Reviews of Theodore Roosevelt Island (Park)

Karla Bloom

Wonderful place to visit while on vacation visiting family and extended family. Enjoyed our walk through the woods. Great exercise place to stretch your legs and to work it's here trying to lose weight or trying to stay in shape.

J.V.W Simonson

Super fun! We saw a lot of animals (and not too many bugs). It was a great get away. Paths are clear for the most part, and somewhat rocky. It really depends on what side of the island you're on.

Rachel Kern

Beautiful park, limited parking. The trails are well maintained, and will take you around the island. There are bathrooms on the island, and a nice memorial area where you can relax and enjoy nature.

Travis H

A beautiful natural trail park that is well maintained. It's a great escape from DC especially on Saturdays with parkrun. There is a restroom on island (open seasonally) and is great for walking, walking a dog, or running. No biking!

Josiah Baker

People forget about this place...they shouldn't.

Carly Tew

Lovely island to walk around.

Ashley Stearns

Good place to hike. You'll forget you're in the middle of dc

Samantha Y

When my husband suggested we go to this island, I looked out my car window at this dreary looking place and said "Are you crazy?" But I was the crazy one. This island is a hidden treasure. My son loves to run wild, like a crazy child, and this island definitely catered to him with some educational information thrown in to coat his academic taste buds. I will go back here a lot. Great for families.

Robert Bolen

Perfect place to walk around when the weather is nice

Elias Eldabbagh

A place where a boy's dreams are affirmed!

Will Reaver

One of my favorite places to go and find peace and serenity.

John Turnmire

Excellent nature retreat right in the city and one of my favorite Presidential monuments. A fitting tribute to the father of our great national park system. Accessible by foot bridge. Get there by car or by bike on the MT Vernon trail. No bikes allowed on the island though.

Soul Nisha

The weather was perfect.... The scenery and view was unforgettable, our dog was more than happy

Russ Yehl

It was good

Mark Thom

As far as monuments in DC goes, this is quite a unique experience in a good way. The island presents different views of DC as you follow its trails. The island provides family friendly, fun and educational exploration.

Herbert Witzen

Nice statue of his dog too. Right in the Tidal Basin though. Which is great

Eden Stern

Nice place in dc

Sheikh R

nice quiet place to Walk

Chris Grassmuck

Great walk near the Potomac.

christina goodman

Chose a cold and rainy day to check out the island but it was fun having it all to myself! Hard to do in DC! The bathrooms were closed so that might be an issue for some. Lots of parking. And the trails were all nicely cared for. Easy walk for kids! Definitely looking forward to go back in warmer weather!

Onoto hakku

Great place for a nature walk. Great place for Pokemon Go. Nice and cool as long as there is a breeze. Not wheelchair accessible. Tons of poison ivy. Wear closed toe shoes and stay on the trails and you'll be fine. There are drinking fountains and a restroom year round. Last time I was there rangers had ice water under canopy tents near the monument. The monument is beautiful.

Vicky Pohlen

Tranquil and away from the bustle of the city, precisely as Teddy would have wanted it. Perfect size+terrain for an afternoon walk.

Nico Betancourt

Amazing park for picnics, hiking, and runs. Right next door to Potomac Heritage trail as well. If you go very early in the morning, you can even see some stunning deer running through the green tunnels

Tania Hossain

The Tidal Basin is a stunning place and Theodore Roosevelt Island is the pinnacle of charming - from the waterfall features and the healing messages chiseled into the walls - creates a peaceful, breathtaking, and joyous space.

Gregory Thomas

Such a surprising nature escape right outside the city. We've come many times of year and all have been enjoyable in their own way. Tends not to be crowded, although it can be hard to get a parking space on really nice days.

Nathan Klawa

Great Island park minutes from DC and Arlington. The park has a pedestrian bridge to the island and the island is full of walking trails. In the center of the island is a large monument of Roosevelt with memorial cement panels. The only negatives of this park is that they do not allow bikes and the park staff have not kept up with sawing trees off the trails.

