East Potomac Park

East Potomac Park is a section of Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., located south of the Jefferson Memorial and the 14^th Street Bridge. Located between the Washington Channel and the Potomac River, the park is home to the East Potomac Park Golf Course, a miniature golf course, a public swimming pool (the East Potomac Park Aquatic Center), and tennis courts.
Love this place on a Sunday morning, so relaxing. You can jog, walk your dog, bike or some even fish along the bank (please make sure you do not eat them, it is for sport only, the water is polluted!). Some people practice rowing or enjoy kayaking.
Go and see for yourself!

My favorite place in DC. I cycle around this several days a week to unwind. It’s perfect. And the golf course is great, especially the driving range. Love the tennis center too but it’s a little pricey for an hour and the indoor is overpriced. But the clay courts are awesome. Haven’t been to the pool yet but that also looks great.

Mainly reviewing the driving range. This place is conveniently located if you live in DC or Arlington. Reasonably priced; get a reloadable card if you’ll return as you’ll get extra balls for the same price. Unfortunately the range is just hitting off of mats but I’ve yet to find a range nearby that has real grass. Some of the bays have heaters so you can still use it during colder weather. However, if it’s really cold (near freezing) call first to make sure they’re open as they may close early if they have no customers.

Poor Hains Point. It’s the bane of every DC runner’s training schedule. That little bit of land south of the Jefferson Memorial that juts into the Potomac. Ohio Dr. SW takes you down one side of the point, and it takes you back in the other direction too. Sort of symbolic of the tedium that is running the point. It’s less than 4 miles all the way around from old T.J., but it feels like so. much. farther.
But Hains Point isn’t all bad. In the spring, the cherry blossoms line the road, but it is not as crowded as other blossom peeping spots. And on the weekends you can run on the road since it is blocked off to traffic past a certain point. This is especially welcome since the path is cracked and uneven or sometimes under water if the river is high. Ever since I saw a map that showed what parts of DC will be permanently under water in the near-​ish future, I have felt like I needed to cut Hains Point some slack. It’s days are numbered.
Plus, there are bathrooms and water fountains right off the road heading out AND coming back. And despite the tedium, despite the fact that every runner you talk to will tell you it is their least favorite place in the city to run… somehow you never seem to be alone out there.
I just wish that the Awakening statute that used to sit right at the tip of the point was still there! The old giant, struggling to break free from the earth, was a nice landmark at the half way point that I would look forward to. But he finally broke free, and moved to National Harbor a few years ago. Not where I would go, but I don’t think he had much say in the matter.

2.25 stars.
(I came here just to do the full 5 mile (or so) loop, I did not utilize the fields)
This park has so much potential for walking and running! What a bummer that the sidewalks are crumbling making large portions of the loop dangerous, otherwise I would include this park in some of my runs. Not only are parts of it sinking into the water, but there are large holes in other areas (WARNING: Not the place to walk and talk (on the cell, etc.), not that I do such a thing. Other parts of the sidewalk are littered with (dead/​barely alive) fish. Not sure if the water washes them ashore or if the plethora of fishermen just leave them there. Perhaps a combination. But if it is because of the second reason, there needs to be more enforcement. Just the same, it seems people, fishermen or otherwise, leave tons of garbage and the park is littered with trash, sadly. The Western portion of the loop is overcome with branches making the path somewhat non-​passable. I think if these gripes can be fixed, you are looking at a solid 4 star or better, as the views are still really great. This park does not need any fancy («bells and whistles») it just needs MORE CARE.

Beautiful Park to come for a run/​walk or enjoy a swim. Even a round of golf, or mini-​golf if that’s your thing. They even got tennis court. There’s something for everyone here.
The cherry blossoms trees adorn the road around the park. It’s really beautiful.
My favorite thing to do while here is to plane-​watch. I love watching different aircrafts takeoff and land at DCA. I love all-​things airplanes so East Potomac Park provides a beautiful panoramic view of DCA and the Potomac River. The visual river approach is quite a sight, whether departure or arriving: a thrill not to be missed.
Bring your camera and be amazed!

This ratted 3 stars because it was something I remember when I coming up. Family wood walk from the title base over the Hanes Point. Walking by the public park house. Walking around the broken walk way seeing park wash away were water run under the sidewalk. After a storm you can see were the water wash on to the grass and fish and dead wood and more from the platonic river. Like the Unilocaler said. Area being blocked for people safe.
They had a ship for people come on board and open three days a week. You get to see where they sleep and eat. But after time they move it up to Baltimore Harbor.
Even I still like this place. Place to seat and eat under the summer day. Golf house with a food stand. Restroom. Now I don’t have my parents. I still come once a blue moon. walking of the member from my child hood. Summer time crazy in parking.
One time me and family came down for a BBQ for lunch. Even I told my father the disposable BBQ pit. But my father didn’t what to listen. During the cooking on the picnic table. First started around the pit. Yes I had to use my Dr Pepper to put it out. We end up cooking on the floor the rest of the time. We still enjoy the meal. But it the moment that count. I still come here again.

I’m rating this pretty high primarily on the driving range and affordability. For where I love there isn’t a cheaper alternative to play golf and the location is near unbeatable. The actual course conditions of their 2 main courses are very much meh. It’s probably a less than average fairway job for most public courses with more of an open field layout then tree lined fairways.
The driving range on the other hand had a lot of stalls and it’s heated in many of there stalls. On a cold winter day there’s no place id rather be then in one of the cozy heated stalls.
Oh and while the driving range card is technically cheaper than just buying tokens everytime– make sure you check when the points expire on the card. They only last a certain amount of time so if you put a lot of money in it you could lose it all if you don’t use it in time. I learned the hard way.

