Parks / Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
· DC
Deep within Kenilworth lies an oasis, hidden behind trees and cattails. It's a place where beavers build their homes and turtles sleep on logs. Lotus blooms rise from the muck and lilies sit on the water. The wind dances with the dragonflies, rustling through the trees, carrying the song of the birds until it brushes across your face, fading to a whisper, saying "come join."
Official NPS page →Current Alerts (1)
Vehicle Weight Limit at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Entrance
Due to structural conditions at the driveway entrance, access to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens main entrance and parking lot is limited to vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 16,000 pounds or less.
Entrance Fees
This park is fee-free.
Upcoming Events
Ranger Led Garden Tour
Aug 31, 2026
Ranger Led Garden Tour
Sep 2, 2026 · Meet in front of the visitor center.
Things to Do
Become a Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Junior Ranger
Kids of all ages can become a junior ranger at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Find a park ranger or stop by the visitor center to pick up your book when you visit. Complete the activites and a park staff member will swear you in and award you your own official junior ranger badge!
Go Birding At Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens!
Open year-round, Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens offers an excellent opportunity for birdwatching. The river, marshes, and hardwood trees offers a diverse habitat for finding birds. Over 240 birds have been sighted at the park!
Picnic at Kenilworth
Relax and enjoy a picnic at Kenilworth Park! Continue the tradition of having a picnic breakfast or lunch that has been enjoyed by visitors to Kenilworth since the early 1900s. President Wilson and his wife Edith would enjoy picnics at the gardens, and you can too!
Take a walk through Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens
Sparkling in the sun on a breezy day, this natural area of Anacostia Park has origins in a 1926 act of Congress to preserve the forests, water quality, and recreation value of the waterways of Washington, DC. The park reflects the policies that affect rivers and wetlands.
Visitor Centers
- Visitor Center
Source: National Park Service.