John H.

I love Roosevelt Island. My only major gripes are that you can only leave one direction, which means if you have to go back to DC, you have to drive up an exit and turn around. Also, there are portions of the path prone to flooding and becoming very muddy. But otherwise it is a fantastic little Oasis in the DC area.

Priydarshan Panchal

Went here for 4th of July fireworks

K D

The island has a nice, easy short walking trail and plenty of places to sit and picnic or just rest. Its a nice nature area close to the city. That said, it's anything but quiet and peaceful as it is directly in the flight path for Reagan International Airport. Between the planes landing and circling helicopters it was quite noisy. I enjoyed the park myself but the noise was a bit overwhelming for my dogs. I wouldn't recommend it as a good place for walking noise sensitive pups.

Chuck Mifsud Jr.

A little hidden jem. Easy walking with lots of wildlife.

Alyson H

Nice oasis right outside of the city. The park is a 10 min walk from the Rosslyn Metro. Very clean, restrooms and water fountains on site. Trails can be muddy after a rain, so dress accordingly. Great place for a walk or jog. Plenty of parking. Dogs are allowed on leash. Watch out for poison ivy! If you stay on the main trails you are fine, but the off shoots have a lot of it.

j. gill

A neat little respite in the middle of all this. Walk the boardwalk, take the forest path, step down to the shore and touch the water. And then, happen upon a clearing with an incredible... surprise (I won't spoil it but it is befitting the island's namesake). Watch out for the poison ivy (stay on the path), and parking gets tight at peak hours (be patient) , but it is worth figuring out the access from GW Parkway northbound only to get there!

Nallamai Lakshmanan

An island forest by the Potomac within Washington DC. We can reach there by foot bridge from Washington Memorial Parkway. Bicycles and cars not allowed. For those who love to walk, please do.

Olivia Lewis

This little island is the best, great for picnics and bringing your dog

Mary McCall

Very nice place for a walk!!!

Don Youngs jr

Highly disappointed with how dirty it all was tha water was green and smell bad and homeless people and garbage avery where did not feel safe - 3

Spot Wms

Great place to walk in a safe environment.

Andrew ONeil

One the most underrated monuments

Dastuffster

I will visit again

Nima Jahanbin

Needs more trash cans. Nice short walk. Can see Georgetown from across water

Maria Andrews

great place to walk or take your dog, kids and experience nature

Cindy Harris

Parking and close to me place to get in a quick and ready hike with pups

danielle Chae

one of my favorite place to go walking, parking is limited but if you wait a little you can have one. avoid after rain trail gonna be muddy nice picture spot too.

Emma Loeber

Nice to be reminded of our past president, plus enjoy a nice view.

Ben Pick

This is a fun place to explore or run through. I added it to my long runs and the shade and seclusion helped break up a monotonous, hot summer run. The Teddy Roosevelt monument near the islands center is impressive and inspiring.

Adam Judge

This is a great place for a quiet hike. I've driven past for years, and never taken the time to stop. It's my guess that most people don't because this is one place around DC where I've felt like I was in a national park out west. I could walk for long stretches without seeing or hearing another person. The colossal Teddy Roosevelt statue, bracketed by huge fountains and stone plinths carved with his thoughts on nature, democracy, youth, and more in the memorial at the center of the island is quite a sight to see. As you approach, it emerges from the forest like a relic of a lost civilization. Highly recommended.

Carolyn Guttormsson

Absolutely gorgeous. Super serene and beautiful. You can still hear the traffic but it's not too bad. Such a beautiful escape from city life. When I went barely anyone was there, but I went on a rainy Thursday afternoon (it's gorgeous in the rain but can be muddy). I know it gets super busy Saturday mornings for the parkrun here, though. I love that there are a few different trail options that you can take, and that there are bathrooms here. Loved taking my dog here, just be wary of poison ivy!

