Theodore Roosevelt Island

Theodore Roosevelt Island is a wooded national memorial island in the Potomac River, accessed from the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Arlington, Virginia, directly opposite Georgetown in Washington, DC. It is not a sand beach and swimming is not permitted; the shoreline is rocky and muddy, and the surrounding river has strong currents. The island is instead a roughly 88-acre preserve of forest, swamp and tidal marsh, giving visitors a quiet nature escape within minutes of central Washington.

The island is a memorial to President Theodore Roosevelt, and a memorial plaza at its centre holds a large bronze statue of the president, fountains and granite tablets inscribed with his ideas on nature and citizenship. Several miles of trails loop through woodland and along the shore, including a boardwalk across the swamp, and wildlife such as herons, woodpeckers, turtles and deer can be seen. The trails are mostly flat, though some are unpaved and uneven after rain.

The mood is calm and contemplative. Walkers, runners, birdwatchers and school groups use the island, and the quiet is notable given the nearby bridges and the Rosslyn skyline. There are no concessions, so visitors should bring water and food, and restrooms are limited to seasonal facilities near the parking lot. No lifeguards or swimming areas exist. Kayakers can launch at the nearby Key Bridge Boathouse and paddle around the island, which gives views of the Georgetown waterfront.

Access to the island is by a footbridge from the parking lot on the northbound side of the parkway, which can be reached by car, though the lot is small and fills quickly. Without a car, visitors walk about 0.7 miles from Rosslyn station, on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines, via the Mount Vernon Trail footbridge. The island is about three miles from the National Mall and suits half a day of walking and wildlife viewing.