Take Public Transportation to Gardens, Aquariums, & Parks in D.C., Maryland, & Virginia

The destinations listed below are accessible by Metrorail, Metrobus, and other public transportation systems.

Please confirm times, fees, and directions. Hours of operation, entrance fees, and other information are subject to change. Please confirm with the venue you plan to visit. Phone numbers and Web links are provided. Most directions provided are from the nearest Metrorail station. (See interactive Metrorail system map.) Bus routes and their days and hours of operation are also subject to change. Get the most up-to-date directions, or find a more direct route from your D.C.-area location, by using Metro's Trip Planner. Addresses are provided to plug into the Trip Planner's destination field.

Have a favorite destination that you think should be added to our growing list? Send detailed information about how to get there by public transportation to our webmaster.

Alexandria African American Heritage Park | Brookside Gardens | Cabin John Regional Park & Ice Rink | Constitution Gardens | Fort Dupont Park | Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens | McCrillis Gardens | National Aquarium | National Arboretum | National Mall | Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium | Seneca Creek State Park | Six Flags America and Paradise Island Waterpark | U.S. Botanic Garden | Woodend Sanctuary

Alexandria African Amerian Heritage Park

Holland Lane (between Duke Street and Eisenhower Avenue), Alexandria, VA
(703) 838-4356

Alexandria African American Heritage Park, officially opened on June 17, 1995, is an eight acre site that honors the contributions of Alexandria's African American community. The park is part of the mixed-use Carlyle development and a satellite site for the Alexandria Black History Resource Center. The Park preserves a one acre 19th century African American cemetery. Of twenty-one known burials on this site, six identified headstones remain and are in their original location. A series of sculptures created by Washington, D.C. artist Jerome Meadows commemorate outstanding Alexandria African Americans, as well as Alexandria's African American neighborhoods and organizations. Park Hours: Dawn to Dusk, Monday through Friday. Call the Resource Center to schedule a walking tour of the park.

Take Metrorail's Blue or Yellow Line to the King Street station, exit the station and walk a short distance south on Dangerfield Road, turn right on Diagonal Road, walk a short distance southwest on Diagonal Road. Turn left on Reinekers Lane, walk 1 block south, turn left on Duke Street, walk a short distance east, turn right on Holland Lane and walk 3 blocks south.

Brookside Gardens

1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, Maryland 20902
(301) 962-1400

Brookside Gardens is Montgomery County's award-winning 50-acre public display garden located within Wheaton Regional Park. Included in the gardens are several distinct areas; azalea garden, rose garden, yew garden, formal garden, fragrance garden, Japanese style garden and trial garden. The garden also features two conservatories for year-round enjoyment. A horticultural reference library is located in the Visitors Center. Admission is free.

Take Metrorail's Red Line to the Glenmont station. Exit the station and take Metrobus C7 or C8 or Ride-On 10 toward Hillandale to the stop at Randolph Road & Heurich Road. Walk 2 blocks southeast on Heurich Road to Glenallen Avenue.

Cabin John Regional Park & Ice Rink

7400 Tuckerman Lane, Rockville, MD
Park Manager's Office: (301) 299-4555; Ice Rink: (301) 365-2246;
Nature Center: (301) 299-1990

Cabin John Regional Park provides family fun for tennis, hiking, picnic, playground, and miniature train rides. Nature center with classes and exhibits. Cabin John Ice Skating Rink is open all year. Park is open sunrise to sunset, year-round; check with facilities within the park for hours of operation. (Contact information.)

Take Metrorail's Red Line to the Grosvenor-Strathmore station, exit the station and take Ride-On 37 toward Potomac to the park.

Constitution Gardens

Constitution Avenue & 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC
(202) 426-6841

The site of the Constitution Gardens used to be under the Potomac River. After the Civil War, US Army Engineers drained the area and created Potomac Park. From 1917-1970 the Navy operated office buildings on the site. In 1971 the temporary buildings were demolished and Nixon ordered the construction of a park. In 1976 the gardens were completed and were dedicated by President Nixon in honor of the Bicentennial of the American Revolution. In 1982 Constitution Gardens became a seperate park unit and the 56 Signers of The Declaration of Independence Memorial was placed on the park's central Island. In 1986 in honor of the bicentennial of the Constitution the President proclaimed the park a tribute to the constitution. As part of its ceremonial duties the park hosts an annual naturalization ceremony for new citizens. Constitution Gardens is open dawn to dusk year-round.

Take Metrorail's Orange or Blue Lines to the Smithsonian station. Exit the station to the Mall and walk west, past the Washington Monument the the WWII Memorial, Reflecting Pool, and Constitution Gardens.

