Carderock Recreation Area Pavilion

Weekends book out well ahead here — 1 of the 4 Saturdays we sampled, as far out as Jan 2027, are already sold out. When a site frees up it's gone again within minutes, so people watch Carderock Recreation Area Pavilion and hear the instant one opens for their dates. Weekdays still have room — for now.

Availability checked directly against the reservation system, out to 3 months ahead.

Getting there

Carderock Pavilion has no street address. Search Carderock Recreation Area with Google Maps, use GPS coordinates 38° 58' 18.0001" N 77° 11' 58.9999" W, OR follow these directions:. From I-495 in Maryland: 1. Take Exit 41 toward Carderock/Great Falls. 2. Merge onto the Clara Barton Pkwy and continue 1 mile to the Carderock exit (on the right is the Carderock Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center 9500 MacArthur Blvd., West Bethesda, MD 20817). 3. Take the Carderock exit and at the stop sign, turn left to cross over the Clara Barton Pkwy. Follow the road until you reach a second stop sign. 4. Turn left for parking lot 1 or turn right for parking lot 2 and the restrooms. (The pavilion is located between parking lots 1 and 2.) From I-495 in Virginia: 1. Take Exit 41 (Carderock/Glen Echo) from the American Legion Bridge and at the fork, bear left toward Great Falls/Carderock. 2. Merge onto the Clara Barton Pkwy and continue 1 mile to the Carderock exit (on the right is the Carderock Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center 9500 MacArthur Blvd., West Bethesda, MD 20817). 3. Take the Carderock exit and at the stop sign, turn left to cross over the Clara Barton Pkwy. Follow the road until you reach a second stop sign. 4. Turn left for parking lot 1 or turn right for parking lot 2 and the restrooms. (The pavilion is located between parking lots 1 and 2.) From Washington DC (Georgetown): 1. From the intersection of "M" Street and Key Bridge, go west for approximately .5 miles and bear left onto Canal Road. 2. Stay straight on Canal Road which turns into the Clara Barton Pkwy and follow the Clara Barton Pkwy for approximately 9 miles to the Carderock exit (on the right is the Carderock Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center 9500 MacArthur Blvd., West Bethesda, MD 20817). 3. Take the Carderock exit and at the stop sign, turn left to cross over the Clara Barton Pkwy. Follow the road until you reach a second stop sign. 4. Turn left for parking lot 1 or turn right for parking lot 2 and the restrooms. (The pavilion is located between parking lots 1 and 2.) Directions from I-270. 1. Take I-270 South toward Washington. 2. Keep right to take I-270 Spur South toward I-270/Washington/I-495 /Northern Virginia. 3. I-270 Spur South becomes I-495 South/Capital Beltway. 4. Take Exit 41 toward Carderock/Great Falls. 5. Merge onto the Clara Barton Pkwy and continue 1 mile to the Carderock exit (on the right is the Carderock Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center 9500 MacArthur Blvd., West Bethesda, MD 20817). 6. Take the Carderock exit and at the stop sign, turn left to cross over the Clara Barton Pkwy. Follow the road until you reach a second stop sign. 7. Turn left for parking lot 1 or turn right for parking lot 2 and the restrooms. (The pavilion is located between parking lots 1 and 2.)

Activities

• HIKING
• FISHING
• CAMPING

Nearby federal campgrounds

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