Civil War Defenses of Washington
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Civil War Defenses of Washington at a glance
- Best time
- March–May, October–November
- Trip length
- Half day–2 days
- Don't miss
- Hike the Northern Loop in Rock Creek Park
- Nearby city
- Washington, DC
Explore this park
About Civil War Defenses of Washington
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.
1 current NPS alert
- Park Closure: Part of Fort Totten Park remains closed for public safety
Source: National Park Service (as of Oct 27, 2026). Official Civil War Defenses of Washington page on nps.gov
Weather Information
Check the weather forecast for each individual site for accurate information.
Operating Hours
Rock Creek Park sites
The park grounds at Battery Kemble, Battleground National Cemetery, Fort Bayard, Fort Bunker Hill, Fort DeRussy, Fort Reno, Fort Slocum, Fort Stevens, and Fort Totten are managed by Rock Creek Park These sites are open daily from dawn to dusk.
- MondaySunrise to Sunset
- TuesdaySunrise to Sunset
- WednesdaySunrise to Sunset
- ThursdaySunrise to Sunset
- FridaySunrise to Sunset
- SaturdaySunrise to Sunset
- SundaySunrise to Sunset
National Capital Parks — East sites
The park grounds at Fort Carroll, Fort Chaplin, Fort Davis, Fort Dupont, Fort Foote, Fort Greble, Fort Mahan, Fort Ricketts, and Fort Stanton are managed by National Capital Parks — East. These sites are open daily from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.
- Monday6:00AM - 10:00PM
- Tuesday6:00AM - 10:00PM
- Wednesday6:00AM - 10:00PM
- Thursday6:00AM - 10:00PM
- Friday6:00AM - 10:00PM
- Saturday6:00AM - 10:00PM
- Sunday6:00AM - 10:00PM
George Washington Memorial Parkway site
The park grounds at Fort Marcy are managed by George Washington Memorial Parkway. This site is open daily from 6 am to 10 pm.
- Monday6:00AM - 10:00PM
- Tuesday6:00AM - 10:00PM
- Wednesday6:00AM - 10:00PM
- Thursday6:00AM - 10:00PM
- Friday6:00AM - 10:00PM
- Saturday6:00AM - 10:00PM
- Sunday6:00AM - 10:00PM
Common questions
Planning Civil War Defenses of Washington
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics — check Alerts for live updates.
Reservation rules vary by season and activity for Civil War Defenses of Washington. See Overview on this page for fees, timed entry, and campground details before you travel.
