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    Fort Washington Park

    4.2 (50 reviews)
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    Lots of interpretive signs
    Theresa C.

    We arrived at Fort Washington Park just in time for the scheduled morning tour. However, plans shifted when we learned there was only one ranger on duty, and she couldn't leave her post at the visitor center. Instead, she had us watch the park film, which provided a good overview of the site's importance. Then, she stepped out onto the back porch, where she gave an engaging talk about the fort's history. From the porch, we had a sweeping view of the fort and the Potomac. Afterwards, we went down to the fort to explore on our own.

    Chris C.

    Excellent little park - well not so little as the grounds are actually quite large, with lots of picnic areas and parking. Can't believe I've been living in DC for all these years and never visited this place. A place with so much history and stunning views. Great for families with kids as they'll have fun with all the cannons. The fort itself is interesting to walk around in and there is also a trail around the perimeter - a bit wild and unkempt looking but that's part of the unmanicured charm. There is a small visitors center with very helpful rangers and entrance is free.

    Soldier sleeping quarters in fort
    Stephanie G.

    Great, free park for usual park activities of walking outside + a fort for the history lover. Right now the ranger station/visitor center wasn't open to the public, but they had maps available outside to explain the history of the fort which was a short walk away. It's actually a really helpful map from the history from 1808-present and a map of the park and some pictures. The fort has signs in the different types of rooms for storage to sleeping quarters, all handily numbered for easy map reference. It's a concise way to learn about the site, and on top of the fun of learning, there are great views to the river. It's a nice area to walk around if you want a quiet, woodsy location. The learning for free is just icing on the cake. There were some other buildings on site that seemed currently closed, but there's still a lot of enjoyment to be have for both a nature lover and historic lover and of course for someone who enjoys both.

    Melissa R.

    What a beautiful park! We have been to the area many times. However, we did not know about this Fort until we found it on the National Park Ap. This is a must-see. The Fort is in amazing condition if you consider its age. There is so much to see, and you can access so many parts . Highly recommend!

    Pamela H.

    Fort Washington was established in 1809 and was an active post through World War II, built to defend the river approach to Washington, DC. The park joined the National Park Service in 1946,and continues to protect the Potomac River. It is free to enter the park and there is ample parking. Pets are allowed (on a leash) in all outdoor park areas, including the parade ground and bastions of the old fort. Pets are not allowed in the visitor center or the barracks buildings of the old fort with the exception of service animals. With that said, they have a welcome center that is open during normal business hours, and the park is open from 8am to sundown. There are several group picnic areas that require reservations to use the area. They host events and fort tours. You can check their calendar for dates and times. One Sunday a month from April to October the park has Civil War artillery demonstrations. The park is well maintained and it's a great place to visit for families or individuals. There are few places like this this that you can go for free and spend a day. You can spend the day walking around and exploring all of the historic buildings with placards telling you about the history of each location; picnicking, reading a book, photography, etc.. There is a 3-mile trail that follows the perimeter of the park boundary. A popular site for birdwatchers. The park is located right along the Potomac River where there are many different types of fish if you want to go fishing. A Maryland Tidal Sport Fishing License is required (http://prfc.us/sports.html). I highly recommend visiting if you are in the area. It's a great was spend the day or just a few hours walking and enjoying history and nature.

    Beautiful!
    Catherine S.

    This local National Park is a hidden gem! We've been driving up and down 210 for years and years and I've seen the brown historical sign yet have never stopped. My 8 year old has gotten a few Junior Ranger badges from other National Parks and has now put us on the hunt to get some more. As I looked up parks near to us I was excited to find this one and then remembered I had been seeing the sign for years. We went on a Saturday afternoon and there was nobody at the guard gate and so we were not charged an entrance fee. I don't know if they charge a fee during the week or what but no one was there on Saturday. I was actually surprised at the amount of people that were here. It wasn't crowded by any means but there are quite a few people touring the grounds and also people fishing. A guy was catching a pretty big fish right as we walked up! So if you're looking for a good fishing spot it seems maybe this is one. There are a few picnic tables down by the water and a couple families were having a picnic lunch. There is a little lighthouse too. There's a very nice little quaint gift shop and my son was able to get his Junior Ranger book and badge there. There's also a small little room where you can sit (in the AC!) and watch a short little video about the park. We really enjoyed watching that and it gave my son time to complete some of the activities in his book. There's a small little museum room with some artifacts in. There are also nice and clean bathrooms here as well! The actual floor it's self is massive and beautiful. You kind of walk around the corner of these trees and...Wow! There's the fort! It really is so cool looking. I love envisioning these brave men who defended the city here. They could not imagine over 200 years later people would be touring it and appreciating their sacrifice.

    Lighthouse
    Donald P.

    I can honestly say I've had better national park experiences. While I do think it's cool that a big part of the original fort is still standing, there are so many things that could be done to make this park so much more enjoyable. On the top of my list would be a paved side walk! The tiny gravel bits were digging into my foot through my sandals. Picnic tables are nice, but sheltered picnic tables (either with a structure or a nice big tree) would be even better. All the trees seem to line the banks of the river which only obscures the river's beauty. It would make more sense to place some nice tall shade bearing trees in the open field next to picnic tables. If Congress could get their act together and pass a budget, perhaps the NPS could improve the retaining wall so it's not just a bunch of concrete slabs. Something like what Fort McHenry has in Baltimore...now that would be badazz!!! What I do like about this park is the abundance of wildlife, including this daring turtle that I snapped a picture of as I was leaving. Though I was tempted to pick the turtle up and place it on the side of the road, I didn't touch it. So uncanny it decided to stop exactly in the middle of the road! Fishing seems to be pretty popular here, and although they have bathrooms here, you'll likely not want to use them. Ick!!!

