Bike to National Zoo on Rock Creek

[annoyedindc]

The good news is that you have pretty easy access from your hotel to the 15th Street bike lanes to take you down to the national mall. From there you don’t have to be on the road at all as you will be out of the Central Business District and can ride on the sidewalks. There is a direct connection from the paths along the Mall to the Rock Creek Park (RCP) trail. You all should be fine from there on out.

I haven’t been on that trail during the day in a long time, so I can’t speak to how busy it is now. But I’d imageine it will be fine.

[Crickey7]

The trail is rideable at low speeds, and be prepared for stops because it’s narrow and crowded on weekends and early evenings. The running clubs often use it, sometimes in groups numbering up to a hundred. There is one spot where the trail goes onto a bridge alongside the road where you are supposed to dismount. You probably should.

[Rootchopper]

The trail gets busy before and after work on weekdays. It is bumpy and curvy and not great but it will do for your purposes. The good news is the trail takes you right to the zoo. You can’t miss it.

[hozn]

Agree with the other comments on the trail busyness. I’ve done this a few times towing my kids; it’s definitely doable, but you’ll have to be patient as it is narrow and the peds/joggers always seem oblivious to the possibility of cyclists on the trail needing to pass.

Only thing I would add is that there is a bike rack just inside the main zoo entrance, up the hill a couple hundred yards (across from the park police station) off of Beach Dr. The trail takes you right there, but first you’ll pass by a service entrance to the zoo on your left. That (the bike rack) is where I’ve locked my bike/trailer when towing the kids.

It’s probably also worth mentioning that Beach Drive (starting a bit north of the zoo, at Broad Branch Rd. https://www.google.com/maps/place/38%C2%B056’39.5%22N+77%C2%B002’59.6%22W/@38.9442981,-77.0515083,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0) is closed to car traffic on weekends and holidays and is a very pleasant place to ride.

[Author]

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