Outdoor Activities in Washington, DC
Washington, DC's best outdoor activities include Blagden Alley (Free), Canal Park Ice Rink ($13), DC Improv Comedy Club ($20-65), Dumbarton Oaks (Free-$10), and East Potomac Park Mini Golf ($8).
Hope Diamond and a T. rex, completely free
10th St & Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20560 · Daily 10am-5:30pm, extended to 7:30pm spring/summer
Giant pandas and 2,100 animals, totally free
3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008 · Mar 15-Sep 14: 8am-6pm; Sep 15-Mar 14: 8am-4pm
Ruby slippers, Julia Child's kitchen, all free
1300 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20560 · Daily 10am-5:30pm, extended to 7:30pm Mar-Sep
The Great Hall is free and spectacular
401 F St NW, Washington, DC 20001 · Mon, Thu-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Tue-Wed
Just reopened in 2026 after 3-year restoration
900 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington, DC 20560 · Daily 10am-5pm
Free splash park with fountains, under a foot deep
355 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20003 · Sunrise to 2 hours after sunset
Oldest operating mini golf in America, since 1931
972 Ohio Dr SW, Washington, DC 20024 · Daily 10am-8pm
Underground walkway, wading fountain, ice rink, all free
6th & Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20565 · Daily 10am-5pm
Free show every night at 6pm, no tickets
2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20566 · Daily at 6pm (Millennium Stage); building open 10am-9pm
300+ bonsai trees and original Capitol columns, free
3501 New York Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 · Daily 10am-4pm; closed federal holidays Veterans Day through Presidents Day
The actual Declaration of Independence
701 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20408 · Daily 10am-5:30pm, closed Thanksgiving and Dec 25
Only national park for water plants, free
1550 Anacostia Ave NE, Washington, DC 20019 · Daily 8am-4pm
1921 carousel still running, $2 a ride
7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, MD 20812 · Grounds open daily dawn to dusk; carousel and theater hours vary
Free Saturday kids shows, no tickets needed
1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004 · Select Saturdays 9:30am and 11am, check schedule · Ages 4–10
Pedal past the Jefferson Memorial for $38/hour
1501 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024 · Mar-Oct: Daily 10am-6pm (weather dependent)
Free show every single day at 6pm
2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20566 · Box office: Mon-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 12pm-9pm
300 seats, two-drink minimum, open since 1992
1140 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036 · Shows Wed-Sun, box office opens 1 hour before
Only da Vinci painting in the Americas, free
6th St & Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20565 · Daily 10am-5pm
Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party lives here
1600 21st St NW, Washington, DC 20009 · Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon
Duke Ellington and James Brown both played here
620 T St NW, Washington, DC 20001 · Show nights, times vary; brunch shows Sun 11am
40+ food vendors, free to browse
1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002 · Tue-Sun 8am-9pm, closed Mon
Free jazz every Friday all summer
6th St & Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20565 · Fridays 5-8:30pm, Memorial Day through Labor Day
Free, no tickets, and rarely crowded
Independence Ave SW & 7th St SW, Washington, DC 20560 · Museum: Daily 10am-5:30pm; Sculpture Garden: Daily 7:30am-dusk
Only national park for performing arts
1551 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA 22182 · Summer season May-Sep; Barns year-round
Free concerts at DC's highest point since the 1960s
3950 Chesapeake St NW, Washington, DC 20016 · Mon & Thu evenings 7-9pm, Jul-Aug
Free — Russian imperial art, Japanese garden, and an orchid greenhouse nobody knows about.
4155 Linnean Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008 · Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon
Byzantine art + 10 acres of terraced gardens in Georgetown — the gardens alone are worth it.
1703 32nd St NW, Washington, DC 20007 · Museum: Tue-Sun 11:30am-5:30pm; Gardens: Tue-Sun 2-6pm (seasonal hours vary)
Hidden alley in Shaw with street art, cocktail bars, and restaurants — most people walk right past.
Blagden Alley NW, Washington, DC 20001 · Always accessible; restaurant/bar hours vary
$15 adults for two sessions. $7 skate rental. Skate surrounded by modern sculpture on the Mall. 45-minute sessions start on the hour.
6th St & Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20565 · Sun-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm
$11 adults, $9 kids. Largest outdoor rink in DC -- bigger than Rockefeller Center. Potomac River views. 90-minute sessions.
3000 K St NW, Washington, DC 20007 · Sun-Thu 11am-8:30pm (sessions), Fri-Sat 11am-10:30pm
$13 adults, $11 kids. Figure-eight shaped rink -- feels more like an ice trail than a rink. Capitol Hill side of the river.
200 M St SE, Washington, DC 20003 · Mon-Thu 2-10pm, Fri 2-11pm, Sat 12-11pm, Sun 12-10pm
$20 adults, $15 kids. The priciest rink in DC, but the Wharf atmosphere makes up for it. Right next to The Anthem and all the restaurants.
970 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024 · Wed-Fri 4-10pm, Sat 12-10pm, Sun 12-8pm (closed Mon-Tue)
$11 online, $13 walk-up. Biggest outdoor rink in Northern Virginia. Stone fireplace rinkside. Pentagon City Metro stop.
1201 S Joyce St, Arlington, VA 22202 · Sun-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-11pm
Weekend farmers market + flea market on Capitol Hill — Saturday produce, Sunday antiques.
225 7th St SE, Washington, DC 20003 · Indoor: Tue-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 7am-6pm, Sun 9am-5pm; Outdoor: Sat-Sun 10am-5pm