Fort Dupont Park

Fort Dupont Drive, SE, Washington, DC
(202) 426-7745

Fort Dupont had six sides, each 100 feet long, protected by a deep moat and trees felled side by side with branches pointing outward. It was named for Flag Officer Samuel F. du Pont, who commanded the naval victory at Port Royal, South Carolina, in November 1861. A "park for all seasons" describes the 376 rolling wooded acres that make up one of the largest parks in all of Washington. Picnics, nature walks, Civil War programs, gardening, environmental education, music, skating, sports, and youth programs are among the varied seasonal activities at this spacious area east of the Anacostia River. At the park's Activity Center, heart of much that goes on, park rangers lead workshops and walks. The center's showcases display uniforms and equipment of black soldiers who served the Union in the Civil War. Summer weekend jazz concerts, free to all, draw people to the lawns around the outdoor summer stage. Hours: Activity Center: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday (Tuesday through Saturday in summer); Summer Theatre: 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (June through August).

Take Metrorail's Orange Line to the Minnesota Avenue station. Exit the station and take either Metrobus V7 toward Bureau of Engraving or Metrobus U2 toward Anacostia to the stop at Minnesota Avenue SE and Lyndale Place. Walk 1 block northeast on Minnesota Avenue to the park.

Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens

Anacostia Ave. & Douglas St., NE, Washington, DC 20019
(202) 426-6905

Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens is a National Park Service site under the administrative management of National Capital Parks-East. It constitutes some 700 acres and is part of Anacostia Park. The Park includes the "Gardens", Kenilworth Marsh, ballfields and recreational facilities. The origins of Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens lie not only in the 1791 L'Enfant Plan for the District of Columbia, but also the McMillan Plan of 1901 which specifically recommended extension of public parkland along both sides of the Anacostia River. Thousands of water plants, waterlilies, lotuses, water hyacinths and bamboo grow in ponds along the Anacostia River. Flowers bloom May-early fall. Open daily 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors center open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April-September). Free. Guided tours available. Kenilworth Marsh and the adjacent swamp forest areas can be best viewed from the River Trail. The River Trail is 0.7 mile long and is accessed by entering the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. The trail ends at the channel that connects the marsh to the tidal Anacostia River. The entrance to the Aquatic Gardens is between Quarles and Douglas Streets, on Anacostia Avenue. The entrance to Kenilworth Park (recreation area) is located at the westernmost end of Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE, approximately 0.5 mile south of the Aquatic Gardens entrance.

Take Metrorail's Orange Line to the Deanwood station. Exit the station and take Metrobus V7 or V8 toward Bureau of Engraving to the stop at Kenilworth Avenue & Douglas Street. Walk northwest on Douglas Street to the park and gardens.

McCrillis Gardens

6910 Greentree Road, Bethesda, MD
(301) 962-1455

McCrillis Gardens was donated to The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission in 1978 by its owners, William and Virginia McCrillis. Managed by Brookside Gardens, the Gardens have been refined as a premier shade garden. Choice ornamental trees and shrubs extend the flowering season while bulbs, groundcovers and shade-loving perennials add ongoing color and texture. A pavilion and benches provide restful vantage points. McCrillis Gallery provides an intimate setting for displays by art groups from the Washington area. Staffed by volunteers, the Gallery is located on the first floor of the former McCrillis residence. Regularly changing exhibits feature artwork in a variety of media styles. Hours: Gardens, daily, 10 a.m. to sunset. Gallery: Call for hours and current show information, (301) 365-1657, gallery office.

Take Metrorail's Red Line to the Bethesda station, exit the station and take Ride-On 36 toward Connelly School/Bradley Blvd. to the stop at Bradley Boulevard & Burdette Road. Walk 2 blocks northeast on Burdette Road, turn left on Greentree Road and walk 1 block northwest.

National Aquarium

US Department of Commerce Building, 14th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230
(202) 482-2826

The National Aquarium, located in the US Department of Commerce Building, is the Nation's first public aquarium. The 70 tanks house sea turtles, American alligators, sharks, piranha and 1,200 other specimens of marine life. Hours, admission fees, and map. Take Metrorail's Orange or Blue Lines to the Federal Triangle station. Exit the station and walk 2 blocks south on 12th Street NW, turn right on Constitution Avenue NW and walk 2 blocks.

National Arboretum

3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 245-2726

The National Arboretum contains an array of display gardens, collections, and historical monuments set among native stands of eastern deciduous trees. More than 400 acres of trees, shrubs, flowering plants, picnic grounds, herb garden and famous Bonsai collection. Free admission. Hours. Visitor entrances are located on New York Avenue and on R Street.

Take Metrorail's Orange or Blue Lines to the Stadium Armory station. Exit the station and take Metrobus B2 toward Mount Rainier to the stop at Bladensburg Road and Rand Place NE. Walk 1 block east on Rand Place, turn right on 22nd St. NE, walk one block sourth and turn left on R St. NE. Walk one block east on R St. to the arboretum. Note: During the summer months, Metrobus offers a special Saturday, Sunday, and holiday route, Metrobus X6, from Union Station on Metrorail's Red Line to the National Arboretum. See Metro's Trip Planner to see if this route will be running when you plan to visit.