    Matthew F.

    Wonderful site not far from home. I found it by accident after looking across the Potomac and wondering "What's THAT place?", and was glad for the discovery. Also an excellent zombie proof bunker (see second half of the review for details). The hill's commanding position over the river has marked it as a military site for centuries; in 1814 the defenders were supposed to fend off the British but obviously it didn't work out that way. It's been fortified, abandoned, re-fortified, upgraded, and re-named, until the fort reached its peak in the late 19th century when coastal defense sites were all the craze. Fortunately for visitors, much of the infrastructure is intact. There are old munition bunkers (sealed off), canon, plus plenty of ramparts with a clear view the river. History and military buffs will appreciate the plaques which detail the fort's history and a 'day in the life' for soldiers stationed here. Casual visitors would enjoy hanging out by the water with a picnic. Supposedly you can fish from here...although I'm skeptical of any fish caught in the Potomac. The park has plenty of green space in the park outside the fort. There is an entrance fee for much of the year, but the park rangers are gone in the winter. I also saw advertisements for some kind of historical dance, so they must have periodic historical events here. ///// This concludes the regular review; continue only if you're a Zombie Apocalypse preparer ///// Given how dense population centers facilitate zombie contagions, cities are generally considered poor locations to survive a Zombie Apocalypse. While I wouldn't recommend riding out a zombie outbreak in DC, if you were to do so, Ft Washington may make a suitable location. As a historic fort, the walls are basically impregnable to zombies. There are only two entrances, both of which can be easily sealed. My only concern would be part of the north wall, which has a very steep slope but in theory could be climbed by a determined zombie. But with some shoveling, that avenue of approach can be zombie-proofed. Just as crucial as defensability is long-term sustainability. The grounds inside the fort could be turned into gardens, and the old wells could be re-used. It even has a 19th century latrine. But most importantly, the Potomac provides an avenue of transportation to launch foraging operations from your personal fortress, and provides a continuous supply of fish and fresh water. While there aren't many buildings to provide shelter, the old barracks could certainly be re-used. There are also some storage areas in the fort which are off limits to casual visitors but are better than nothing. If the Zombie Apocalypse hits DC and I can't escape to a more suitable location, this is where you'll find me. Bring seed and ammo; it will be a long haul. *Resource Score: 29.2 *Defense Score: 93 (my assessment) *Demographics Score: 87.5 Read more: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/10/27/these-are-the-top-10-places-in-the-u-s-to-survive-a-zombie-apocalypse/

    Entrance sign on Fort Washington Road
    Christopher C.

    George Washington was a smart cat. He knew that the British weren't going to lie down and take defeat so easily and he knew that the new capitol needed defending so he recommended a fortification be built at Digges Point in the 1790's. Fort Warburtin was finally completed in 1809 and that fort was significantly smaller than what you see today. The fort's own Captain Samuel Dyson ordered (after a vote by the soldiers) that the fort be destroyed with it's own powder on August 25th 1814 rather than face a major ass kicking by the British (or have it fall into their hands) who were sailing up from Benedict, Maryland towards DC to eventually enter the defenseless city, burn the Capitol and the White House. (Captain Dyson was later court martialed for his cowardly actions.) Less than a month after the fort was destroyed Secretary of War James Madison hired Pierre L'Enfant (who was later fired for cost over runs) and eventually Lt. Col. Walker Armistead to finish building a new fort for the price of $426,000. That is the basis of the building which still stands today. Indeed there have been modifications starting as early as the 1840's with more gun platforms added, higher walls and a caponniere to protect the approaches from the Piscataway Creek. Many different modifications came and went over the years but overall Fort Washington never saw any action or battles and even for a time was placed in a mothball status where the fort was only staffed with one man. Finally in 1946 after being used for the prior twenty plus years as an Officer Candidate School, Fort Washington was deactivated and became part of the National Park Service. If you come: The Fort is open daily except for New Years Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day from 9-5 April to October and until 4 the rest of the year. The park grounds are open from 8 until sunset. From May until October admission is to the grounds is $5 per car, $3 per person walking/biking or taking a bus or you can pay $20 for an annual pass or you can come from November until April for free. Fort Washington Park right next to the fort has a wide variety of activities. There is a 3-mile trail that follows the perimeter of the park boundary, offering the opportunity for wildlife viewing. Birdwatchers enjoy the quite solitude of the park to find that one special bird. If fishing is for you, the park is located right along the Potomac River where there are many different types of fish waiting for you. One Sunday a month from April to October the park has Civil War artillery demonstrations and there are tours of the fort given on weekends year round. Our tour with Ranger Zach only had five people and took maybe 25 minutes yet it was excellent, informative and a lot fun. This is truly a hidden DC era gem that should be enjoyed for everything it has to offer.

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    Review Highlights - Fort Washington Park

    Gorgeous views of the Potomac River, well kept playground area, nice historical significance right in our backyard.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

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    Mt. Vernon home of George Washington
    Mt. Vernon home of George Washington
    Dinning room on first floor.
    Dinning room on first floor.
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    Fort Washington Park - parks - Updated July 2026

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