Civil War Defenses of Washington
Civil War Defenses of Washington is a group of Civil War fort sites managed by several national park units. It is not a park unit.
On forested hills surrounding the nation's capital are the remnants of a complex system of Civil War fortifications. These strategic buttresses transformed the young capital into one of the world's most fortified cities. By 1865, 68 forts and 93 batteries armed with over 800 cannons encircled Washington, DC. Today, you can visit 18 of the original sites now managed by the National Park Service.
About under an hour from Washington and under an hour from Baltimore by car.
Alerts
- ClosureNPS ↗Part of Fort Totten Park remains closed for public safety
Out of an abundance of caution, Fort Totten Park will remain closed east of Fort Totten Drive, south of Gallatin Street/Metropolitan Branch Trail and north of Brookland Ave NE/Farragut St. due to the investigation involving two WWI-era munitions found.
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here.
Hours
| Rock Creek Park sites | Daily · Sunrise to Sunset |
| National Capital Parks — East sites | Daily · 6:00AM - 10:00PM |
| George Washington Memorial Parkway site | Daily · 6:00AM - 10:00PM |
Explore
Things to do
- Explore the Civil War Defenses of Washington Hiker-Biker Trail1-5 Hours
Hike or bike the 7-mile trail from Fort Stanton to Fort Mahan and take in scenery that ranges from urban greenspaces to forest ecosystems, all while recreating through a historic landscape.
Opens on the Park Service site - Junior Ranger Programs at National Capital Parks - East30-90 Minutes
Become a Junior Ranger at parks across National Capital Parks – East! Explore, complete a booklet, and earn badges and certificates along the way!
Opens on the Park Service site - Collect all the National Capital Parks - East Passport Stamps5-10 Minutes
Start your stamp collection and celebrate every park you visit! Explore historic sites and scenic parks managed by National Capital Parks - East and collect a unique stamp at each one.
Opens on the Park Service site - Watch an Artillery Demonstration at Fort Washington Park15-90 Minutes
Ever wonder how Civil War cannons were fired? Visit the park the first Sunday of every month from May to November to watch the Fort Washington Guard demonstrate and explain the procedures used during the muzzle-loading era of American Artillery.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike the Northern Loop in Rock Creek Park120 Minutes
Enjoy an easy 5-mile round trip hike around the northern section of Rock Creek Park.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Events
- Heroes Remembered: Stories from Battleground National Cemetery10/1411:00 AM · runs through Mar 31 · freeBattleground National Cemetery 6625 Georgia Avenue NW Washington, DC
- Junior Ranger Discovery Club: Explore, Learn, Protect (CANCELLED)10/1503:00 PM · runs through Mar 25 · freeBattleground National Cemetery 6625 Georgia Ave NW Washington DC
- Stories in Stone: Monuments at Battleground National Cemetery10/1710:00 AM · runs through Mar 27 · free6625 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC
- Monthly Shepherd Parkway Community Clean-Up11/1410:30 AM · runs through Dec 12 · free · registration required555 Newcomb St SE Washington, DC 20032
- 12:00 PM · free6625 Georgia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20012
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for the Mid-Atlantic
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Activities
Activity guides for this park Hiking in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
All 16 activitiesHide
Weather & climate
Check the weather forecast for each individual site for accurate information.
Questions people ask
Does Civil War Defenses of Washington charge an entrance fee?
No. Civil War Defenses of Washington is free to enter.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at Civil War Defenses of Washington?
Standard hours are Sunrise to Sunset, every day.
Source: National Park Service
Is anything closed at Civil War Defenses of Washington right now?
1 active alert as of October 14, 2026: Part of Fort Totten Park remains closed for public safety.
Source: Alerts
Is there cell service at Civil War Defenses of Washington?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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