A section of the Anacostia River Trail under Benning Road NE will close on weekdays from November 6 through December 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., for WMATA scaffolding removal; detours are available.

Partial Anacostia River Trail Closure

Welcome to Anacostia Park, your neighborhood national park in the heart of Washington, DC! Enjoy exercise along the river trail or relax by the water, Anacostia Park is a breath of fresh air and a space to unwind amid a bustling city.

Aerial view of Anacostia Drive and the playground

Anacostia Drive

A few men are playing basketball at Anacostia with the Anacostia River in the background.

Recreation at Anacostia

A view of the Anacostia River and a marina from the Anacostia River Trail.

The Anacostia River Trail

A sidewalk approaches the Anacostia skating pavilion.

The Anacostia Skating Pavilion

A man jogs his two dogs along a paved multi-use trial.

Bring your dog to the park!

Anacostia

Park Hours

Road Biking

You may also walk or jog on the trail. Dogs are permitted if on a leash.  

You can bike all 3.5 miles of Anacostia Park, or you could continue on the paved trail North to Maryland or cross a bridge and bike in downtown D.C.  

Biking the Anacostia River

GPS Directions: Park Headquarters: 1900 Anacostia Drive SE, Washington, D.C. 20020 Follow the Baltimore-Washington Pkwy/295 Follow the Baltimore-Washington Parkway south toward Washington, DC. Take the left lanes to I-295 South, then stay in the center lane. From I-295, take the eastbound Pennsylvania Avenue exit. Take the first right onto Fairlawn Avenue. Go to the stop sign and turn right again on Nicholson Street to enter the park. Turn right to get to the skating pavilion and tennis court area. Expect detours due to road construction by the District. From Interstate Route 395 Follow I-395 North into Washington, DC toward the Southeast-Southwest Freeway. Travel south on 9th Street to I-395 North. Stay left and follow the sign for I-295 South. Then follow the sign for Pennsylvania Avenue. Exit onto Pennsylvania Avenue. Cross the bridge. Take the first right onto Fairlawn Avenue. Go to the stop sign and turn right again on Nicholson Street to enter the park. Turn right to get to the skating pavilion and tennis court area.

The Anacostia Riverwalk Trail at Anacostia Park is a great way to exercise outdoors while enjoying the fresh air and abundant wildlife in Urban D.C. The bike trail is 3.5 miles long and is paved. It is a mixed use trail shared with walkers and joggers. If you prefer a longer bike ride, the trail continues North to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and then Bladensburg Maryland or you can ride across the Anacostia River towards the National Mall and downtown D.C.  

Pets are allowed as long as they are leashed. Please clean up after your pet.  

3.5 mile bike trail along the Anacostia River. This trail continues North into Maryland and across two bridges into downtown D.C.

Anacostia Park is open during daylight hours.  

Bike the Anacostia River Trail

River and Riparian

Scenic Views

Trails

Bridges

Urban America

Team Sports

Anacostia park is a great place to stay active and play sports. Whether its basketball, tennis, frisbee or soccer, come out for some fresh air and exercise along the Anacostia River!

Several people play basektball at sunset in Anacostia Park

Basketball at Anacostia

8 basketball goals are located at Anacostia Park. There are also 9 tennis courts and plenty of open fields for sports and recreation.  

Get out and play! Anacostia Park has courts and fields available for you to come enjoy the fresh air and friendly competition exercising. Anacostia Park has 8 basketball courts and 9 tennis courts. There are plenty of mowed grass fields along the river for soccer, frisbee or other sports and games. There is also a great playground for children to enjoy.  

Dogs are allowed in Anacostia Park on a leash but no dogs are allowed on the courts.  

Anacostia is open to sports and recreation all year.  

Come play basketball or tennis on one of our courts, or start a game of frisbee or soccer on one of our open fields that is along the scenic Anacostia River!

Sports and Recreation at Anacostia

Birds

Picnicking

Come and enjoy a picnic along the River! We have many tables and benches where you can enjoy a nice meal while watching and listening to the sights and sounds of nature. Alcohol is not permitted. Dogs on leash are permitted.  

The winding riverwalk trail stretches along the Anacostia River and is a great place to picnic.

Picnic in Anacostia Park!

Enjoy a relaxing picnic along the Anacostia River. Picnic tables and benches are available for you to relax and get away from the stresses of everyday life. You may also bring a blanket and sit out in an open field and enjoy the sunshine.   Trash and recycling cans are available for your refuse. Alcohol is not allowed in the park. Dogs are permitted on a leash.

