George Washington Memorial Parkway
Photo: NPS
About
The George Washington Memorial Parkway was designed for recreational driving. It links sites that commemorate important episodes in American history and preserve habitat for local wildlife. The parkway and its associated trails provide a scenic place to play and rest in the busy Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Activities
Arts and CultureLive MusicBikingRoad BikingFoodPicnickingWildlife WatchingBirdwatching
Directions
Directions to Parkway Headquarters From the south, take the George Washington Memorial Parkway north. Just past the CIA exit turn right into the parking lot for the US Park Police and parkway headquarters. Go through the chain link fence and take an immediate right. Follow the road down to a stop sign and turn right into the parking lot for the headquarters building.
Get directions →Weather
Summers on the parkway are generally hot and humid, with daytime highs frequently above 90 degrees Fahrenheit and scattered afternoon thunderstorms. Please carry water while participating in physical activity and be prepared to take shelter from lightning. Winters on the parkway are generally cold, with nighttime lows frequently near freezing and occasional snowfall. Please be alert for snowplows and icy spots on roadways. Weather during spring and fall is generally moderate, but can change quickly.
News
Jun 8, 2026
Interior Completes $167 Million George Washington Memorial Parkway Rehabilitation
The Department of the Interior today celebrated the completion of the George Washington Memorial Parkway North Section Rehabilitation, a once-in-a-generation renewal of one of the region’s most beautiful and heavily used routes into the nation’s capital.
May 15, 2026
National Park Service Seeks Feedback on Future of Civil War Defenses of Washington
The National Park Service invites you to comment on a proposed update to the management plan for the Civil War Defenses of Washington, the historic network of forts, batteries and parkland that protected the nation’s capital during the Civil War.
