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A rotund memorial across a basin is framed by autumnal leaves. Shutterstock

18 great spots for admiring fall foliage in D.C.

Change is in the air

By Valerie Paschall and Michelle Goldchain Updated
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By Valerie Paschall and Michelle Goldchain Updated
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Fall is coming. That means fall foliage is on the way, and the District’s tree canopy is about to turn orange, yellow, red, and brown. For autumn appreciators, here are 18 places in the city where you can enjoy such arboreal transformations this season.

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Politics & Prose Bookstore

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Step 1: Buy a book at Politics & Prose. Step 2: Find a bench on Nebraska or Connecticut avenues NW where you can read it under changing leaves.

5015 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
(202) 364-1919
(202) 364-1919

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American University

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A canopy of gold and red converges in the areas surrounding the university, including Tenleytown, American University Park, and Spring Valley. Lucky students!

4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016
(202) 885-1000
(202) 885-1000

Rock Creek Park

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Walking through Rock Creek Park in the fall can feel magical. Try a picnic here on Columbus Day or Veterans Day.

Beach Dr. NW, Washington, DC 20015
Trees in full fall foliage along a brook. Shutterstock

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Sherman Circle Park

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This Petworth spot is beautiful not only within the circle itself but also on the streets going out from it in every direction.

Illinois Av NW, Washington, DC 20011

Duke Ellington Bridge

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From either side of this bridge connecting Woodley Park and Adams Morgan, you can look down at Rock Creek Park and get an awesome aerial view of all its colorful trees.

Calvert St, NW, Washington, DC

Montrose Park

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Montrose Park is a lovely spot in Georgetown to take in the fall sights. In fact, most of Georgetown north of O Street NW is a good bet for leafy goodness.

3099 R St NW, Washington, DC

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Meridian Hill Park

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Meridian Hill Park in Columbia Heights is a no-brainer for seeing fall foliage. You might even be able to jump into a pile of leaves.

2500 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 895-6000
(202) 895-6000
A statue of a woman riding on a horse and holding a sword in the middle of a park with trees in yellow and green. Shutterstock

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Langdon Park

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Northeast’s Langdon Park is filled with tall, leafy trees. Bonus points: It’s also home to D.C.’s Chuck Brown Memorial.

2901 20th St NE, Washington, DC 20018

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U.S. National Arboretum

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Here’s another no-brainer on this list. The most tree-filled location in Northeast becomes a paradise of red and orange during the fall. Pack some cider for when you visit.

3501 New York Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 245-2726
(202) 245-2726
Greek-like columns in the middle of an open-air park filled with orange trees. Shutterstock

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Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

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Generally, the entire National Mall is a reliable area for viewing fall foliage. Find a sitting spot on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and admire the Reflecting Pool as well as the Washington Monument amid colorful trees.

W Potomac Park, Washington, D.C. 20245
Three ducks in a reflecting pool surrounded by trees in the fall. A tall obelisk is in the background. Shutterstock

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Tidal Basin

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In addition to being the heart of D.C.’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival each spring, the Tidal Basin is also a wonderful place for checking out some fall foliage. Expect all manner of oranges, yellows, and reds on the trees.

W Basin Dr SW, Washington, D.C.
Trees along a basin showing fall foliage. A bunch and a trash can are surrounded by fallen leaves. Shutterstock

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Georgetown University Law Center

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For those who work near Judiciary Square, the area around Georgetown’s law school (particularly on 1st Street NW between G and H streets NW) is a tableau for autumnal change.

600 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

U.S. Capitol

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If you’re in the vicinity, take a moment to sit below one of the many trees surrounding the iconic U.S. Capitol this fall.

US Capitol, Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 226-8000
(202) 226-8000
Yellow leaves hang over plateau near a U.S. government building, which has a rotunda. Shutterstock

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Eastern Market

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While you’re shopping at the Eastern Market building, saunter around the neighborhood and take in peak fall.

225 7th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 698-5253
(202) 698-5253
Two men wait to vote beneath multicolor trees during the fall. Getty Images

Congressional Cemetery

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In Southeast, there are gorgeous red maple trees within the Congressional Cemetery.

1801 E St SE, Washington, DC
Men in red band uniforms holding instruments walk through a cemetery during the fall. The Washington Post/Getty Images

Anacostia Park

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Along the Anacostia River, the expansive Anacostia Park turns into a sea of orange and yellow during the fall.

1900 Anacostia Dr, Washington, DC 20020
(202) 575-0306
(202) 575-0306

Fort Dupont Park

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You could easily spend a day observing fall foliage at the 376-acre Fort Dupont Park. Better yet, you can hike while doing it.

Minnesota Ave SE, Washington, DC 20019
(202) 426-7723
(202) 426-7723

Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens

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In Northeast, near D.C.’s border with Maryland, Kenilworth Gardens offers lily ponds below and changing leaves above. It’s easy to get lost in it all.

1550 Anacostia Ave NE, Washington, DC 20019
(202) 692-6080
(202) 692-6080
Lily ponds in a park during the fall, with colorful trees in the background. Shutterstock
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Politics & Prose Bookstore

5015 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

Step 1: Buy a book at Politics & Prose. Step 2: Find a bench on Nebraska or Connecticut avenues NW where you can read it under changing leaves.

