Introduction
Gravelly Point is known by plane spotters around the world as a must-visit park. There are few places in the US you can get this close to a runway – the only other that I’ve personally visited is the In-N-Out burger near LAX. While you are not going to get a double-double (famous In-N-Out burger) here, it’s a great place to bring lunch and enjoy this beautiful place!
Location
Gravelly Point Park is located in Arlington County, VA along the George Washington Parkway just a mile from the National Mall along the west side of the Potomac River. While it’s across the river, you can easily add this to your DC itinerary.
Things To Do
Gravelly Point is a very popular spot for aircraft spotters – located at the base of runway 19 visitors have spectacular views of planes landing and taking off via the river approach. Some of the facilities include a large field with rugby posts, a nearby boat launch, picnic tables, and porta-potties. There is also typically a food truck parked near the parking lot to get something to eat which is a good thing because the park is quite a distance from any stores/restaurants.
What’s Nearby
Crystal City and Pentagon City are both nearby and walkable via the Mount Vernon Trail which cuts through the park. Speaking of the trail, you can bike/run/walk all the way down to Mount Vernon (George Washington’s Home) and up to Rosslyn with connections to Washington D.C. via the 14th Street Bridge and Memorial Bridge. This is an asphalt bike trail perfect for running, cycling, and other activities.
Getting Here
Access to the park is via the northbound lanes of the GW parkway, so if you are coming from the north (from DC) then you will need to circle through Reagan National Airport before you can enter the parking lot. This also means that you will be forced to head north from the park. To access the southbound lanes from the park, simply exit I-395 south towards Richmond then immediately take the following ramp towards southbound George Washington Memorial Parkway. The Blue and Yellow lines of the metro system have stops nearby – one at the airport and the other at Crystal City – both with connections to the aforementioned trail.
Final Thoughts
This is one of my favorite parks in the DC area and my daughter thoroughly enjoys it as she’s a fan of planes! Get yourself a packed lunch and get ready to have an enjoyable hour or two taking in phenomenal views of the airport and Potomac River.
