Pack your bikes and head out on the Mount Vernon Trail—an 18-mile paved and mostly flat trail that snakes along the Potomac River and offers uninterrupted views of the Washington, D.C., skyline.
The Mount Vernon Trail begins at Theodore Roosevelt Island near Rosslyn in Northern Virginia and ends at Mount Vernon, former home of George Washington.
You’ll ride past Arlington National Cemetery, through Old Town Alexandria and can stop for a break at Gravelly Point at Reagan National Airport.
Parking is available at various points along the Potomac or take the Metro to the Rosslyn or National Airport stations. The trail map marks parking spots, restrooms and other points of interest.
For a closer look at the memorials, take the bike path across the Memorial Bridge, past the Jefferson and Lincoln memorials, all the way to Hains Point—a perfect spot for a picnic.
Find out more about the Mount Vernon Trail, as well as Metro information, closures due to construction, rules and regulations at the Mount Vernon Trail’s website.
Interested in visiting Mount Vernon before or after your ride, check out this article on a trip to George Washington’s home.
