon
Sunrise to Sunset
Tue
Sunrise to Sunset
Wed
Sunrise to Sunset
Thu
Sunrise to Sunset
Fri
Sunrise to Sunset
Sat
Sunrise to Sunset
Sun
Sunrise to Sunset
THINGS TO DO

Activities

Arts and CultureAstronomyAuto and ATVBikingBirdwatchingBookstore and Park StoreCanoeingFishingFoodGolfGuided ToursHikingHorse TrekkingHorseback RidingJunior Ranger ProgramKayakingLive MusicMuseum ExhibitsPaddlingPark FilmPicnickingPlanetariumPlaygroundScenic DrivingSelf-Guided Tours - WalkingShoppingWildlife Watching
PLAN YOUR VISIT

Getting there

Weather in D.C. is often erratic. Spring: Pleasant, Avg. High: 67° Avg. Low: 44.3°, Avg. Precipitation: 12.1” Summer: Hot & Humid, Avg. High: 87°, Avg. Low: 66°, Avg. Precipitation: 12.7”, July is the hottest month Fall: Pleasant, Avg. High: 69°, Avg. Low: 48.3°, Avg. Precipitation: 11.6” Winter: Mild, Avg. High: 45°, Avg. Low: 27.3°, Avg. Precipitation: 9.3”, Avg. Snowfall: 15.4” January is coolest month. Hurricanes may impact D.C. in late summer and fall. Light droughts are not uncommon in summer.

Directions →Official NPS page →

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do at Rock Creek Park?
Popular activities include Arts and Culture, Astronomy, Auto and ATV, Biking, Birdwatching, Bookstore and Park Store.
Which national parks are within a day's drive of Rock Creek Park?
Within about a day's drive you can reach Civil War Defenses of Washington (11 min), Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site (19 min), African American Civil War Memorial (19 min), Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site (21 min), World War I Memorial (22 min), Theodore Roosevelt Island (22 min).