Gotham M

I love going here and feel like I don't go enough. It's a great escape from DC life. As you're walking around the island, it really feels as if you're miles away from civilization. It's very relaxing.

Matthew Bielinski

I liked it. TR is a favorite of mine. There should be more information. Maybe a small museum?

Sverrir Olsen

Nice little island in the city. Refugee from the traffic but not the noise.

Prince Black Thunder Matthew

Its a nice place to walk. Stay on the path. The snakes are everywhere

M. K.

Great monument and park. Has a variety of micro-environments to explore. Trails can get muddy and slippery after a lot of rain, but overall a nice sanctuary from city life.

Yanis Quintanilla

A place where you can enjoy nature and a view of the city!!

Brian Rinaldi

Quiet place to hike around in an urban center. Easily accessible from the mount Vernon trail and the Rosslyn Metro station.

Jim Chang

There is restroom on the island, turn right and follow the trail walking 3-5 minutes.

Nathan Wellsfry

The monument is nice, but the whole island feels like a swamp. There are a lot of mosquitoes and overgrowth if you stray even slightly from the main trail.

Sam Odle

Best short hike and secluded picnic area in DC. The parking lot is small and can fill up quickly on weekends but the island is rather small so IMO this is a positive. It’s also dog friendly!!

Sonya Young

Great place for long runs!!

Willem Koenders

I really liked this island. Located between Arlington and D.C. it somehow seems like it is a hidden gem. There are absolutely amazing running trails - if I lived closer by I would use them every day. I also liked the Theodore R. monuments. Again, they seemed almost hidden, but between the trees they looked very grand and imposing. Very cool - certainly go here.

Janaina Stanley

Great bird watching and saw a deer! Don't forget bug spray.

Suranai Poungponsri

The trails were very muddy, need serious work.

Thomas Russ

A nice little park on the Potomac River. Trails are reasonable and there are some informative signs. Teddy Roosevelt memorial is not as impressive as other DC monuments, but it is set in the woods, which is nicely appropriate.

Tony Bender

Great place to escape the city for a run

John Valencia

Needs better lights at night, and water to run...

Dc Metro Angler

Decent place with allot of history. And I'd you like to hang out by the water this is for you.

Mike Maxfield

Nice outdoor family activity.

Brittany Hernandez

A long time Favorite!!

Dave Brown

Great park with well manicured trails. Great for all ages and leashed pets.

Nizar Farsakh

Lovely walks, great Roosvelt quotes. Tracks could use some upgrades as they get muddy pretty quickly

Matthew Hock

Wonderful memorial design. Very soggy as trails become flooded after heavy rain. Annoying jets overhead when it aligns with national airport flight path. Worth checking out! Be careful pulling into the parking lot.

Min-Ju Chang

Best place to hike in the DC area. The trail is well maintained. Many wildlives can be observed.

Gwendolyn Robertson

Biking, hiking, and relaxing.

Frank Mikolajczak

Cool spot and a must for anyone living in DC. Fun for runs or walks or to kayak up to.

Alexandra Majauskas

Beautiful park within city limits. Great views of the Potomac and Arlington shoreline. Easy, flat walking trails-family and dog friendly. Lovely monument in the center of the park. You can let your dog off leash granted they come when called, however it's a popular park with a lot of families and kids and not everyone is a dog lover [unfortunately]. Super easy river access for kayaks, canoes, and stand up paddle boards. Parking lot is small, but still open (a few spots) if you arrive before noon on the weekend. It was only 70% full when I arrived at 9:30 am.

Eric Hirsch

Great for Jogging or a just walk

Pete Ramsey

Sometimes it gets muddy, there's only one bathroom on the island, there's constant car and plane noise. But it still manages to be a place worth a weekend hike (with or without the kids and/or dogs). It's nice to have a bit of nature so close to the city.

peter karanevich

Very cool memorial off the beaten path. Highly recommend it! Parking and bike share spots available across the bridge

Ktktkt Tktktk

Parking can be difficult. Nice get away in the big city - but LOTS of others feel the same way. It can be super crowded at times. And there are sometimes a-holes who dont lease their dogs that run up to my leased dog (which isn't welcomed) and those who dont think it is necessary to clean up after them either. I love that I can take my dog there, responsibly- wished others had the same respect tho.

