Last Updated:    November 02, 2025

Length:             Mt Vernon Trail; 17.7 miles

Difficulty:         Moderate. Paved trail. Hilly and rougher along the Southern End. On street biking along one portion.

Directions:

To start from the Theodore Roosevelt Island parking lot [Northern End]; From I-66 Westbound take the GW Memorial Pkwy exit and travel north. Parking lot located on your right. 

The National Park Service built the Mount Vernon Trail in 1973. It starts from Arlington and the intersection with the Eastern End of the Custis Trail and travels South, alongside the Potomac River, past Theodore Roosevelt Island, Reagan National Airport and through Alexandria, Fort Hunt and Mt Vernon. It then turns West, bringing you to Mount Vernon (home of George Washington). For more information visit; NPS; MT VERNON TRAIL , FRIENDS of MT VERNON TRAIL , CAPITOL TRAILS COALITION , DC TRAILS , WASHINGTON BIKE ASSOC , BIKE WASHINGTON & BIKES on METRO .

The Mount Vernon Trail is part of the EAST COAST GREENWAY , a planned biking & hiking route stretching 3,000 miles from Maine South, to Florida. When complete it will traverse 15 states with a mostly off-road path.

Starting from the intersection with the Eastern End of the Custis Trail in Arlington [Northern End]; From the intersection of Langston Blvd & N Lynn St, the paved Mount Vernon Trail travels Southeast, crossing a bridge over the GW Memorial Pkwy and bringing you to the Theodore Roosevelt Island parking lot at 0.3 miles. Pass by 2 parking lots and come to a pedestrian bridge that takes you over to Theodore Roosevelt Island. Porto-Potty's, Map Board, informational signs and bike racks. 

Note; To access Roosevelt Island, use the footbridge. However, no bikes are allowed on the Island.  

The trail travels South, between the GW Pkwy and the Potomac River, along a boardwalk, bringing you to an intersection at 0.6 miles.

Note; The boardwalk trail to the right will take you up to and across the narrow, paved Roosevelt Memorial Bridge and East, into Washington DC, where you can access the Rock Creek Park Trail. 

Continue left, along the boardwalk, traveling underneath the Roosevelt Memorial Bridge, where the paved trail continues. Here, you'll start getting some nice views of Washington DC landmarks across the Potomac River. The trail continues between the GW Pkwy and the Potomac River, crossing a bridge over the Boundary Channel to Columbia Island, which is part of DC. You then travel under the Arlington Memorial Bridge and come to an intersection at 1.5 miles.

Note; The trail to the right takes you across the GW Pkwy to Lady Bird Johnson Park. I haven't checked out these trails. You can also access Arlington National Cemetery to the West and the wide, paved Washington Blvd Trail which takes you South, to the Pentagon. 

Continuing straight, come to an intersection where the trail splits.

Note; Left, takes you past the Navy & Marine Memorial to a tunnel underneath the GW Pkwy. This will bring you to the Columbia Island boat launch parking lot.

Continue straight, past the Navy & Marine Memorial and cross a bridge over the Boundary Channel back to Arlington. Come to another intersection at 2.3 miles.

Note; Left, will take you South, past the Pentagon Lagoon Yacht Basin to Boundary Dr, where you can access the Pentagon.

Quickly come to another intersection. 

Note; Right, will take you up to and across the narrow, paved George Mason Memorial Bridge and Northeast, into Washington DC, where you can access both the Thomas Jefferson Memorial & FDR Memorial.

Travel underneath the George Mason Memorial Bridge, Route 1 bridge and 2 RR bridges, before coming to Gravelly Point at 3.3 miles. Parking lot, Porto-Potty's, picnic tables, Map Board and boat launch. Located just North, of Reagan-Washington National Airport, you can watch as planes take off overhead. The trail then turns inland, passing by the airport and bringing you to an intersection at 5 miles. 

