Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
Designation:
Location: District of Columbia
📘 Park Overview
Deep within Kenilworth lies an oasis, hidden behind trees and cattails. It's a place where beavers build their homes and turtles sleep on logs. Lotus blooms rise from the muck and lilies sit on the water. The wind dances with the dragonflies, rustling through the trees, carrying the song of the birds until it brushes across your face, fading to a whisper, saying "come join."
🌤 Weather Information
June-September expect warm and humid weather. Average high temperatures are in the 80s, though often in the low 90s. On humid days, showers and thunderstorms often build in the late afternoon. July and August are the warmest months. The coldest month is January, with average daytime highs in the low 40s and overnight lows in the upper 20s.
🚗 Directions
The park is located in North East Washington D.C. south of route 50 and just off the Baltimore Washington Parkway. The park is also within the D.C. Kenilworth community and the Anacostia river runs along the park boundary. Interstate 295 runs parallel to the park. The park is within half a mile from the Deanwood Metro station on the orange line. There is free parking at the park.
Images
Lotus flowers bloom in many ponds during the hot humid summer months.
Credit: NPS Photo/Miguel A. Marquez
As the seasons change, so do the colors around the ponds which can be seen as reflections on the water.
Credit: NPS Photo/Miguel A. Marquez.
As the temperatures warm up during spring and summer months many reptiles including turtles can be seen basking in the sun on logs, tree stumps or the banks of the ponds.
Credit: NPS Photo/Miguel A. Marquez.
The summer blooms in and around the ponds attract many photographers and artist from around the world.
Credit: NPS Photo/Miguel A. Marquez
The wetlands and marsh habitat many shore birds and they can be seen wading in and around the ponds for food.
Credit: NPS Photo/Miguel A. Marquez
Activities
Topics
Operating Hours
Entrance Fees
No entrance fees listed.
Entrance Passes
No entrance passes listed.
3-Day Weather Forecast
Friday, Dec 19
Moderate rain
High: 59.5°F | Low: 32.4°F
Humidity: 76%
Wind: 21.7 mph
Rain Chance: 89%
UV Index: 0.2
Sunrise: 07:22 AM
Sunset: 04:48 PM
Moon: New Moon (1%)
Visibility: 5 mi
Dew Point: 44.5°F
Cloud Cover: 89%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Saturday, Dec 20
Sunny
High: 40.6°F | Low: 26.4°F
Humidity: 63%
Wind: 11.6 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 0.4
Sunrise: 07:23 AM
Sunset: 04:48 PM
Moon: New Moon (0%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 27.4°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Sunday, Dec 21
Sunny
High: 49.6°F | Low: 29.6°F
Humidity: 62%
Wind: 12.8 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 0.3
Sunrise: 07:23 AM
Sunset: 04:49 PM
Moon: Waxing Crescent (1%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 30.7°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Weather Alerts (5)
Wind Advisory issued December 19 at 8:59AM EST until December 19 at 10:00PM EST by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Effective: Dec 19, 2025 8:59am
Expires: Dec 19, 2025 5:00pm
* WHAT...West winds 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph expected.
* WHERE...DC, and portions of central, north-central, northeast, and
northern Maryland, and central, northern, northwest, and western
Virginia.
* WHEN...From noon today to 10 PM EST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree
limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
Effective: Dec 19, 2025 3:06pm
Expires: Dec 19, 2025 3:16pm
Monitoring message only. Please disregard.
Wind Advisory issued December 19 at 8:59AM EST until December 19 at 10:00PM EST by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Effective: Dec 19, 2025 8:59am
Expires: Dec 19, 2025 5:00pm
* WHAT...West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected.
* WHERE...In Maryland, Calvert, Charles, and St. Marys Counties. In
Virginia, Central and Southeast Prince William/Manassas/Manassas
Park County.
* WHEN...From noon today to 10 PM EST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree
limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
Wind Advisory issued December 19 at 12:46PM EST until December 20 at 1:00AM EST by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Effective: Dec 19, 2025 12:46pm
Expires: Dec 20, 2025 1:00am
* WHAT...West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 40 to 50 mph.
* WHERE...Portions of central and northern Delaware, northeast
Maryland, central, northern, northwest, and southern New Jersey,
and east central and southeast Pennsylvania.
* WHEN...Until 1 AM EST Saturday.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree
limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The strongest winds are expected to occur
during the second half of the afternoon into the early evening.
High Wind Warning issued December 19 at 8:59AM EST until December 19 at 10:00PM EST by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Effective: Dec 19, 2025 8:59am
Expires: Dec 19, 2025 5:00pm
* WHAT...West winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.
* WHERE...In Maryland, Frederick MD and Washington Counties. In
Virginia, Frederick VA County. In West Virginia, Hampshire, Hardy,
Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties.
* WHEN...Until 10 PM EST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines.
Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult,
especially for high profile vehicles.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The strongest winds are expected from about
11 AM to 1 PM, and again 3 PM to 9 PM.
Park Alerts
Park Events
Bird Walk
We invite you to join National Park Service volunteer and expert birder Molly Hermann for an engaging bird walk at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. This event is open to all, including those new to birding. We encourage participants to bring water, sunscreen, and binoculars if available. A limited number of binoculars are available for loan with a photo ID.
The walk will be conducted at a leisurely pace, covering approximately one mile. We will gather in front of the visitor center, and the duration of the walk will typically range from 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on our observations. We look forward to sharing this delightful experience with you!
Location: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens: 1550 Anacostia Avenue NE, Washington, D.C. 20019
Date: Jul 5, 2022 12:00am to Jul 5, 2022 12:00am
Paid Event
Bird Walk
We invite you to join a National Park Service volunteer birder for an engaging bird walk at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. This event is open to all, including those new to birding. We encourage participants to bring water, sunscreen, and binoculars if available. A limited number of binoculars are available for loan with a photo ID.
The walk will be conducted at a leisurely pace, covering approximately one mile. We will gather in front of the visitor center, and the duration of the walk will typically range from 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on our observations. We look forward to sharing this delightful experience with you!
Location: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens: 1550 Anacostia Avenue NE, Washington, D.C. 20019
Date: Feb 8, 2025 12:00am to Dec 28, 2025 12:00am
Paid Event
Bird Walk
We invite you to join a National Park Service volunteer birder for an engaging bird walk at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. This event is open to all, including those new to birding. We encourage participants to bring water, sunscreen, and binoculars if available. A limited number of binoculars are available for loan with a photo ID.
The walk will be conducted at a leisurely pace, covering approximately one mile. We will gather in front of the visitor center, and the duration of the walk will typically range from 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on our observations. We look forward to sharing this delightful experience with you!
Location: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens: 1550 Anacostia Avenue NE, Washington, D.C. 20019
Date: Feb 8, 2025 12:00am to Dec 28, 2025 12:00am
Paid Event
Visitor Center & Contacts
📍 Physical Address:
1550 Anacostia Ave. NE
Washington, DC 20019
🏤 Mailing Address:
1550 Anacostia Ave. NE
Washington, DC 20019
📞 Voice Phone: 771-208-1571
✉️ Email: keaq_visitorservices@nps.gov