Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
1550 Anacostia Ave NE
Washington, DC 20019
This week we visited Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens to see the Lotus and water lilies in bloom! The park is beautiful and covers 700 acres and includes 42 ponds, boardwalks over tidal marshland, and the Anacostia River trail. It is best known for its lotus and water lilies – which are currently at peak bloom!
We went on an unbearably hot 96 degree day, and I really recommend going as early as possible to beat the heat. It was HOT and there is not much shade here around the lotus flowers. Luckily, temperatures look *slightly* better next week so that would be a good time to plan a trip. The flowers are absolutely beautiful!
Parking and access to the park is completely free. They have a great website, so be sure to check it out before you visit to check the status of blooms and see what is in season. The visitor center is currently closed, but the bathrooms were open. They had a little stand out front with maps, national park stamps and kids activity books, so be sure to check that out!
**important! The parking lot gate close at 4 pm so you must be OUT with your vehicle by then 😊
🚽 Bathrooms 🚽: connected to visitor center, open and clean! Also saw porter potties near the parking lot
👩👧👦Solo w/ kids?👩👧👦: yes, but there were some boardwalks without railings (surrounding water was very shallow though!)
🛒 Stroller friendly?🛒: ONLY with an all terrain stroller. Most paths were pea gravel so would not work for smaller umbrella strollers. Our @babyjogger City Mini GT did fine!
🅿️: free huge gravel parking lot – gates locked at 4pm
⏰: 2+ hours
🧺 Picnic Tables: yes
🐶 Dog friendly: yes, must be on leash
🏖 Shade: several shade picnic areas and lots of shade on the boardwalk trail. Not much shade surrounding ponds with lotus and water Lillies.
Maryland Kid Adventures 