National Mall

Between Constitution & Independence Avenues SW, Washington , DC
(202) 485-9880

The National Mall resources include the 2,000 American elms which line the Mall and the 3,000 internationally renowned Japanese cherry trees which grace the Tidal Basin. Gardens that are botanical showplaces display thousands of tulips, pansies and annuals in over 170 flower beds, and 35 ornamental pools and fountains range from the simple to the sublime. The National Mall also includes President's Park (White House), the Smithsonian Institution, and the following memorials: Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Women's Memorial, World War II Memorial, and the Washington Monument.

Take Metrorail's Orange or Blue Lines to Smithsonian station on the Mall, or the Federal Triangle station 2 blocks north on 12th Street NW.

National Zoo

See Smithsonian National Zoological Park

Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium

5200 Glover Road, NW, Washington, DC
(202) 895-6070

Rock Creek Park is truly a gem in our nation’s capital. It offers visitors an opportunity to reflect and soothe their spirits through the beauty of nature. Fresh air, majestic trees, wild animals, and the ebb and flow of Rock Creek emanate the delicate aura of the forest.

The Rock Creek Nature Center is the major information center and focal point for activities related to the park's natural and cultural history. Exhibits tell about the park's wildlife and forest, and a library, open to all, has many books on natural history. A Discovery Room will encourage hands-on activities. An observation beehive is located on the back wall of the exhibit room. Visitors can watch the bees at work in the hive, visible through glass panes. The hive is connected to the outdoors by a plastic tube. Guided nature walks and curriculum based environmental education programs take place daily.

The Rock Creek Park Planetarium is the only planetarium in the national park system, presenting astronomy programs for adults and children.

Take Metrorail's Red Line to the Friendship Heights station. Exit the station and take Metrobus E2 toward Fort Totten or Metrobus E3 toward Ivy City to the stop at Glover and Military Roads. Walk south on the trail up the hill to the Nature Center. Or take Metrorail's Red or Green Lines to the Fort Totten station, exit the station and take Metrobus E2 toward Friendship Heights to the stop at Glover and Military Roads. Walk south on the trail up the hill to the Nature Center.

Seneca Creek State Park

11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg, MD
(301) 924-2127

Seneca Creek State Park rests in a scenic stream valley, extending for 12 miles along Seneca Creek. Many marked trails wind through a variety of habitats typical of central Maryland. Visitors can hike a self-guided interpretive trail, which explores the historic Clopper Estate. The 90-acre Clopper Lake provides fishing and boating opportunities, and creates vistas for all to enjoy.

Take Metrorail's Red Line to the Shady Grove station, exit the station and take Ride-On 61 bus toward Montgomery College/Germantown to the stop at 11900 Clopper Rd; Seneca Creek Park. Walk 2 blocks northwest on Clopper Road to the park.

Six Flags America and Paradise Island Waterpark

Six Flags America features more than 100 thrilling rides, shows and attractions! Headlined by eight fun and furious roller coasters, the park also features live Hollywood-style shows plus a huge water park, Paradise Island, filled with more than a million gallons of splashin' action. Seasonal.

Take Metrorail's Blue Line to the Addison Road station, exit the station and take Metrobus C21 or C22 toward Pointer Ridge to the stop at Six Flags America.

U.S. Botanic Garden

245 First Street, SW, Washington, DC, 20024
(202) 225-8333

The United States Botanical Garden is the oldest continually operating botanic garden in the United States. The complex is bordered by First Street and Third Streets, S.W., and located along the north and south sides of Independence Avenue. The Garden includes the Conservatory and two acres of surrounding exterior grounds, the outdoor display gardens in Frederic Auguste Bartholdi Park, and the Administration Building. Plans are under way to build The National Garden, funded by the National Fund for the United States Botanic Garden, on the three acres directly west of the Conservatory

Bartholdi Park is the Botanic Garden's home gardening demonstration landscape. Each of the display beds is of the size and scale suitable for the urban or suburban home site. The individual theme gardens illustrate a variety of hardscape structures, pathway styles, and design principles. The park's central focus is the Bartholdi Fountain, moved here in 1934 and originally created for the Centennial Exposition of 1876 in Philadelphia by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty.

Take Metrorail's Orange or Blue lines to the Federal Center Southwest station, exit the station, turn left and walk north along Third Street for two blocks, cross Independence Avenue and continue one more block to Maryland Avenue. Look toward the Capitol and you will see the glass dome of the Conservatory. Enter on Maryland Avenue.

Woodend Sanctuary

Audubon Naturalist Society
8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD
(301) 652-9188

Woodend Sanctuary, the Audubon Naturalist Society's 40-acre preserve, features a self-guided nature trail, pond, wildflower meadow, and butterfly garden. Woodend was donated to the Audubon Naturalist Society in 1967.

Take Metrorail's Red Line to Medical Center station, exit the station and take Metrobus J1 toward Silver Spring to the stop at Jones Bridge Road & Jones Bridge Court. Walk 1 block west on Jones Bridge Road, turn right on Brierly Road, walk 5 blocks north and enter by the rear driveway (opening in chain link fence).