Note; Left, takes you West, along the Four Mile Run Trail through Arlington. You can also access the Potomac Yard Trail and W & OD Trail from this trail.

Bear right and cross over Four Mile Run, between the GW Pkwy and Potomac River into Alexandria. Pass by the Washington Sailing Marina on your left, as you travel through Daingerfield Island, bringing you to an intersection at 6.4 miles. 

Note; Straight takes you out to E Abingdon Dr & Slaters Ln.

Bare left, back down along the Potomac River. Come alongside some railroad tracks at 7 miles. Come to Canal Center Plaza and cross the RR tracks, where the trail continues left, through town alongside the RR tracks. Travel past Oronoco Bay Park and come to Pendleton & N Union Streets at 7.5 miles. This is the start of an on-road section. Head left, on-road, along N Union St and come to Oronoco St & Founders Park. Here, a BIKE LANE travels South, along N Union St to Queen St.

Note; Left, you can utilize paved trails South, through Founders Park to Queen St as an alternative.

From Queen St South, you'll need to travel on-road. BIKE SHARROWS along the road. Very impressive buildings and architecture along this route. Come to King St at 8 miles.

Note; Left, down King St will bring you to Waterfront Park. BIKE STATION located here. The Waterfront Park Trail follows the Potomac River South, 0.9 miles along the waterfront to Jones Point Park, where it connects back to the Mount Vernon Trail. I haven't checked out this trail. Not sure if bikes are allowed?

Pass by Windmill Hill Park on your right at 8.3 miles. Sports courts & fields, playground and picnic tables. On your left is Shipyard Park. Come to a sharp right turn in the road where you'll pick up the paved Mount Vernon Trail straight ahead at 8.5 miles. You travel East, around Jones Point Park, before coming to an intersection. This is the Southern End of the Waterfront Park Trail. Nice views of the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge. Continue right, South, along the Potomac River, coming to the Jones Point Park parking lot at 8.9 miles. Playground. The trail travels underneath the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, then right, West, below the bridge bringing you to S Washington St at 9.4 miles. Turn left, South, where the trail travels between the GW Parkway and Potomac River again. Pass by 2 parking lots for Belle Haven Park, before crossing to the entrance road at 10.6 mils. Restroom facilities, water fountains and picnic tables. Down this road on your right is the trailhead for the Dyke Marsh Preserve and Belle Haven Marina. The trail continues alongside the GW Pkwy, passing by a parking lot at 11.4 miles. At 12.7 miles come to Northdown Rd, where the trail briefly travels on-road, before it turns right, along Alexandria Ave and crosses over the GW Parkway via a stone bridge. Pick up the paved, Mount Vernon Trail on your left, at 12.9 miles. Here, the trail travels inland between the GW Parkway and W Boulevard Dr. Cross Collingwood Rd at 13.3 miles, where the trail continues between the GW Parkway and a residential corridor. Pass by a Map Board and water fountain just before coming to Fort Hunt Rd at 14.8 miles. 

Note; Before you travel under the parkway, to your right is a road that takes you up to Fort Hunt Park. As you approach the park gate entrance, look to your left and you’ll see a small path that leads to one of the old concrete emplacements, "Battery Robinson July 1901".

A short on-road section takes you underneath the GW Parkway, where you'll pick up the paved trail on your left. The trail again travels between the GW Parkway and Potomac River, now heading West, passing by a small parking lot at 15.6 miles. Pass by Riverside Park at 16.4 miles. Parking lot, picnic tables and restrooms. The trail crosses Little Hunting Creek into Mt Vernon and turns Northwest, inland, continuing alongside the GW Pkwy. Pass by the Mt Vernon parking lot before coming to Mount Vernon after 17.7 miles.

Note; You can tour George Washington’s home and grounds. There is a fee. See; MOUNT VERNON . 

Note; You can access the Mt Vernon Memorial Hwy Trail from here. This wide, paved trail travels West, alongside the highway.