East Potomac Park — Attraction in Washington

We have been anchored across from the East Potomac National Park for 2 months. It is beautiful. We walk in the park everyday it is a wonderful meeting place. People fishing and picnicking. Walkers, cyclists use it daily. On the Washington Channel side, enjoy the views of the City Warfe, marinas, boats on the mooring balls or at anchor. On the Potomac side watch aeroplanes land and take off from The Reagan Airport. The playground is immense and a child's dream. The only downside is there are not enough garbage cans on the Washington Channel side going up from the entrance to the golf course going towards the bridges. Which has resulted in people leaving their trash behind. Than again, even with the garbage cans a plenty further down people leave their trash on the ground instead of walking the 100 feet to put it in the trash bin. We see Park staff cleaning up trash daily, they work tirelessly to keep the park clean. Sadly the Public Restroom across from the Mini Gulf is closed and out of service. The Restroom on the Potomac side is open and clean. The jetty dock is excellent and we have used it everyday and is in excellent condition. Needs a trash bin nearby. People sit on the benches enjoying the views but leave their trash behind. When the winds pick up and rainstorm happens all that trash is washed into the river and drifts out to sea. I really hope the walkways right along the river are fixed soon. The current and high tides have some areas closed due to damage. The park is beautiful and must be breathtaking when the Cherry Blossoms are in bloom. The trees are also starting to show their fall colours. It is an absolutely beautiful park. Parking is free and within walking distance to many of the sites to see...

Timing is everything. I ran the three-mile loops around Hains Point in East Potomac Park on a spring afternoon, at the tapering if the year's cherry blossom bloom. Heaven, running down a path lined with a tunnel of wispy white blooms. Not too many other runners, but I kept passing a phalanx of cyclists who greeted me as we passed on our counter-directional loops. I could run with music and found the silence on the circuit refreshing. Best to run counterclockwise in the road so you can see oncoming traffic. The sidewalk is instructed by fishing poles and meandering pedestrians, and is submerged after any kind of rain.

Hey! Watch for the sun and dress accordingly. Depending on repairs, there are probably 2 bathrooms open, but more water fountains if you don't BYOB. Think how you'll get here-- parking spaces in bays around the Point can fill up. Plan ahead, because this is often the route for 5k races on spring and fall weekends.

Also, expect breezes off the Potomac. Cooling if it's hot, biting if it's not.

One of my favorite running routes because a) it's flat and b) once you start you have no choice but to finish.

Oh, you're not a runner? Would I come here? There's a nine-hole golf course, a historic muni-golf course, swimming, tennis, and a rec playground. Mentioned fishing, too, don't know if you need a license. You could walk the loop, but I might have to do that...

East Potomac Park Picnic Area was such a perfect escape during cherry blossom season. I met up with friends here, and we were able to spread out on blankets, enjoy some drinks, snacks, and just take in the view. What I really love about this spot is how peaceful and open it feels—even when the rest of the city is jammed up with crowds trying to get into the main cherry blossom areas, this stretch feels like a hidden gem.

It took some time to get there with the traffic from everyone heading downtown for the festival, but once we got through and reached this more remote part of the basin, it felt totally worth it. The cherry blossoms line the street in this area too, so you’re not missing anything—if anything, it feels more intimate, like you’re experiencing them in your own private corner of D.C.

The view of the water, the backdrop of the Jefferson Memorial, and the calm energy make it ideal for picnics or even just a chill walk. It’s also super photogenic if you’re looking to take casual pics or something more styled—definitely one of those spots where you can just relax and let the city fade into the background.

Highly recommend coming here if you want to experience the beauty of cherry blossom season without the stress of the crowd. Whether it’s with friends or solo, this park offers that rare combo of serenity and scenery that makes you feel like you’re truly...