Jean-Claude Garreau

Very nice green promenade in the heart of DC. Be careful in windy dayw tree branchs may fall.

Scott Douglas

Excellent access point for the Mount Vernon, Custis, and Capital Crescent Trails, as well as the Island itself and the C&O Canal Towpath. Parking lot can get crowded on a nice day, but spaces turn over fairly regularly.

Deryl van Coblijn

Since I move to Virginia about 2 decades ago hiking paths on this island has taken up a special place in my heart. My most favorite time to hike and enjoy the scenery is early spring. In summer it becomes very busy with the tourists and students. Then in fall and winter the scenery changes are very interesting and you can enjoy the wildlife. Especially the two deer. Depending on the time of day, sitting on the benches and enjoying the marshlands and the Potomac flowing by. There are multiple paths and in the center There is a large statue of FDR. You have a great view of Roslynn and Georgetown-DC. Do visit, bring a book and enjoy this great peaceful island.

Haissam Fad

Nice place to visit

Rockland Mosby

Many don't know about the hidden gem of Roosevelt Island. It's definitely worth a stop.

Shady Crzy

This is a beautiful park. I can't wait to come back when all the leaves have come back

Shannon Smith

Nice little place to walk around. Dirt trails as well as wood platform trails for the swampier areas. Seems to be a variety of paths, but small enough you won't really get lost

Deniz Turkmen

It's a great place to hike and enjoy nature. Memorial in the middle of the island is also a great stop.

Ione Horlacher

Great relaxing walk!

Joey Shadel

A great spot that's off the beaten trail and often overlooked as a tourist destination. Very accessible by bike, car, or kayak and worth the trip for DC residents looking for something different than beer gardens or farmers markets on the weekends (nothing wrong with those, but we all like a change of pace once in awhile!).

Rahma Hejja

I enjoyed a short hike there (March 2018). It was lovely and nice, I put 4 not 5 because the water faucet was broken.

Pilar Nunez

Nice and natural island to visit with your family, perfect view to the Washington Harbour, the only thing they should recirculate the water of the fountains, in the center has some bad smell of stagnant water.

Robert Seale

Probably the least known and least visited US presidential memorial. A short walk, and a big payoff. In my opinion, one of the best monuments in the country.

Viviana wolff meaurio

Beautiful place

Bobby Burton

Loved it very much about nature and a nice monument as well

marilyn shannon

Loved walking around here..wish the water had been flowing!

Louis Delavigne

Great place to walk!

Mary Lu

Beautiful trail that's an easy walk. Would recommend ubering here since parking can be difficult

Suji Mao

There is small parking lot which is plenty during a work day. In the middle of the island there is a circular area with a large statue of teddy. All throughout there are several little gravel paths less than 2 mile long. Its walking distance from the Rosslyn metro station. There is one set of bathrooms on the entire island.

Frank Andruzzi

Well worth the trip viewing the memorial and hiking the trails. I will be back when the trees leaf out.

Michael Cox

Fantastic walking trails and great views.

Cameron Boozarjomehri

Scenic and unexpected, No bikes allowed on the island but lot of bike stations are available off the custis trail

hax withaxe

Great place to walk during the heat of summer. Nice and shaded. Water and restrooms on site. Lots of small wildlife. There is a lot of poison ivy off of the trails, but we shouldn't be going off trail. Great place to find rare Pokemon.

Jamie Atkinson

Parking can be sparse but it's a beautiful place

evan weiner

Awesome place, so nice and peaceful

Newton Hislop

Great woodland and monuments were inspiring. Bathrooms looked old from outside but we're better then expected inside.

