12 Parks to Visit in Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia parks offer endless opportunities to enjoy recreational activities. We put together a list of parks with an abundance of amenities that you and the entire family will be sure to enjoy! Pack a picnic, go boating, explore nature trails, or just relax and enjoy the scenery.
Clemyjontri Park
6317 Georgetown Pike McLean, Virginia 22101
This park features a unique playground where children of all abilities can play side-by-side. It is a playground where every child is welcome. This park is a place where children who use wheelchairs, walkers or braces, or who have sensory or developmental disabilities, can have a parallel playground experience of fun and exploration. Other features include a carousel and a picnic pavilion. The entrance road leads to an 81-space parking area and a drop-off zone for vehicles whose passengers need close access.
Cameron Run Regional Park
4001 Eisenhower Ave. Alexandria, Virginia.
Cameron Run is a regional park with a miniature golf course, picnic areas, Great Waves Water Park, and a 2-acre lake with fishing. During the hot summer season, this is a perfect place to cool off and have a blast!
Fort Ward Park
4401 West Braddock Road, Alexandria, Virginia.
Fort Ward Park is the home of the Fort Ward Museum and a 41.4 acre historic park. The land was used as a union fort from 1861-1865 to defend Washington, DC during the Civil War. Walk the grounds and you’ll see cannons, underground bombproofs which sheltered 500 men, and reconstructed quarters of the high-ranking soldiers.
Huntley Meadows Park
3701 Lockheed Blvd. Alexandria, Virginia.
This 1,426 acre park is a small island with wetlands, a forest, meadows, streams and a pond. Facilities include a visitor center, wildlife observation platforms and a hike/bike trail. The park is known as a prime-birding spot.
Oronoco Bay Park
100 Madison St., Alexandria, Virginia.
Located along the Potomac River, this small city park was once inhabited by Indians. Today, it is a popular location for picnicking, walking, biking, and jogging. Festivals and special events are held in the park during the warmer months of the year.
Bull Run Marina Regional Park
7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, Virginia.
This park offers lots of recreation opportunities. Amenities include picnic facilities, hiking trails, playgrounds, a water park, miniature and frisbee golf, shooting center, indoor archery, campgrounds. The Special Event Center serves as a venue for concerts, craft fairs, athletic competitions, circuses, dog and equestrian shows, historic reenactments, and ethnic festivals.
Burke Lake Park
7315 Ox Road. Fairfax Station, Virginia.
The park has a 218-acre lake with fishing, boating, rowboat rental, camping, outdoor volleyball courts, an 18-hole golf course, disk golf, horse shoe pits, picnic areas, playgrounds, hiking trails, an amphitheater, and a brand new miniature golf course. During the summer a miniature train, carousel, and ice cream parlor are open.
Frying Pan Farm Park
2709 West Ox Road, Herndon, Virginia
The park preserves and interprets an early 20th- century Fairfax County farm. Visitors can observe farm animals, tour an old farmhouse, take an old fashioned wagon ride, explore a blacksmith shop, historic schoolhouse, and farm buildings. The park is the home to the Fairfax County 4-H Fair, a summer festival including animal exhibits, horse shows, kiddie rides, old-fashioned games, crafts and live entertainment.
Great Falls National Park
9200 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, Virginia.
Great Falls Park is located just 14 miles from Washington DC on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. It is one of the most beautiful spots in the capital region. The 800-acre park offers a variety of activities including hiking, picnicking, kayaking, rock climbing, bicycling, and horseback riding. There is a visitor center and a snack bar.
Lake Fairfax Park
1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston, Virginia
The main attraction at Lake Fairfax Park is the Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole. The park also has an 18 acre lake with pedal boat rentals, tour boat rides, fishing, picnic areas and campgrounds.
Mason Neck State Park
7301 High Point Rd. Lorton, Virginia.
The park is on a peninsula formed by Pohick Bay on the north, Belmont Bay on the south and the Potomac River on the east. It connects with a National Wildlife Refuge that includes over 2,000 acres and is most known for attracting a variety of species of birds, including herons, swans, ducks, and Bald eagles. There are hiking, biking and self-guided trails. The Elizabeth Hartwell Environmental Education Center features nature exhibits, hands-on activities, a resource library, and a variety of interpretive displays.
Pohick Bay Regional Park
6501 Pohick Bay Drive, Lorton, Virginia
Pohick Bay is located on the Potomac River 25 miles south of Washington, DC. A variety of water activities are available including boating and swimming. Other activities available include hiking, picnicking, camping and viewing wildlife such as osprey, heron, deer, and beavers.