5015 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
(202) 364-1919
(202) 364-1919

American University

4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016

A canopy of gold and red converges in the areas surrounding the university, including Tenleytown, American University Park, and Spring Valley. Lucky students!

4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016
(202) 885-1000
(202) 885-1000

Rock Creek Park

Beach Dr. NW, Washington, DC 20015

Walking through Rock Creek Park in the fall can feel magical. Try a picnic here on Columbus Day or Veterans Day.

Beach Dr. NW, Washington, DC 20015
Trees in full fall foliage along a brook. Shutterstock

Sherman Circle Park

Illinois Av NW, Washington, DC 20011

This Petworth spot is beautiful not only within the circle itself but also on the streets going out from it in every direction.

Illinois Av NW, Washington, DC 20011

Duke Ellington Bridge

Calvert St, NW, Washington, DC

From either side of this bridge connecting Woodley Park and Adams Morgan, you can look down at Rock Creek Park and get an awesome aerial view of all its colorful trees.

Calvert St, NW, Washington, DC

Montrose Park

3099 R St NW, Washington, DC

Montrose Park is a lovely spot in Georgetown to take in the fall sights. In fact, most of Georgetown north of O Street NW is a good bet for leafy goodness.

3099 R St NW, Washington, DC

Meridian Hill Park

2500 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Meridian Hill Park in Columbia Heights is a no-brainer for seeing fall foliage. You might even be able to jump into a pile of leaves.

2500 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 895-6000
(202) 895-6000
A statue of a woman riding on a horse and holding a sword in the middle of a park with trees in yellow and green. Shutterstock

Langdon Park

2901 20th St NE, Washington, DC 20018

Northeast’s Langdon Park is filled with tall, leafy trees. Bonus points: It’s also home to D.C.’s Chuck Brown Memorial.

2901 20th St NE, Washington, DC 20018

U.S. National Arboretum

3501 New York Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002

Here’s another no-brainer on this list. The most tree-filled location in Northeast becomes a paradise of red and orange during the fall. Pack some cider for when you visit.

3501 New York Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 245-2726
(202) 245-2726
Greek-like columns in the middle of an open-air park filled with orange trees. Shutterstock

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

W Potomac Park, Washington, D.C. 20245

Generally, the entire National Mall is a reliable area for viewing fall foliage. Find a sitting spot on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and admire the Reflecting Pool as well as the Washington Monument amid colorful trees.

W Potomac Park, Washington, D.C. 20245
Three ducks in a reflecting pool surrounded by trees in the fall. A tall obelisk is in the background. Shutterstock

Tidal Basin

W Basin Dr SW, Washington, D.C.

In addition to being the heart of D.C.’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival each spring, the Tidal Basin is also a wonderful place for checking out some fall foliage. Expect all manner of oranges, yellows, and reds on the trees.

W Basin Dr SW, Washington, D.C.
Trees along a basin showing fall foliage. A bunch and a trash can are surrounded by fallen leaves. Shutterstock

Georgetown University Law Center

600 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

For those who work near Judiciary Square, the area around Georgetown’s law school (particularly on 1st Street NW between G and H streets NW) is a tableau for autumnal change.

600 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

U.S. Capitol

US Capitol, Washington, D.C. 20515

If you’re in the vicinity, take a moment to sit below one of the many trees surrounding the iconic U.S. Capitol this fall.

US Capitol, Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 226-8000
(202) 226-8000
Yellow leaves hang over plateau near a U.S. government building, which has a rotunda. Shutterstock

Eastern Market

225 7th St SE, Washington, DC 20003

While you’re shopping at the Eastern Market building, saunter around the neighborhood and take in peak fall.

225 7th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 698-5253
(202) 698-5253
Two men wait to vote beneath multicolor trees during the fall. Getty Images

Congressional Cemetery

1801 E St SE, Washington, DC

In Southeast, there are gorgeous red maple trees within the Congressional Cemetery.

1801 E St SE, Washington, DC
Men in red band uniforms holding instruments walk through a cemetery during the fall. The Washington Post/Getty Images

Anacostia Park

1900 Anacostia Dr, Washington, DC 20020

Along the Anacostia River, the expansive Anacostia Park turns into a sea of orange and yellow during the fall.

1900 Anacostia Dr, Washington, DC 20020
(202) 575-0306
(202) 575-0306

Fort Dupont Park

Minnesota Ave SE, Washington, DC 20019

You could easily spend a day observing fall foliage at the 376-acre Fort Dupont Park. Better yet, you can hike while doing it.

Minnesota Ave SE, Washington, DC 20019
(202) 426-7723
(202) 426-7723

Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens

1550 Anacostia Ave NE, Washington, DC 20019

In Northeast, near D.C.’s border with Maryland, Kenilworth Gardens offers lily ponds below and changing leaves above. It’s easy to get lost in it all.

1550 Anacostia Ave NE, Washington, DC 20019
(202) 692-6080
(202) 692-6080
Lily ponds in a park during the fall, with colorful trees in the background. Shutterstock