Rock Creek Park
Washington, DC Hours and Location

Learn and Explore

Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year. But our work doesn’t stop there.

We are proud that tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens ask for our help in revitalizing their communities, preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close to home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun.

Taking care of the national parks and helping Americans take care of their communities is a job we love, and we need—and welcome—your help and support.

Our Mission

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I obtain a park entrance pass?

Only 118 of your 417 park sites charge entrance fees. You can obtain park entrance passes by visiting a park site that charges an entrance fee. Entrance fee sites have passes available; we recommend calling a park prior to your visit. (See the park search to locate a specific park.) There are a number of entrance passes available, including park-specific passes as well as passes that offer entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in addition to the national parks (Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, Access, and Volunteer passes). Learn more about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.

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About this location:

Park

Operating Hours & Seasons

Rock Creek Park Lands

Unless otherwise designated, all park land is closed between the hours of sunset and sunrise except for vehicular traffic on park roads.

Standard Hours

• Sunday: Sunrise – Sunset
• Monday: Sunrise – Sunset
• Tuesday: Sunrise – Sunset
• Wednesday: Sunrise – Sunset
• Thursday: Sunrise – Sunset
• Friday: Sunrise – Sunset
• Saturday: Sunrise – Sunset

Additional Information View More

• The parks along 16th Street NW, including Meridian Hill Park: May-October:
• May 1 – October 31
• Sunday:5:00 AM-12:00 AM
• Monday:5:00 AM-12:00 AM
• Tuesday:5:00 AM-12:00 AM
• Wednesday:5:00 AM-12:00 AM
• Thursday:5:00 AM-12:00 AM
• Friday:5:00 AM-12:00 AM
• Saturday:5:00 AM-12:00 AM

• The parks along 16th Street NW, including Meridian Hill Park: November-April:
• November 1 – April 30
• Sunday:5:00 AM-9:00 PM
• Monday:5:00 AM-9:00 PM
• Tuesday:5:00 AM-9:00 PM
• Wednesday:5:00 AM-9:00 PM
• Thursday:5:00 AM-9:00 PM
• Friday:5:00 AM-9:00 PM
• Saturday:5:00 AM-9:00 PM

Rock Creek Park Roads

Sections of Beach Drive, Bingham Drive and Sherrill Drive are closed to motor vehicle traffic on weekends and federal holidays. Sherrill Drive, Bingham Drive, Ross Drive and Morrow Drive are closed to motor vehicle traffic when snow or ice is present. The Rock Creek Parkway is one way going south from the Connecticut Avenue, between 6:45- 9:30 AM and one way north from 3:45 – 6:30 PM, MONDAY-FRIDAY. All other times, the Parkway is open to both ways of traffic.

Standard Hours

• Sunday:Open 24 hours
• Monday:Open 24 hours
• Tuesday:Open 24 hours
• Wednesday:Open 24 hours
• Thursday:Open 24 hours
• Friday:Open 24 hours
• Saturday:Open 24 hours

Additional Information View More

• Parts of Beach, Dr,Bingham Dr and Sherrill Dr: Federal Holiday Road Closures:
• January 1 – December 31
• Monday:7:00 PM-
• Tuesday:7:00 PM-7:00 AM
• Wednesday:7:00 PM-7:00 AM
• Thursday:7:00 PM-7:00 AM
• Friday:7:00 PM-7:00 AM
• Saturday:-7:00 AM

• Parts of Beach, Dr,Bingham Dr and Sherrill Dr: Weekend Closure:
• January 1 – December 31
• Sunday:7:00 PM-
• Monday:Open 24 hours
• Tuesday:Open 24 hours
• Wednesday:Open 24 hours
• Thursday:Open 24 hours
• Friday:Open 24 hours
• Saturday:-7:00 AM

• New Year’s Day – Christmas Day
  
• Sunday:Open 24 hours
• Monday:Open 24 hours
• Tuesday:Open 24 hours
• Wednesday:Open 24 hours
• Thursday:Open 24 hours
• Friday:Open 24 hours
• Saturday:Open 24 hours

• Rock Creek Parkway Northbound Morning Closure:
• January 1 – December 31

• Rock Creek Parkway Southbound Afternoon Closure:
• January 1 – December 31

Fees and Passes

All of Rock Creek Park is free to enter! Seriously, it’s free. Even the planetarium shows, Old Stone House, and Peirce Mill!

Plan Your Visit!

About

An Oasis in the City

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 3rd 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.

Directions

Ample parking for hiking, biking and visiting the Nature Center is located at 5200 Glover Rd, NW. Administrative offices are located at 3545 Williamsburg Lane, NW. Rock Creek Park is a large urban park stretching from the Maryland – DC border to the Potomac River. Rock Creek Park also administers 99 separate neighborhood small sites. A large network of public roads provide access to all points administered by Rock Creek Park.

Visitor Centers

Nature Center

The Nature Center is home to our Planetarium and nature exhibit area which features displays of plants and animals that can be found in the park. Most of Rock Creek park’s public and educational programs begin at the Nature Center Old Stone House

Built circa 1765 the Old Stone House is the oldest standing structure in Washington, D.C. Peirce Mill

Peirce Mill, built in the 1820s, is the last operational grist mill on Rock Creek Park

Weather

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

Permits and Reservations Information