theodore roosevelt island park

Trees, grass, paths. Finally, an abyss. Teddy Roosevelt's statue stares down at you and is foiled by the rustic environment. "Serene" is the first word that comes to mind to describe this place. Bathrooms aren't great, but they're functioning. Great for dates, family outings, or showing out of town visitors.

We had a wonderful summer visit to this island/park and look forward to our next visit when in the area. Parking was a bit crowded the day we went but guess we had to expect that considering it was a gorgeous, weekend day. However we waited a few minutes and got a spot.Many different path options on the island, and a wide variety of scenery and terrain (rocks, water, boardwalk, woods). Lovely views through of the Potomac River through the trees.Reading the quotes on the monuments was thought provoking and the statute of Theodore Roosevelt is huge!!Complaints- No working restrooms, they were closed during our time there for some reason.Fountains- my children loved walking (okay so did I) in the pools where there should be water, but we all said how pretty it would be if they were full of water, and the fountains were working. I'm sure $$ is at play here, too costly to maintain, operate, etc., but would be so much more lovely if there were working.Park police- I wish we saw just one park staff there during our time, okay we did but they were in the parking lot manning that..nice to feel like there is one person out there on the island.We will be returning, and I'd definitely recommend visiting.

Nice paths, somewhat unsafe with NO police visability, pretty in spring and fall. Quiet place to go hide for awhile and be alone.

We took our extended family to hike around the island and really enjoyed it. While the statue area of Roosevelt is nice, we enjoyed the swamp trail the best. It was fun hiking along the raised path and near the end climbing along the rocks next to the Potomac with nice views of Georgetown.

As so many others have noted, this is a true 'hidden gem here in the DC/Northern Virginia area! Suspect most 'locals' don't even know about this site ... unless they drive by it or use the bike trail that passes nearby. There's (usually) plenty of parking available - exceptions being on beautiful, warm spring & summer weekends. Know that you'll be doing about a mile or so of walking on mostly flat ground, so wear comfortable shoes and don't forget to bring some water, camera and binoculars. There are well maintained & wide walking paths and boardwalks that can accommodate strollers and wheelchairs. There are plenty of places to sit and rest as well. Paths lead off in various directions, but all return to the entrance across a small bridge from the parking lot, so you can easily go off on your own if there are crowds collecting in one part of the park.It's a great place for quiet reflection ... especially when you approach the very tall sculpture of TR that's FAR larger than any picture can show -- truly impressive!

Teddy Roosevelt Island Park is a conservation zone located in the middle of the Potomac river between Arlington and DC. Accessible only from the George Washington Parkway (Northbound), this park contains miles of hiking/biking/walking trails and a monument to the Rough Rider himself. I've lived in the DC metropolitan area most of my life, and having JUST visited the island for the first time at 29, I'm wondering why I hadn't stopped by sooner. The preserve is quiet, but not painfully so. Lots of wildlife to see milling about as well, so bring a pair of binoculars!In the upper central portion of the island is a granite and bronze Memorial to Mr. Roosevelt complete with fountains and engraved quotations from his life. Very serene and awe-inspiring place to be.Quick tips: DC used to be a swamp, and half of this island is a swamp as well. If you come outside of Winter, bring insect repellent. Also, parking fills up quickly here on really nice days. If the parking lot is full, you can drive a few miles further up the Parkway to Fort Myer or Turkey Run and walk the Potomac Heritage Trail back down to the island.The bottom line: If you like nature, or just need to get away from the concrete jungle, I would strongly recommend paying a visit to Theodore Roosevelt Island. I hope it does that same for you that it did for me!

I have been to DC on numerous occasions but I never visited the island before. My wife and I decided to do something different and go see Teddy on his island. We walked from the Rosslyn Metro station and it only took about 20 minutes. We crossed the Potomac on foot and explored the island and were impressed with the statue of Teddy Roosevelt and the guide stones behind him. It was worth the walk because there were very few visitors here and you were not getting jostled and bumped by all of the others in the museums.

Great running path, very secluded, and yet spectacular. True to the nature of this president, we located it on a map, and not one cab driver knew how to drive us there. It really is a great little spot, esp if you're dog people. Doggie doody bags, picnic area and a truly unique tribute to Teddy. Very close to Arlington Cemetery. Put this on the list.

