Great Falls National Park We meet near the FRONT door of the Visitors Center. From Washington, D.C.: Take Constitution Ave. NW/US-50 to I-66 W/ US-50 W. You will cross Roosevelt Bridge. Continue until you reach the US-50 W/ Arlington Blvd/ GW Parkway exit. Turn onto George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP or GW Parkway), north. Follow the GWMP towards I-495. At the interchange with I-495, the GWMP will split, with the right lane going to I-495 north and the two left lanes going to I-495 South. Stay in one of the left two lanes and take the exit that says I-495 South. When you are on the ramp, stay in the right-hand lane. This lane will turn into the exit ramp for Route 193, Georgetown Pike. Follow the directions for “From the Beltway (I-495)” above. From Arlington, Rosslyn, Crystal City, and Alexandria: Take the George Washington Memorial Parkway north towards I-495. At the interchange with I-495, the GWMP will split, with the right lane going to I-495 north and the two left lanes going to I-495 South. Stay in one of the left two lanes and take the exit that says I-495 South. When you are on the ramp, stay in the right-hand lane. This lane will turn into the exit ramp for Route 193, Georgetown Pike. Follow the directions for “From the Beltway (I-495)” above. From Tyson's Corner, Vienna, and Falls Church: Take Route 7 West. At the intersection with Towlston Rd, take a right. Follow Towlston until you reach Old Dominion Drive (there is a sign for the park at this intersection). Take a Left onto Old Dominion Drive and continue driving about 1 mile, until you reach the parks entrance station. After paying the park entrance fee (if owed) at the station, continue driving and follow the signs to the visitor center. From Reston and Herndon: Take Baron Cameron Dr. until you reach Route 7 (Leesburg Pike). At the light, continue straight. Baron Cameron will turn into Springvale after it crosses Route 7. Continue on Springvale until you reach a traffic light. At the light, make a right onto Route 193 (Georgetown Pike). You will follow 193 through a second traffic light at the town of Great Falls. At the next light, Old Dominion Drive (there is a sign for the park at this intersection), take a Right onto Old Dominion Drive and continue driving about 1 mile, until you reach the parks entrance station. After paying the park entrance fee (if owed) at the station, continue driving and follow the signs to the visitor center. From Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg, and points west: Take Route 7 East. Make a left at the intersection with Route 193, Georgetown Pike. Follow 193 through three traffic lights. After the last light in the town of Great Falls, you will drive approximately three miles until you reach the light at Old Dominion Drive (there is a sign for the park at this intersection). Take a Left onto Old Dominion Drive and continue driving about 1 mile, until you reach the parks entrance station. After paying the park entrance fee (if owed) at the station, continue driving and follow the signs to the visitor center. From Prince William County and points south: Take I-95 north until you reach the I-495, I-395, and I-95 interchange (the 'mixing bowl'). Take I-395 N, exit 170A - on the left - toward Washington. You will follow I-395 for about a quarter of a mile. Take exit 170B onto I-495 North towards Tyson's Corner. Follow I-495 until you reach Exit 44 for Route 193, Georgetown Pike. At the top of the exit ramp, there is a traffic light. Take a left at the light onto Route 193 West. About three miles down the road, you will come to another traffic light at the intersection of Old Dominion Drive (there is a sign for the park at this intersection). Take a Right onto Old Dominion Drive and continue driving about 1 mile, until you reach the parks entrance station. After paying the park entrance fee (if owed) at the station, continue driving and follow the signs to the visitor center. Alternate route: Take I-95 until you reach Rt. 7100, Fairfax County Parkway. Take 7100 North. This will allow you to avoid construction taking place at the intersection of 95, 495, and 395. Continue on 7100 North until it intersects with Rt. 7. Follow Rt. 7 East until you reach the intersection with Rt. 193, Georgetown Pike. This will be a left hand turn. Follow 193 until you come to the traffic light at the intersection of Old Dominion Drive (there is a sign for the park at this intersection). Take a Left onto Old Dominion Drive and continue driving about 1 mile, until you reach the parks entrance station. After paying the park entrance fee (if owed) at the station, continue driving and follow the signs to the visitor center. From Maryland and points north: Follow I-95 until you reach exit 27, I-495 (the Capitol Beltway). Stay in the right two lanes and merge onto I-495 West, towards Silver Spring, MD. Stay on I-495 until you reach Exit 44 for Route 193, Georgetown Pike. You will see signs for exit 43 and exit 44, as they share an exit ramp. Pass exit 43 (George Washington Memorial Parkway) and take Exit 44 (Route 193). At the top of the exit ramp, there is a traffic light. Take a right at the light onto Route 193 West. About three miles down the road, you will come to another traffic light at the intersection of Old Dominion Drive (there is a sign for the park at this intersection). Take a Right onto Old Dominion Drive and continue driving about 1 mile, until you reach the parks entrance station. After paying the park entrance fee (if owed) at the station, continue driving and follow the signs to the visitor center. Public Transportation: There is no public transportation to, or in, Great Falls National Park. NOTE: Please remember to take the leader(s) number(s) with you but please respect the fact that we are all volunteers and there is often no cell coverage at trailheads and varies according to service provider. If you call very close to hike time, please understand that we are very busy with pre-hike preparations for ourselves in addition to group sign in, pre-hike briefing, and then leading the hike. It is also very difficult to provide instructions to someone while following them too, hence providing very detailed directions on this separate page. Leaders are advised to not answer phones once a hike is started so we don't miss a turn on the trail due to the distraction of a call. Thank you for your understanding and see you there!

 

Social Media