Roberto Bee

A lovely place to experience: have a picnic, hike, fish - everything Teddy Roosevelt loved to do.

Jimmy McKanna - RT Clinic

A great place to take the kids and let them run off some energy. The trails are great and the monuments are even better.

Zachary Peterson

TRI is a great place to take the dog or family to get outside and walk around not feeling like you’re right next to DC. Only a quarter mile walk from Rosslyn it’s a great location and super easy to get to.

Xyan Rose

It was a neat nature walk. I went there at 2pm in June and found parking no problem. I saw people fishing and walking their dogs. It's a nice nature escape near dc.

Ethan Hirsch-Tauber

A great escape from the city... So close

Paul Meyers

Great place for families

Brad Hawks

Beautiful Island! It's an amazing piece of nature in the middle of the big city.

Helen Storey

Great place for everyone - even dogs! Saw some amazing antique cars too.

April 923

History is a Blessing to learn from & improve!!!

Ryan Nichols

This park is fun to walk through. It's a great woodland park experience right in DC. It's great for taking your kids on nature walks.

Gregory Stiller

A little tougher for disabled. Gravel pathways with a up holl grade. No Ranger or passport stamp. Darn ! Still a pleasant Monument to see. He did so much for National Parks and Natural sites like Forest.

Cristin Harber

An easy, clean trail. The parking lot was a little full but so many people come and go that it’s never long before a spot opens. Pretty picture taking spots too.

Julia Tolbert

What a beautiful place! Even though the parking lot was nearly full when we got there, we were able to find a spot. It wasn't too crowded, and the trails were shaded. We saw several Blue-Tailed Skinks and a turtle!

Sam Samhuns

A refreshing place to hiking and it's pretty close to the north of Arlington, VA and the southwest of Washington DC. Although the swamp trails are now closed because of wood borrowing beetles but it's still a nice place. Some water fountains at the center of the island or st the entrance would be greatly appreciated.

micah baker

So peaceful on the day we visited. Only saw 4 other people on the island.

Manuela Costescu

Great escape between Arlington (Roslyn business district) and Washington DC water front. Combination of man-made memorial (marble, granite, benches, statues, fountains, bridges) and untouched nature (swamp)

Ron Samuels

Great Natiinal Park family friendly venue filled with rich history, impressive monument, awesome walking/jogging/running paths, and definitely a photographer's delight...

Jeff White

Great free parking spot to get on bike trail. Hard to get spot when Weather is nice and gets congested. Easy walk to Georgetown over the key bridge.

Joe Alfenito

Great views peaceful area, watch for muddy after wet days

John Schultz

Always a favorite walk. Away from the crowds, nice and shady. Some natural and a bafflingly hidden but large monument that is often peaceful.

Ebote Silvia

One of my favorite parks to visit. Great for a low key hike, walk or just to sit and enjoy the view. Alot of parking spots. Nice view of Georgetown

Yonas Berhe

favorite place to start my weekend long runs... warning: if u r not an early riser then finding parking can be hard

G R

Love coming here for a run or hike!

Paul Uppole

Great place for a sunday family hike be sure and go all thr way around the island

Rocio Dettre

Very nice place to visit

Monte Frenkel

Always a relaxing and easy hike near the city.

Prat Jai

Fun place to relax and enjoy nature

Dmitri Riz

Lesser known but nevertheless great destination to hike /run and see monument

tony petro

This island is a great little getaway from the crazy DC/Arlington scene around it. It is a great nature walk or jogging trail with very scenic views of the marsh around it. Has restroom facilities with running water(March 27, 2019 - closed for repair, but temporary portajohn). The monument in the north center if the island is very scenic.one especially in the warmer months where the fountains are on. * FOR PARK SERVICE - not sure how often the portajohn is maintained but it has human feces all over it(I'll remove this & pic once I've seen that it is cleaned)

John Muir

Gorgeous island spot, ideal for an hour's walk

Areli Ibarra

This is one of my favorite places to go to in DC. If you go you get to see a lot of wildlife so close to the city.