Easy to get to from Metro or car. Great walk. Watch the path if you are coming from Rosslyn (metro area), make sure you take the black top path directly adjacent to the hwy.....otherwise you enter the wooded area below and some persons hiding in the bushes (homeless? unsavory waiting to pounce? who knows....stick to trail and not find out). I was trekking solo, so of course this was a concern for me, but may be an absolute nothing for couples or families. Once across the foot bridge to the Island, it is a wonderful area, complimented by the beautiful dedication to Theodore Roosevelt, with large concrete pillars and multiple bridges. As it was the Fall, there was a beautiful display of leaves with vibrant color laying amongst the empty ponds by the bridges that surround the TR monument. Easy walking, nice views of Georgetown, turtles, tadpoles, birds, squirrels and other small rodents. Great walk for Fall, for sure!

What a wonderful place this is--so much variety and so very peaceful. It is one of the DC area Kids in Parks Track Trails and would be a very educational field excursion for young people who would see TDR's conservation philosophy in real vs in a book. The walk around the park is a good leg stretcher since the terrain is a little uneven but it is so worth the effort.

Theodore Roosevelt Island is in Washington DC, but accessed from Virginia. The island is a 3/4-mile walk from the Rosslyn metro station, first to the parking lot and across the Potomac on a footbridge. The park was created in 1932 as a living memorial to the 26th president, a pioneering conservationist. The memorial plaza, surrounded by forest, features a statue of Roosevelt, fountains, and benches. It's a nice spot for a picnic, or simply a contemplative break. Of the island's three walking trails, the 1.3-mile Swamp Trail is longest, circling the island and offering different views of the Potomac shoreline. A favored destination for birders, joggers, and family walks, Roosevelt Island is among DC's natural treasures. Note: There is no visitors' center and from October - April the restrooms are locked.

Nice park with walking trails lead you to a hidden treasure. A beautiful statue surrounded with inspirational quotations and lovely water features (empty when I was there) pink granite marble benches. Lovely memorial to Roosevelt great place to walk the dog.

It's a beautiful place - an island in the Potomac in the midst of the nation's capital. It's peaceful, with marsh and forest and a big statue of Teddy in the middle that's not all that easily found. Great place to walk with kids or dogs; to jog; to picnic; to find, as TR found, a little peace from nature away from the city hustle and bustle.Sadly, you'd need a car, or a bicycle, to get here. I can't imagine any other way. Parking might be a problem on a weekend or holiday. But the calm and beauty are worthwhile.

We stayed 3 days in D.C. and were told this was a hidden gem. It is a nice island with some good views of Georgetown and the Roosevelt memorial which is standard compared to the other D.C. has to offer. The island has nice trails. It was hard to find parking and actually get there (there is some parking nearby but we couldn't find it since there are not clear directions) I wouldn't recommended for people visiting D.C. for a short period or time, to me there are better options.

This is the largest presidential memorial in the DC area, with a beautiful short hike (about 1.5 miles) that includes an Olmstead park setting, and a great monument/memorial to Teddy Roosevelt, featuring his conservation efforts. If you are looking to "get out of the city", it's a great stop, though it takes a little effort for tourists to figure out the best public transportation route. There are a couple of spots that afford beautiful views across the Potomac of the Kennedy Center, Watergate building and Georgetown. The island has an interesting history, including a former life as a summer home for the Mason family, Civil War activity and the restoration of the natural habitat for the Roosevelt memorial. The memorial is an idyllic spot, designed with a grand plaza, colossal statue of Roosevelt, a moat and fountains. The only problem is that the park service has not kept the moat and fountains in working order, so the effect of the grand design is diminished. We took a tour with one of the excellent docents at the site (check weekend schedules for the free walking tours). There are some markers on the trails, but many need to be updated and restored. In short, this is well worth a stop, especially if you have already seen the major sights of the city and are looking to see where DC residents go to "get outside" for a walk or run. The paths are mostly level, negotiable for families with a stroller, and there is convenient parking just across the pedestrian bridge that provides access to the island. The parking is easy to get to off of the George Washington Parkway, on the Arlington side of the Potomac. With a little work from the park service, this has the potential to be a real hidden gem of DC!