Free parking just a short walk from the national monuments? 10/​10, A++, would do again

This is the space for tennis and golf, but I’m not into paying for tennis courts and I don’t play golf. Both look nice and are probably excellent venues. This area also has the distinction of being one of the largest sources of free parking in the area (up to 3 hours and not in a DC zone).
The path that runs around the entire park is is really a problem. It’s literally sinking into the river and falling apart in places, and parts have been blocked off. That means that you have people running in the street instead of on the path, which is annoying and dangerous. Hains Point is a good view, but the playground there has suffered the indignity of losing its statue to National Harbor, and the remaining facility isn’t as good as it was when I was playground-​aged. The path really needs to be rebuilt, but given what an enormous and expensive undertaking it would be, I doubt it’ll happen anytime soon.

It’s a nice area and the river is nice to look at but during the winter months it’s a bit too cold to really enjoy the park area.

Free access, plenty of parking, local favor with guys fishing for rockfish, even of it is illegal to catch. Hey a day at the park and a picnic with the family in the shade of a huge, old pin oak are pretty hard to beat.

This park is beautiful. It was really nice to just sit and relax and watch the boats from the harbor coming in and out on the Potomac. It really is a nice little city get away if you just want to relax for a little while without the stresses of listening to the highway even though it is close near by.

Why am I reviewing this? Thanks Unilocal,my «next review awaits»
I’ve never come here just to run or ride a bike but it’s completely flat so I could imagine it’s a nice place to work out. Once I did play golf here but that’s not exactly my game hah. I do play softball in the «3-​letter-​department-​agencies-​league» at Hains Point which is always fun. I’ve played all over DC — the mall, West Potomac, but playing here is nice. Nice view of the water, the occasional airplane views flying into Reagan.
Anyway, this review is probably the least helpful thing ever but East Potomac Park is a nice place to work on your athletic prowess =)

I must say, when my husband first drove up to this place, I really wasn’t sure that I was going to enjoy this experience too much, however I was pleasantly surprised! (Other than some of the pavement having a few «bumps & lumps»,) this is really a cool, laid back place to spend an afternoon or even evening. Although the trees & plants hadn’t fully bloomed, I could tell that in just a month or so, the landscape would be simply beautiful. ~AND~ If you are a runner, this seems like a great (paved) place to get a jog in! I think next time, I may bring my skates!

We’re here at night and its nice the parking seems 2 b free too

East Potomac Park might be one of the best inline skating venues on the East Coast. The flat 3.2 –mile loop around Hains Point is perfect for beginners and experts alike. On summer weekends (and Tuesday and Thursday nights), some of DC’s fastest inline speed skaters train here. Some times they even drop in with the cyclists who also flock to the flat, virtually car-​free roads.

What more could people ask for than a massive park that extends out into the potomac providing guests with 3 golf courses, mini-​putt, driving range, tennis courts (including an INDOOR tennis court), swimming pool, barbecue ranges, and plenty of road for cyclists and rollerbladers to speed through? Not many urban areas can offer so much variety in such a small location — where’s Central Park’s golf course? Huh, New York? Huh?!
A great place to go to get some exercise, play around, toss a frisbee, or just lay out on a blanket with that special someone and watch planes fly, boats cruise, and people at play. Can’t really go wrong with East Potomac Park… hop the Circulator for $ 1 and get there for a day of fun in the sun!

The only thing I remember about East Potomac Park (aka Hains Point), while I was a Gallaudet student, was «The Awakening» statue. The statue has since been relocated to the National Harbor.
Anyways, I was told about the public pools at EPP. So, I drove there with my partner to meet a friend there. Wow, what a big park with lots to do. There are golf courses, miniature golf (putt putt), swimming pools and tennis courts. I’m not sure if they’re free or if you have to pay a fee.
I went yesterday to go swimming. No one was at the front to charge fees or check ID’s. (Oh, it is called the Bath House. Er, for gay men, that has an entirely different meaning.)
The changing room is decent. Locker cubicles with keys for 50 cents. A small changing area. Small number of urinals and bathroom stalls. A small room of «open» showers. There are mesh bags with hangers that you can stuff your towels, books and whatnots and you can carry it with you to the pool.
As you go out to the pool, you’re forced to go through a row of showers before you can get in the pool. So, hold your mesh bag over your head.
Wow! The pools are Olympic-​sized. And the temperature is great!
I highly suggest that you go as soon as it opens because later, the rowdy brats come out to swim. Ugh! Isn’t there like a 1-​foot swimming pool for them like on the other side? Huh? Huh? At least, the lifeguards got on their case. Yay!
Anyways, I enjoyed swimming there and will definitely come back!
Hours:
M, T, Th, F: 1pm to 7pm
W: closed
S & Sat: Noon to 6pm

East Potomac Park is another nice spot to watch the fireworks on the 4^th of July. Although the park doesn’t provide as great a view of the fireworks/​National Mall as does Lady Bird Johnson Park, the area provides nice spots to fire up the grill and kick back.
What gives this place a three out of five is the fact that the view is a bit limited (although you can still see about 90%-95% of the fireworks) because I-​395 is looking you right in the face. Even if you were to move up a bit, there’s still another bridge obstructing your view.
All in all, this place is OK.
Oh, and while you’re waiting for the fireworks to start feel free to feed the ducks and cast your line in the Washington Channel. I saw this guy catch two fairly big fish. I wouldn’t trust their edibility though.