Picnicking is great at Anacostia Park all year!

Relax and enjoy a picnic at Anacostia Park. The park has plenty of recreation activities to build up your appetite for a nice picnic while enjoying the view of the Anacostia River and downtown D.C. skyline.

Picnic at Anacostia Park

Meadows

Natural Sounds

Paddling

Two people paddle a canoe with two other canoes in the background.

Anacostia Water Trail image

<h2>Trail Overview</h2> The Anacostia Water Trail covers a nine-mile stretch of the Anacostia River, running from Bladensburg, Maryland, through Washington, DC, to its juncture with the Potomac River about two miles south of Capitol Hill. Along this trail, the character of the river varies remarkably. Upstream you’ll find forests, wetlands, and wildlife that seem amazingly removed from the city. Downstream are hubs of riverfront recreation, with community parks, restaurants, and sporting events. The trail is managed by the <a href="https://www.anacostiaws.org/">Anacostia Watershed Association</a>. Public boat lanches are located at several points along the trail, including at the north end of Anacostia Park (off of Anacostia Drive SE, and at <a href="http://outdoors.pgparks.com/3256/Bladensburg-Waterfront-Park">Bladensburg Waterfront Park</a> (4601 Annapolis Rd, Bladensburg, MD 20710). <a href="https://www.anacostiaws.org/events-and-recreation/recreation-in-our-watershed/anacostia-water-trail.html">Learn more</a> about the trail.  <h2>History</h2> American Indians  People lived on the banks of the Anacostia as early as 9,500 B.C.E. During the 17th century, the Indigenous towns recorded by Captain John Smith at the intersection of the Anacostia and the Potomac Rivers were Namoraughquend, Assaomeck, and Namassingakent. These towns were located just below the Potomac’s Great Falls. Every spring, people gathered at the river's edge, eagerly awaiting the return of migratory fish from the Chesapeake Bay.  The town of Nacotchtank was the largest in the area, and its location at the conflux of the two rivers and in the transition from upland to tidewater made it a major crossroads for travel and trading between distant tribes. Nacotchtank was inhabited by the Nacotchtank people, who are also known as the Anacostans – the origin of the name Anacostia we use today. This area is part of the ancestral homeland of the Piscataway people. Their descendants still live here, some as members of the Piscataway Conoy Tribe & Sub-Tribes, the Piscataway Indian Nation, and other Tribal organizations. War of 1812 The Battle of Bladensburg on August 24, 1814, ended in defeat for the United States and allowed the British to invade Washington, D.C. Once the Americans realized the British route of advance, there was little time to prepare. They hastily established lines of defense near the port town of Bladensburg, where the British would cross the Eastern Branch of the Potomac (known today as the Anacostia). The poorly trained and ill-equipped American militia, though superior in number, were no match for the seasoned British army. That night, as buildings in Washington burned and the victors ravaged the White House, news of the rout at Bladensburg spread throughout the countryside.

Discover the natural abundance of the Anacostia River as it threads through the heart of Washington, DC. Watch birds on Kingman Island or dock at the National Arboretum and roam the forest. The Anacostia River corridor has lots of options for outdoor fun and the Anacostia Water Trail can help you find them.

Be aware of the tides! Before launching your boat, check for when low and high tide is expected.

Paddle the Anacostia Water Trail

Water Trails

War of 1812

Arts and Culture

Roller skating is can be a leisure pursuit as well as an art form. Whether you like to take a few turns with your sweetheart, play games, or dance on skates, there are many ways to enjoy skating!

Free skate rentals are available Memorial Day through Labor Day

A girl skates over a National Park Service logo.

1500 Anacostia Drive SE, Washington, DC

Anacostia Park in Washington D.C. has National Park Service's only roller skating pavilion! Enjoy views of the Anacostia River while skating in an outside pavilion. The pavilion is covered and offers protection from the sun and rain.  

The pavilion is always open, though free skate rentals are only available in the summer.

Visit the National Park Service's only roller skating pavilion!

Anacostia Park is open during daylight hours.

Alert: Partial Anacostia River Trail Closure: A section of the Anacostia River Trail under Benning Road NE will close on weekdays from November 6 through December 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., for WMATA scaffolding removal; detours are available.

Anacostia

Overview

Hours

Fees & Passes

Map

Things To Do

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Bike the Anacostia River Trail

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Sports and Recreation at Anacostia

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Picnic at Anacostia Park

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Paddle the Anacostia Water Trail

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Go Roller Skating

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