Mt Vernon Trail Parking

Great biking and long distance running trail while being enclosed by nature. Has all kinds of inclines. Everybody is so friendly. I definitely found my tribe here.

There is a fairly nasty bathroom and a water fountain. Has what you need, just don't expect more. The trail itself is 5 stars, less some bumpiness from roots. Little annoying for a high performance road bike, plus it can get a bit crowded.

Don't go here. Only 3 spots. The one you want is Belle Haven park, just a mile north.

There are only 4 spots to park here so be forewarned, however:

The Mt. Vernon Trail is a true GEM of the area! Beautiful views all along the Potomac River and connected to the vast network of trails in the greater DC area.

The Mt. Vernon trail is an 18-mile long paved trail originating from George Washington's Mt. Vernon estate and terminating just north of the Roosevelt Island parking lot in Arlington. There is one section that is not trail but follows Union Street through Old Town Alexandria. With great views of the Potomac along most of it's length, it offers users ever changing scenery throughout the year. Along the trail there are numerous parks and other diversions that could be used to make multiple day trips necessary to see them all. Some of the highlights include Mt. Vernon, Riverside Park, Fort Hunt Park, River Farm, Belle Haven Park, Jones Point Lighthouse, Old Town Alexandria, Torpedo Factory, Gravelly Point and Roosevelt Island.

The trail is used by runners, walkers, and cyclists with sections of the trail near Belle Haven (just south of Old Town) and Gravelly Point (near the airport) seeing heavy traffic on weekends during good weather. Though the trail is multi-use, road cyclists often find the trail too bumpy for a really enjoyable ride. The speed limit of 15 mph is really necessary when there are many people on the trail and the "root bumps" that extend across the trail can make for some uncomfortable riding on most road bikes. Mountain bikes fare better but some of the bumps have become significant over the years. Additionally, the trail is narrow in many areas though it is clearly striped with a center line so passing can be difficult in the heavy use parts.

In my 20 years in the area, I have seen an increase in daily commuters cycling to and from DC on the trail, which is a fantastic use of the trail. I have been a frequent commuter myself and find the ride into work and then home to be a great part of living in the area. It would be nice to see there be some budget put towards improving the trail overall, however. As mentioned, there are hundreds of "root bumps" across the trail that make riding uncomfortable and even present a trip hazard to runners and walkers.

I love this trail and am so glad my neighborhood abuts it so that my regular runs and bike rides allow me to use it.

This wasn't really the best location to park for the trail. It got me close, but I ultimately had to drive around another mile and a half to really find a good spot.