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The Best Public Swimming Pools in Washington D.C.

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[Photo by Wayan Vota]

One of the best things about living in D.C. in the summer — being able to relax and splash around in the public pools. A D.C. license gets you in for free and they're open and hopping most days of the week. Although the entire system is pretty excellent, there are a few pools that stood out to our readers (including a few indoor facilities) and so we compiled a map of the top eleven free swimming options in the District. If you don't see your favorite place to swim on this list, there's a 100% chance that it wasn't mentioned during our call for nominations, so please do mention how awesome it is in the comments section. You can also find the full list of outdoor public pools right here.


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Anacostia Pool

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There are no shortage of public swimming pools east of the river, but this one in particular got a lot of love because it still has a diving board. Anacostia Pool also holds water aerobics classes.

Banneker Pool

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This pool by Howard University is another one that has a diving board, making it a popular choice for daredevil children and confident adults. This is also one of the pools that observes doggie swim day.

Upshur Pool

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This is another pool that celebrates doggie swim day but the humans of Mt. Pleasant, Petworth and 16th Street Heights also speak highly of this location.

Rosedale Pool

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While it's an easy move to include D.C.'s newest pool amongst the city's best, the children's water slide also held a lot of weight.

Takoma Aquatic Center

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The residents in D.C.'s northernmost corner have to travel southward for awhile to get to any public outdoor facilities but thankfully, this large indoor option in the Recreation Center is close by. The enormous facility hosts water polo matches and there's also a water mushroom to splash some of its younger patrons.

Francis Pool

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DC Department of Parks and Recreation calls this D.C.'s busiest public pool, even though last year's bleeding paint fiasco meant that it was closed for a little while. Francis Pool has two lap lanes and offers lessons and water aerobics. It was also name dropped in the movie Minority Report although for some reason, the writers opted a) not to film there and b) to claim that the pool was located in Baltimore.

Volta Park Pool

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The pool that serves Georgetown's residents has a dedicated lap lane at all times. That said, it's popular enough that getting there early on weekends is a necessity as seating can fill up quickly.

Wilson Aquatic Center

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Another one of D.C.'s public indoor facilities comes highly recommended by those looking to take a water aerobics class and those looking to just cool off and get out of the sun.

Harry Thomas Sr. Pool

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This pool has also been named the best public pool by the folks at Washington City Paper.

East Potomac Pool

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While Hains Point is enough of an attraction in and of itself, one reader described this pool as "amazing" and "pristine."

William H. Rumsey Aquatic Center

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This isn't terribly far from the popular (albeit, non-free) pool at the Capitol Skyline hotel, but this free indoor option also comes highly recommended by reading tipsters. Also, this pool hosts lap swimming, aerobics and programming for children.

Jelleff Pool

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Langdon Park Pool

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Theodore Hagans Pool

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Randall Pool

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Benning Park Pool

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Ridge Road Pool

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Kelly Miller Pool

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Douglass Pool

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Fort Stanton Pool

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Oxon Run Pool

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Park View Children's Pool

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Anacostia Pool

There are no shortage of public swimming pools east of the river, but this one in particular got a lot of love because it still has a diving board. Anacostia Pool also holds water aerobics classes.

Banneker Pool

This pool by Howard University is another one that has a diving board, making it a popular choice for daredevil children and confident adults. This is also one of the pools that observes doggie swim day.

Upshur Pool

This is another pool that celebrates doggie swim day but the humans of Mt. Pleasant, Petworth and 16th Street Heights also speak highly of this location.

Rosedale Pool

While it's an easy move to include D.C.'s newest pool amongst the city's best, the children's water slide also held a lot of weight.

Takoma Aquatic Center

The residents in D.C.'s northernmost corner have to travel southward for awhile to get to any public outdoor facilities but thankfully, this large indoor option in the Recreation Center is close by. The enormous facility hosts water polo matches and there's also a water mushroom to splash some of its younger patrons.

Francis Pool

DC Department of Parks and Recreation calls this D.C.'s busiest public pool, even though last year's bleeding paint fiasco meant that it was closed for a little while. Francis Pool has two lap lanes and offers lessons and water aerobics. It was also name dropped in the movie Minority Report although for some reason, the writers opted a) not to film there and b) to claim that the pool was located in Baltimore.

Volta Park Pool

The pool that serves Georgetown's residents has a dedicated lap lane at all times. That said, it's popular enough that getting there early on weekends is a necessity as seating can fill up quickly.

Wilson Aquatic Center

Another one of D.C.'s public indoor facilities comes highly recommended by those looking to take a water aerobics class and those looking to just cool off and get out of the sun.

Harry Thomas Sr. Pool

This pool has also been named the best public pool by the folks at Washington City Paper.

East Potomac Pool

While Hains Point is enough of an attraction in and of itself, one reader described this pool as "amazing" and "pristine."

William H. Rumsey Aquatic Center

This isn't terribly far from the popular (albeit, non-free) pool at the Capitol Skyline hotel, but this free indoor option also comes highly recommended by reading tipsters. Also, this pool hosts lap swimming, aerobics and programming for children.

Jelleff Pool

Langdon Park Pool

Theodore Hagans Pool

Randall Pool

Benning Park Pool

Ridge Road Pool

Kelly Miller Pool

Douglass Pool

Fort Stanton Pool

Oxon Run Pool

Park View Children's Pool