Admittedly, as someone who lives just a few miles outside of the city, I rarely go into Washington, DC to run. Traffic, logistics, time commitment all keep me from enjoying the beauty of Washington DC as often as I could and should. I take for granted that I am lucky enough to live so close to so much history. Every time I do run there, I am always blown away by its beauty and majesty. The best way to see a city is on foot. Hope you have a chance to take on this Scenic Washington DC Monument Running Route along with the best photo spots of course.
Scenic Washington DC Monument Run Route
This is a 7 mile run that can easily be shortened to a 5 mile run. Parking is always a bit tricky downtown but we scored a spot at Thompson’s Boat House right near the Kennedy Center. During the week, it’s very to park here. You could also take an Uber or taxi and begin there. We headed out running down Rock Creek Parkway towards the tidal basin on Ohio Drive. The first monument you will come across is the Lincoln Memorial and our first photo stop. A little over a mile from the start.
The Lincoln Memorial faces the Reflecting Pool and your first glimpse of the Washington Monument. The power and significance of these 2 monuments never fail to awe me. On a beautiful day, it’s hard to beat these views.
From there, continue running toward the Tidal Basin. Famous for it’s Cherry Blossoms in the springtime, it’s a lovely place to run all year round. First, you will see the Martin Luther King Memorial. It was too crowded to grab a photo the day I was there. Continue running to the right around the Tidal Basin. You will arrive at The Jefferson Memorial.
Continue around the Tidal Basin and back around to 15th Street. This will take you to the start of The National Mall area. Take in the scenes of the Washington Monument again and your first view of The Capitol Building. A fantastic photo spot. To cut your run to 5 miles stay on 15th St. Alternatively, run down the gravel path of The National Mall towards the Capitol. This is about 1 mile in each direction.
Turn around and run back towards the Washington Monument. You will see the African American History museum part of The Smithsonian on your right.
If you look closely, you can catch a glimpse of The White House across Constitution Avenue.
You are now about 1.5 miles from where you started. Head back toward the Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial. Head east back to your starting point at Thompson’s Boat House. Just a few steps away is the Georgetown Waterfront and a perfect place to grab post-run coffee or breakfast.
If you are coming into Washington, DC for business or sightseeing, check out my Scenic Washington DC Monument run route. The best way to see any city is on foot.
Thanks for helping to make the Runners’ Roundup a huge success by visiting all of the hosts: Laura, Me, Debbie, Jen, Lisa
Washington DC would be such a fun place to run! Who wouldn’t want to look at all of the monuments while running?
It’s a great view for sure
What a stunning running route. Shame about the scaffolding on the Jefferson Memorial.
Yes it is a great route. Everyone needs a little face lift sometimes 🙂
DC is such a fabulous place!!! I love all the monuments & history. Definitely wish I lived much closer 🙂
So do I!
I love that you get to run with all of those amazing monuments around you. I may be headed to DC with my daughter this summer and hopefully can get to go out and run and see some of those sights like you!
Yes hope you have a chance to enjoy them while you are here
What a fun and historic run! Love all your pics, looks like you guys had a great time
We definitely did
This is such a great idea! It’s always a lot of fun to see all of the monuments by foot. This is a run I’d like to do next time I go to Washington DC.
It’s a date anytime!
I loved running MCM a few years ago where I had a chance to see some of these monuments along the route. Great reference to those who travel and want to run in DC.
Thanks so much!
Now I really want to visit DC! This is so cool! The best way to see the city.
You have an open invite anytime
I always think running through great scenery makes the time fly. What a perfect place for it!
I agree it sure does!
Wow! What a beautiful running route! All of your pictures are so pretty!
Thanks so much
I would love to run there…looks like an awesome route…
Hope you have a chance to sometime
What a fun run!!! I’ll have to try this the next time I come into town!
I hope you have a chance to run here sometime
I love Washington DC but haven’t been there since 2013 when I ran the RnR race. I definitely need to go there again.
It’s a fun city to run in
I have only run in DC for the Cherry Blossom race!
I need to make it back one of these days and get some more running and fun pics!
Thanks for sharing!