John Cindrich

Cool unheard of spot in DC. Does not allow bikes but has some nice easy hikes to enjoy so decent views of downtown.

JV V

A very good place to walk around the island beautiful landscape

Mike Magnant

Beautiful tribute to a very good President. The fountains appeared to need repairs. Well worth the visit, access difficult! Parking right but ample, a short walk thru the trees.

Jenny Grossman

What a cool place to get some nature right in the middle of an urban area. Parking is tight as you have to wait in line do get a spot when it's busy, but the island itself is really nice, definitely recommend checking it out

A.R. Siders

Peaceful shady and green. It's a nice little getaway if you're looking for some green space and are tired of Rock Creek Park or the C&O Canal. I've seen deer on the island and some days I've had the entire island to myself, it's so peaceful. Other days, there are hoards of people with kayaks in the parking lot, but not as many on the actual island itself. Getting to the park by car can be a pain (one-way access from the parkway), but walking from Georgetown or Rosslyn is simple. It's not a great spot for a hike -- it's too small for anyone adventurous -- but if you're looking for a break from the Smithsonians, this is a nice change of pace.

Edward Parsons

If you have not been, you need to go.

Bradley Garness

Theodore Roosevelt Island is a great get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The parking there has a little to be desired on a nice day and may be difficult to find a spot but well worth the effort. Just walking across the bridge and stopping to watch the flow of the river is refreshing in its own little way. There's plenty of trails and it's worth taking a picture of the map when you get on the other side of the river so you can judge how much time you want to spend. At the top of the island is the monument of Teddy Roosevelt along with a number of his quotes inscribed in Granite. Very peaceful.

ALICIA JOHNSON

Beautiful walk and scenery! I wish you couldn't hear all the traffic sounds but it was still a beautiful place for a little fresh air. The ground was a little slippery and it wasn't very stroller-friendly.

Michael Kouremetis

Great little nature escape from the city. Easily accessible, with well made, flat trails.

Linda Evers

Excellent escape from the city, but not far away. Great for a picnic on a summer evening!

B. Sullivan

Can get very muddy due to tides, shaded areas not evaporating rain and the humidity makes puddles last longer. Definitely do not wear nice shoes on this island.

Iqbal Mahmud

A quiet place inside a busy city.

Mike DeLong

Swampy park with no amenities; a middling memorial in an out of the way place. Trails are muddy after rains.

Petra Holden

One of my favorite shorter hikes in the DC area! The entire island is about 1 1/2 miles around, with free parking and seasonal restrooms available. There is no nature center and no playground. The statue in the middle of Roosevelt is huge, and the quotations are inspiring and perfect for the natural surroundings. The hike is very easy and covers marshland and some forest. I always see several bird species and interesting plant life when I hike here - it's a lovely respite from the craziness of the city and a great place to bring visiting tourists!

Elizabeth Gayton

Love Teddy Roosevelt Island! Evokes the spirit of Tom Sawyer. Access off GW Parkway. Closed after dark.

Samantha Spiers

Nice place to walk around nature when you want to get away from the concrete jungle of DC.

Bruce Johnson

Nice, wooded trails on an island in the river, with a low flying jet overhead every minute. What's not to like?

Stephanie R.

Really nice place to go. Would be good if the have direction marks in the cross pathways, bathroom,statue, etc.

Julie Harris

Beautiful, but I wish the path was paved or at least not muddy.

James Livingston

Good park...talk my dog there for walks

Cecilia Carter

Great place for walks!

Robert Ayers

Hidden island in the middle of the Potomac. Shaded trails and fountains. Also home to a resident family of deer.

Adam N.

Love this place. It’s got forest, swamp, shoreline, it’s a neat little adventure. My son loves dressing like a pirate and looking for treasure there. The memorial itself is very well done. Parking is non-existent at times. Be prepared to wait.