Nikia's Favorite Route

The Mount Vernon Trail

Washington, DC and Beyond

Challenge Level:
X X
Traffic Level:
X
Type Of Bike:
Hybrid, Road Bike
Distance:
18 Miles
Terrain:
The trail surface is paved and mainly flat with an occasional rolling hill. The last mile has a pretty good climb.
Traffic:
It is all trail riding except for Olde Town Alexandria. You will encounter regular street traffic. (See Olde Town Alexandria website for street map).
Refreshments:
A variety of restaurants in the Old Town Center (around King Street).
Highlights:
The trail offers wonderful views of the Potomac and DC monuments.
Nearby Bike Shops:
Big Wheel Bikes, 2 Prince St., Alexandria, VA 22314, (202) 333-5003
Hudson Trail Outfitters, 1101 S. Joyce St., Suite B29 (Pentagon Row), Arlington, VA 22202, (703) 415-4861
Websites:
Washington DC's Urban ATB

Commentary

Located just across the river from Downtown Washington D.C. is a great multi-use recreation trail. Nearly 18 miles long, the Mount Vernon Trail follows the Potomac's Virginia shoreline from Theodore Roosevelt Island (near Rossyln, Va) to George Washington's Estate located at Mount Vernon.

Directions to Start Ride

The ride starts in Washington, DC. The parking area is easily accessible from the northbound lanes of the George Washington Parkway.

If you are coming from I-95 to the south, take the Route 1 exit heading north. Next, make a right onto one of the cross streets, go about 3 blocks, then a left onto Washington Street. This becomes the GW Parkway, taking you north past Reagan National Airport to the island.

If you are coming from I-495 to the north., follow the parkway past the island and under the Roosevelt Bridge. Exit at Memorial Bridge (just after stone arch), and head toward the Lincoln Memorial. There is a traffic circle just prior to crossing the bridge. Follow the circle 3/4 the way around, and get back on the parkway heading north. If you are coming from downtown DC, take Constitution Ave west. Follow signs to I-66. This will take you across the Roosevelt Bridge. Once on the bridge, get in the right lane and take the very first exit on the far side of the river. The parking area is just beyond the bottom of the ramp.

Mile by Mile

The trail surface is paved. Since this is one of the oldest trails in the area, it is not up to current design standards. In some spots, the trail is narrow and winding. However, a number a recent improvements have been completed including resurfacing and widening. Additionally, two new overpasses have been installed over National Airport's access ramps. Some of the bridge crossings are very narrow, so you may want to dismount your bike when encountering these tight spots. On nice weekends, expect a high traffic volume.

The Mount Vernon Trail is a big favorite of area cyclists. The trail offers wonderful views of the Potomac and DC monuments. There are also several neat sights along the way, including George Washington's home at Mount Vernon, Olde Town Alexandria, Arlington National Cemetery, and the local's favorite Gravelly Point (at the north end of National Airport's main runway).

The trail is some what tricky to follow as it passes through Alexandria because there are actually two route choices, both of which are on street. The original route followed Pitt Street through town. The newer ''river route'' has since become the preferred choice. It follows Union Street, which provides easy access the the waterfront parks and restaurants in the Old Town Center (around King Street). Note that the river route can be easily missed, so I suggest you review the detailed map of the old town area.

For the most part, the trail is fairly flat with an occasional rolling hill here and there. However the last mile heading toward Mount Vernon has a pretty good climb. Once you reach the northern end at Roosevelt Island, you can either turn around and head back south, or you can cross the footbridge over the parkway and head west on the Custis Trail. This will take you to the W&OD Trail, a 45 mile long rail trail through Northern Virginia.