The cherry blossom is a great race to run for sure
Seams like you had great time. I bet DC is amazing to visit and explore. Running route was pretty amazing too. I’m glad you enjoyed!
A really fun city to run in and visit
I live 5 miles from Philly and we hardly ever go in. We occasionally swing by to go for hikes or out to dinner, but yeah, it’s tough when you have your routine and you don’t go exploring.
Yes exactly same here!
Your running route hits all of the hot spots – thanks for sharing! I really should get down to DC more often.
I know every time I run down there I say that!
Definitely saving this for my next trip down. Cherry Blossom is the only time I’ve actually run DC and while I don’t think I can swing that in 2020, I look forward to running DC again soon
Your pic of the White House is about the same angle as my first spotting of it – I was surprised how small it was
It seems small from the outside yes. Hope you get back to DC to run again soon
I think especially so compared with the large ones around it closer to the Mall. It just seems like it should be similar in stature
Oh wow, Deborah, this was a beautiful tour!
I’ve been to Washington DC once in my life, maybe 25 years ago, and I was stunned by how majestic it was. So historic!
I was expecting to see Coco in your photos, but she was probably busy running with Scooby, haha.
ha Coco and I bike together but she runs way too early for me!
I’ve done the Rock n Roll DC half a few times and I’ve also run on my own when visiting DC, but I have the worst sense of direction when I’m there! It’s so cool to be able to see so many historic monuments over a few miles.
when things get back to normal, maybe you can come down for the day and I will take you on a running tour
Haven’t been since I started running. Definitely a city I need to visit now.
Yes! when things get back to normal come down for a visit
I totally love DC! I’d love to return and run this route in person 😉
Yes you need to come back when it’s ok to do so
That is very cool, Deborah! Running is the best way to see new places.
I lived in Laurel, MD one year before I got married. I loved taking the metro into DC & did it fairly often! Then again, it was just me & my cats in an apartment back then. 🙂
Haven’t been back since. 🙁
Well sounds like its time for a visit when things get back to normal
So beautiful!! My husband was lucky to be in the USA in 2017 for 6 weeks as part of the Mandela-Washington Fellowship Program. Although based in Iowa for most of that time, the final conference was in Washington DC and he managed to go for a run. I wish he had known about this route then but he did get a fabulous photo in from of the Washington Monument!
Oh that sounds like a fun experience for him! Hope you both make it back here sometime would love to show you around
Definitely on my list to go and see someday! So beautiful
Hope you make it here sometime soon
I’ve raced a few times in DC but I don’t think I’ve ever just done a run to see the sights there. My brother lives in the area so when I can finally visit him we need to go on this route!
OH yes definitely let me know and I will give you a run tour. I am also looking at some Philly races for fall
Such an interesting run, I don’t know if I’d feel comfortable doing it in front of all those people
I definitely like to hit the sites at less crowded times (non covid times too)
Such an interesting run, I don’t know if I’d feel comfortable doing it in front of all those people!
Next time I visit the area this is a run I would love to do!
I will happy to be your guide!
Oh, this is wonderful! I am going to save this for when I do finally get back to DC. And then it’s game on!
So incredible to get to see so many beautiful sights in your normal day!
Hope you have a chance to visit sometime soon
Would be a great run and keep your mind focused on all the great things to see around you!
It sure is a beautiful place to run. Hope to get back there soon
I haven’t been to DC in years but this looks like an amazing way to tour the city!
Always fun to see a city by foot!
It’s so cool how many sights and sites are within just a few miles of each other. I’ve never been to DC, but if/when I visit I definitely plan on touring by running.
Yes hope you have the chance to visit soon
This is such a great view!!! I haven’t been to DC in forever, looks like a great route 🙂
It’s a fun city to run in
My favorite way to explore a city is through running! I haven’t been to DC in years. Would love to see it this way sometime!
I hope you have the chance to sometime
Washington is such a beautiful place to walk and run! So many monuments to see and visit while being active.
Yes it’s a great city to explore by foot
Watching the inauguration really made me want to go to DC. It’s just so beautiful and historic. And of course, running is the best way to see a city!
Happy to give you a tour any time!