Mount Vernon Trail – George Washington Memorial Parkway

Do you like to bike? Then you should try Mount Vernon Trail in Washington, D.C.  Mount Vernon Trail is an 18-mile long trail that extends from George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate to Arlington National Cemetery. It was first opened in 1972 as a multi-use path after biking became popular along the nearby George Washington Memorial Parkway. If you’re not into exercise but still want to see the sites, most of them can be reached via the George Washington Memorial Parkway which is also managed by the National Park Service.

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A good view of the structure of the trail, about 6-8 feet wide, paved with a stripe down the middle to aid the flow of two-way bike traffic. I often had to step off the trail to avoid being a hazard for bikes.

Our Weather. (April) Partly cloudy and an unseasonably warm 80 degrees. (January) Partly cloudy and a frigid and abnormally cold 15 degrees.

Overall Impression. As a hiker, I was the odd man out on the Mount Vernon Trail. Based on the few hours I spent along the trail, it’s about 70% bicyclists, 15% joggers, 10% scooters, and 5% anyone else when the weather is nice. When it’s cold, you’ve got the trail to yourself! Along the way are many memorials and related parks that are worth a stop, and they’re far less crowded than the trail itself. Despite constantly dodging bikes, the trail is an enjoyable way to get some exercise and transit the western bank of the Potomac River. If you’re more into driving, the George Washington Memorial Parkway – known to locals as the “G W” – gives easy access to the sites, though as a public road, it can be crowded during rush hour.

Visiting. You can access the Mount Vernon Trail from just about anywhere along the western bank of the Potomac from Mount Vernon to Arlington. There are parking lots for many of the parks and memorials along the trail, and there are many paths leading from nearby city blocks. I was staying in a hotel in Pentagon City (Alexandria), and it was a 3/4 mile walk from my hotel to the trail which I picked up at Reagan National Airport. From there, visiting is as simple as picking a direction and heading out. On my second visit, I was staying closer to Mount Vernon, and due to the frigid weather, I visited the southern part of the trail primarily via stops along the George Washington Memorial Parkway.

Just a few feet off the trail is the small Navy and Merchant Marine Memorial, a peaceful and reflective place.

In the section between Reagan National Airport and Arlington, the major attractions are Gravelly Point, the Navy and Merchant Marine Memorial, and Lady Bird Johnson Park. Gravelly Point is a local hangout with sports fields, but it’s most noticeable feature is an unobstructed view right down the main runway at Reagan National Airport–it’s a great place to just sit and watch the planes take off or land right over your head. The Navy and Merchant Marine Memorial is a relatively small affair just a few feet from the trail–it’s a masonry base with a statue of birds and waves atop it. I found I was the only one visiting, so it was easy to take my time reading the inscriptions around it and reflecting. The trail runs through Lady Bird Johnson Park, an open space full of trees and flowers, and the LBJ Memorial Grove is across the busy George Washington Parkway, but it can be accessed via a side trail.

The trail runs through Lady Bird Johnson Park, home to many trees and flowers

At its north end, the trail runs alongside Arlington National Cemetery where you can head west to the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, Arlington House and the Robert E. Lee Memorial, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and cemetery. You can also head north to the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial and Netherlands Carillon. Heading east will take you across Memorial Bridge to the National Mall.

The Potomac at Riverside Park was iced over with the frigid January temps

The south end of the trail runs through several parks including Jones Point Park, Belle Haven Park and Marina, Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, Fort Hunt Park, and Riverside Park, and it’s anchored at the south end by the trail’s namesake, the Mount Vernon Estate and Garden. Each of these is small enough to explore in 15-30 minutes, or you can just hang out and enjoy the relative peace and quiet surrounding by the bustling capitol busyness. In the winter, I took some brief hikes along the Potomac River at Riverside Park and Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve where I had the snow-covered trail to myself. Riverside Park offers views across the Potomac (frozen in my case) to the Mount Vernon estate, even though the mansion was obscured by trees. I also visited Fort Hunt Park and climbed on the concrete steps of “Battery Sater” which dates to the early 1900s–the park is primarily for recreation, though, so if you’re looking for more history, you can safely skip this park.

Mount Vernon, while not part of the NPS, lies at the end of the trail and is worth a visit

Suggestions. Consider bringing or renting a bike or scooter–you can cover a lot more ground that way! If you’re walking, keep to the edge of the trail or walk alongside the trail–bikes can move pretty quickly, and there is lots of traffic and some blind spots along the trail. Distances on the trail can be deceiving, so if you’re going to visit more than a mile or two or use it as a route to the National Mall, be sure to bring plenty of water! My maps app told me I was 1.5 miles away from the Lincoln Memorial as the crow flies, but due to the winding route of the walking trails and the bridges, it was a 5 mile walk one-way, about 3 of that on the Mount Vernon Trail. I wish I’d brought better walking shoes.

If you’re visiting the south side of the trail, it’s worth the time and money to visit Mount Vernon. The mansion and estate are privately owned (not a part of the National Park Service), but are open to visitors with excellent tours and a museum. You can also visit Washington’s grave. While you’re here, it’s worth spending a little time on the streets of historic old town Alexandria. You’ll drive through it on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, but there’s a lot of history to be seen and experienced by walking around.

Nearby Towns Arlington, Alexandria (VA), Washington, D.C.

Other Nearby Attractions National Mall, National Capital Parks East, Manassas National Battlefield, Shenandoah National Park, Mount Vernon Mansion, Old Town Alexandria

Official Website George Washington Memorial Parkway, Mount Vernon Trail

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