Running in Washington, D.C.

On the eastern side of the city, the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail follows the Anacostia River for miles along both banks, linking neighborhoods like Capitol Hill and Anacostia to parkland that most visitors, and plenty of locals, rarely see. The trail carries far less foot traffic than the National Mall, giving runners wide, paved paths without weaving around tour groups near the monuments. Heading north along the trail leads to Kenilworth Park and the National Park Service's Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, a historic water garden of lily and lotus ponds built along the river more than a century ago. A boardwalk segment connects the riverwalk directly into the gardens, so a run here can shift from paved riverside path to a quiet loop past blooming ponds without leaving the trail.

The Anacostia side of the city has a different feel from the marble and monuments across the river, passing through wetland, woodland, and open meadow rather than manicured lawns. Kingman Island, a small island in the river reachable from the trail, adds another quiet, car free stretch for runners looking to extend a route along the water. The trail also connects south toward Anacostia Park, where a free weekly Anacostia parkrun gathers runners for a timed 5K every Saturday morning. Because this side of DC sees far fewer tourists than the Mall or Georgetown, it is one of the best options in the city for a long run without stopping for crosswalks or crowds.

Starting in Georgetown, the Capital Crescent Trail follows the former Georgetown Branch rail corridor of the old Baltimore and Ohio Railroad for roughly seven miles into Bethesda, Maryland. The main trail is a paved asphalt path, and where space allows, a separate, narrower stone dust path runs alongside it, built specifically to give runners a softer surface apart from cyclists and skaters. The route passes through wooded, quiet stretches including the area near the Dalecarlia Reservoir, feeling more like a forest run than a trail that starts just a few blocks from the Potomac. Because it is flat for its entire length, the Capital Crescent is a popular choice for DC runners doing tempo runs or long runs at even effort.

The Georgetown end of the trail connects directly to the C&O Canal Towpath and the waterfront, so runners can combine both trails into a single long run that mixes canal towpath, riverside, and rail trail surfaces. Because the corridor was a working railroad into the twentieth century, occasional remnants like old rail bridges and stone retaining walls still line the route as reminders of its past. The Bethesda end feeds into downtown Bethesda's restaurants and shops, making the trail a popular out and back for runners who want a coffee or meal waiting at the turnaround. Weekday mornings and evenings bring a steady stream of commuter runners and cyclists, so the trail can feel busy at rush hour despite its distance from downtown DC.