US Park Finder
Children plant vegetables at the community gardens Photo: NPS

Fort Dupont Park

National Park Service site · District of Columbia

This 361 acre wooded park was once home to an earthen fort built to protect Washington, DC, during the Civil War.

Plan your visit Directions
  • LocationWashington, DC
  • Entrance No fee listed
  • HoursDaily, 6:00AM - 10:00PM
  • Weather now52°F Clear
  • Alerts No active alerts

Today, visitors can see the fort's earthworks and escape to the great outdoors. Activities include picnics, nature walks, biking, gardening, environmental education, music, and ranger-led programs.

Topics
  • African American Heritage
  • Animals
  • Civil War
  • Deciduous Forests
  • Forests and Woodlands
  • Forts
  • Military
  • Music
2 more topics
  • Trails
  • Wars and Conflicts
A wild turkey
Fort Dupont is great for birding. Wild turkeys are often spotted along our bike trails. — NPS

Things to Do

6 experiences from the National Park Service. Check details on NPS.gov before you go.

Showing 6 of 6

All 8 activities in the park

Pick one to find other parks that offer it.

Camping

1 campground listed on Recreation.gov. Check availability and current conditions before you go.

  • Picnic tables in front of a red brick building that houses restrooms at Fort Dupont

    Picnic Areas

    Reservable Campground

    Fort Dupont Park has three picnic areas that groups may reserve from spring to fall each year. There are also picnic areas available on first-come, first-served (no…

    Reserve on Recreation.gov

    National Capital Parks - East 1900 Anacostia Dr SE, Washington, DC 202-690-5152 Directions

    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Picnicking
    • Day Use Area
    Details

    Fees: Half day $65.00 Full day $130.00. No refund for cancellation.

    Overview

    Fort Dupont Park has three picnic areas that groups may reserve from spring to fall each year. There are also picnic areas available on first-come, first-served (no reservation required).

    Recreation

    The varied seasonal activities at this spacious area east of the Anacostia River include: picnic areas, hiking trails, Civil War programs, gardening, environmental education, concerts and special events, mountain biking and youth programs. Visit Fort Dupont's Things to Do web page.

    Facilities

    The three reservable picnic areas at Fort Dupont are::

    • Picnic areas A and B at Randle Circle. Both of these offer picnic tables, a grill and a nearby restroom building and playground. Electricity is not available on site. These areas have street parking but there is also a larger parking lot less than 1/4 mile from the picnic area. This site is also close to several park nature trails and the Fort Dupont Activity Center that has exhibits and other information about the park. No other amenities are available. 

    • The Historic Earthwork (Lanham Estates) picnic area on Alabama Avenue. This area offers a picnic shelter, tables, grill and a fireplace. Electricity is not available on site. This site also has an adjacent parking lot with open space nearby for playing games but there are no formal ball fields. This is also in the historic area of the park that contains the earthwork remnants of Fort Dupont and interpretive signage that give the history of the fort. This picnic area also offers access to the seven-mile Fort Circle Parks Hiker-Biker Trail, a seven mile trail that connects multiple fort sites in southeast Washington, D.C..  

    Natural Features

    Fort Dupont Park has 376 rolling wooded acres (152 ha), and is one of the largest parks in Washington D.C. Oak, beech and maple trees cover the hillsides. There is also a large area of mountain laurel that blooms in the spring each year.

    Contact Info

    For facility specific information, please call (771) 241-6891.

    Nearby Attractions

    Visitors may also enjoy:

    Charges & Cancellations

    Half day $65.00. Full day $130.00. No refund for cancellation.

Plan Your Visit

Hours

Daily, 6:00AM - 10:00PM · Fort Dupont Park

Hours by area (2)
  • Fort Dupont ParkDaily, 6:00AM - 10:00PM

    Open: 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily

    Monday6:00AM - 10:00PM
    Tuesday6:00AM - 10:00PM
    Wednesday6:00AM - 10:00PM
    Thursday6:00AM - 10:00PM
    Friday6:00AM - 10:00PM
    Saturday6:00AM - 10:00PM
    Sunday6:00AM - 10:00PM
  • Lanham Estates Picnic Area GatesDaily, 7:00AM - 10:00PM

    Lanham Estates Picnic Area is open daily for pedestrian access from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and for vehicle access through gated areas from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; gates are closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Ask ChatGPT

    Monday7:00AM - 10:00PM
    Tuesday7:00AM - 10:00PM
    Wednesday7:00AM - 10:00PM
    Thursday7:00AM - 10:00PM
    Friday7:00AM - 10:00PM
    Saturday7:00AM - 10:00PM
    Sunday7:00AM - 10:00PM

Entrance fees

No entrance fees listed.

Address

3600 F Street SE
Washington, DC 20019

Get directions Map & directions info

Contact the park

Weather & conditions

52°F
Clear · feels like 49°
  • Today 66° 49°
    Sunny
    2% rain
  • Tomorrow 74° 45°
    Sunny
    3% rain
  • Thursday 82° 52°
    Sunny
    4% rain

Updated 1 hr ago

What to expect by season

Open in all weather, unless otherwise noted under the alerts section of the parks website.

Photos

  • Large crowd sitting on blankets and in folding chairs in front of an outdoor stage
    Visitors wait for an outdoor concert to begin. — NPS / Lucas Cruz

Getting There

3600 F Street SE
Washington, DC 20019

Fort Dupont Park is located in Southeast Washington, DC, east of the Anacostia River. It is not near Dupont Circle.

Full directions

The closest metro rail stops are Potomac Avenue and Minnesota Avenue on the orange line, Benning Road on the blue line. Fort Dupont Park is served by several Metrobus routes. The most direct buses are the V7 and U2 buses on weekdays, or the V8 bus on weekends.

Get directions NPS directions Official NPS site

Mailing address: Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, Washington, DC 20019

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