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Touch Grass, DC, Maryland, Virginia: 30 Parks Worth the Picnic
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items From quiet lake loops to skyline views and lotus blooms, these parks go beyond basic. Whether you're solo, on a date, or wrangling kids with snacks in tow, there’s a perfect patch of grass waiting for you. Split by DC, Maryland, and Virginia, because...
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DC Parks
Maryland Parks
VA Parks
DC Parks
These are the parks that make you forget you're in a city. Think: tree-lined trails, historic corners, and spots where Sunday turns into an impromptu picnic. From drum circles to quiet ponds, DC’s green spaces do the most in the best way.
It’s giving: city escape without leaving the city. Wooded trails, picnic spots, and a creek that makes you forget you're a 10-minute drive from U Street.
Rock Creek Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Tiered steps, sculptures, and a Sunday drum circle. Come for the grassy hang, stay for the people-watching.
Meridian Hill Park
Right by the water with a walking bridge, open green space, and restaurants nearby. Ideal for a chill afternoon and sunset strolls.
The Yards Park
If you’ve never seen a lotus bloom in person, here’s your moment. It’s peaceful, wild, and completely underrated.
Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
A quiet corner near the National Mall with a pond and weeping willows. Feels romantic and removed even when it’s not.
Constitution Gardens
Secret garden energy tucked in NW. Stone bridges, dirt trails, and just the right amount of mystery.
Tregaron Conservancy
Open fields, river views, and room to move. Bring your bike, your kite, or your loudest family member.
Anacostia Park
Lush and less crowded, with picnic tables and an amphitheater that hosts concerts in the summer.
Fort Dupont Park
Park on the GW Parkway and cross the footbridge, instant nature reset. Great for mindful walks or long convos.
Theodore Roosevelt Island (U.S. National Park Service)
Less-traveled and woodsy, perfect for a peaceful walk with tall trees and a quiet vibe.
Battery Kemble Park
Maryland Parks
Suburban peace, but make it scenic. These parks bring the forest, the flowers, and just enough structure to keep it cute. Ideal for day trips, afternoon walks, and finding your soft girl reset with room to breathe.
Picnic pavilions, art sculptures, and trails with views of the South River. A total gem for weekend trips.
Quiet Waters Park
Gorgeous paths, flower beds, and little ponds that feel like you stepped into a storybook. Bonus: there’s a butterfly garden in the summer.
Brookside Gardens
Easy loop trail around the lake, with tons of ducks, turtles, and space to breathe. Lowkey, but beautiful.
Lake Artemesia Park - Park and Recreation - Prince Georges County MD
It has a nature center, a carousel, and walking trails, plus the Wizard of Oz playground if you’ve got kids in tow.
Watkins Regional Park
Feels like a deep forest just off the highway. Campsites and picnic areas make it feel like a mini getaway.
Greenbelt Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Rolling meadows, shaded trails, and a lake. Go when the leaves are changing, it’s breathtaking.
Seneca Creek State Park
This one winds through neighborhoods but still feels tucked away. Great for walks, runs, and stroller-friendly strolls.
Sligo Creek Trail
If birdwatching is your soft girl reset, this is the spot. Peaceful paths, wildlife, and an unbothered energy.
Patuxent Research Refuge
Perfect for laid-back picnics with a lake, cute little bridges, and playgrounds. Low fuss, high reward.
Allen Pond Park
Wide fields, waterfalls, and picnic tables you’ll want to claim early. Feels like nature with infrastructure.
Patapsco Valley State Park- McKeldin Area
VA Parks
Sweeping views, hidden trails, and riverside calmness. Virginia’s parks come through with variety. Whether you're watching planes fly overhead or wandering through wetlands, these spots feel like a mini escape without the long drive.
Planes flying right overhead. A blanket, some snacks, and you're set. It’s simple, iconic, and fun every time.
Gravelly Point Park | Arlington Convention & Visitors Service
Massive waterfalls, rocky overlooks, and trails with views. One of the most scenic spots in the DMV, bring water and good shoes.
Great Falls Park
A boardwalk through the wetlands with birds, turtles, and glowing golden-hour light. Quiet and cinematic.
Huntley Meadows Park
Shaded trails, tennis courts, and open picnic lawns. Feels like your favorite neighborhood park, in the best way.
Bluemont Park
Paddle boats, bike rentals, and a tree-lined path around the lake. Just enough going on to keep everyone entertained.
Lake Accotink Park
Less crowded than the nearby falls but just as beautiful. Perfect for walking by the Potomac without the hustle.
Riverbend Park Visitor's Center
Eagles, wildflowers, and peaceful trails. It feels like a nature sanctuary you won’t believe is in NoVA.
Mason Neck State Park
Dog-friendly, flat paths, and a lake. Come here to stretch your legs and clear your head.
Ben Brenman Park
Connected to Four Mile Run Trail, with sports fields and leafy paths. Active but not overwhelming.
Barcroft Park
Right under the Woodrow Wilson Bridge with river views and picnic tables. Fun mix of calm and cool.
Jones Point Park