George Washington Memorial Parkway
A Potomac River parkway from Mount Vernon past Alexandria and the Washington monuments to the Potomac Gorge.
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length25 miles[1]
- Drive timeAbout an hour without stopping, or a full day with stops[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsNot verified
- Start and endMount Vernon north along the Potomac past Washington, D.C.[1]
- Fees and passesNone[1]
- Best seasonNot verified
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesNot verified
- Seasonal closuresGenerally open year-round, 24 hours a day; road work and bad weather can close sections.[2]
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.
About the drive
The George Washington Memorial Parkway follows the Virginia bank of the Potomac River from George Washington's Mount Vernon north past Alexandria and across from the monuments of Washington, D.C., to the wooded Potomac Gorge.
Pull-offs give river views at Fort Washington Overlook and above the gorge. Arlington Memorial Bridge leads across to the Lincoln Memorial, and Arlington House stands on the hill above Arlington National Cemetery.
It's generally open around the clock; expect commuter traffic at rush hours.
Stops along the way
-
Mount Vernon
George Washington's estate at the south end.
Official information · 38.73517, -77.09537 · about 1.4 mi from the route line
-
Fort Washington Overlook
View across the Potomac to Fort Washington.
Official information · 38.71703, -77.04459 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Arlington Memorial Bridge
Bridge to the Lincoln Memorial, built as a symbol of reunion.
Official information · 38.88733, -77.05551 · about 0.5 mi from the route line
-
Arlington House
Hilltop house museum above Arlington National Cemetery.
Official information · 38.88095, -77.07266 · about 0.8 mi from the route line
-
Potomac Gorge overlook
Small overlook above the Potomac Gorge.
Official information · 38.9163, -77.1057 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Alexandria Farmer's MarketAlexandria, VA · about 0.2 mi from the route · listed as year-round
- FRESHFARM Rosslyn Farmers MarketArlington, VA · about 0.2 mi from the route
- Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans MarketAlexandria, VA · about 0.8 mi from the route
- FRESHFARM Arlington MarketArlington, VA · about 0.9 mi from the route · listed as year-round
- FRESHFARM Ballston MarketArlington, VA · about 2.0 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Sources
- America's Byways: George Washington Memorial Parkway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
- George Washington Memorial Parkway: operating hours (NPS) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).