Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens is a park service site run by the National Park Service in District of Columbia.
In the park service’s words
Deep within Kenilworth lies an oasis, hidden behind trees and cattails. It's a place where beavers build their homes and turtles sleep on logs. Lotus blooms rise from the muck and lilies sit on the water. The wind dances with the dragonflies, rustling through the trees, carrying the song of the birds until it brushes across your face, fading to a whisper, saying "come join."
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Things to do
- Junior Ranger Programs at National Capital Parks - East (30 to 90 Minutes): Become a Junior Ranger at parks across National Capital Parks, East! Explore, complete a booklet, and earn badges and certificates along the way!
- Collect all the National Capital Parks - East Passport Stamps (5 to 10 Minutes): Start your stamp collection and celebrate every park you visit! Explore historic sites and scenic parks managed by National Capital Parks - East and collect a unique stamp at each one.
- Orange Line - DC Metro (1 to 2 Days): Discover lotus and lily flowers at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, or explore the many memorials just a short walk from the Orange Line. Each of the parks listed here are 1 mile or less from each metro stop (about a 20 minute walk) or a 10 minute bus ride away.
- Take a walk through Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens (1 to 8 Hours): Sparkling in the sun on a breezy day, this natural area of Anacostia Park has origins in a 1926 act of Congress to preserve the forests, water quality, and recreation value of the waterways of Washington, DC. The park reflects the policies that affect rivers and wetlands.
- Become a Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Junior Ranger (30 to 90 Minutes): Kids of all ages can become a junior ranger at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Find a park ranger or stop by the visitor center to pick up your book when you visit. Complete the activites and a park staff member will swear you in and award you your own official junior ranger badge!
- Picnic at Kenilworth (1 to 2 Hours): Relax and enjoy a picnic at Kenilworth Park! Continue the tradition of having a picnic breakfast or lunch that has been enjoyed by visitors to Kenilworth since the early 1900s. President Wilson and his wife Edith would enjoy picnics at the gardens, and you can too!
- Go Birding At Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens! (1 to 4 Hours): Open year-round, Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens offers an excellent opportunity for birdwatching. The river, marshes, and hardwood trees offers a diverse habitat for finding birds. Over 240 birds have been sighted at the park!
Fees and hours
Entrance fee: No entrance fee.
Hours: Daily, 8:00AM - 4:00PM. Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Getting there
The park is located in North East Washington D.C. south of route 50 and just off the Baltimore Washington Parkway. The park is also within the D.C. Kenilworth community and the Anacostia river runs along the park boundary. Interstate 295 runs parallel to the park. The park is within half a mile from the Deanwood Metro station on the orange line. There is free parking at the park.
| Airport | City | Drive to the park | Straight-line miles | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) | Washington, DC | No road route | 7 | Large hub |
| Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) | Baltimore, MD | No road route | 23 | Large hub |
| Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) | Dulles, VA | No road route | 28 | Large hub |
Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.
Miles are straight-line distances.
Visitor centers
- Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 3:00PM. Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Weather
June-September expect warm and humid weather. Average high temperatures are in the 80s, though often in the low 90s. On humid days, showers and thunderstorms often build in the late afternoon. July and August are the warmest months. The coldest month is January, with average daytime highs in the low 40s and overnight lows in the upper 20s.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Know before you go
Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.
Nearby
The nearest national park is Shenandoah, about 80 miles away in a straight line.
Sources
Last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an entrance fee at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens?
No entrance fee.
Where is Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens?
In District of Columbia. The closest airport with scheduled flights is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, about 7 miles away.
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