Rock Creek Park Group Picnic Areas (DC)

Rock Creek Park

Eight group picnic areas in Rock Creek Park are available for advance reservation from May through November. These picnic areas are available on a first-come, first-served basis from December through April.

All picnic groves are equipped with multiple picnic tables, some also have fireplaces that can be used for cooking. User must provide a cooking grate or other cooking equipment. Picnic groves 1, 6, 13 and 24 have pavilions. Some sites offer access to toilet facilities, though not all. Please refer to specific grove descriptions for details.

Need to Know

• The maximum number of picnickers per site is 75. Shelters will not accommodate all participants at the same time.

• Rock Creek Park is only open during daylight hours. Reservations end at dark if it is the time of year that it gets dark before 7pm.

• You are responsible for cleaning up after your event. Please bring clear plastic bags. Place bags in or beside trash containers if they are full.

• Permittee must furnish their own charcoal. Collection of wood in the park is prohibited. Fires may only be built in the fireplaces provided or in personal grills. Fires may be prohibited during dry seasons. Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit www.dontmovefirewood.org to learn more. Do not dump spent charcoal or other ash on the ground. Place ashes in the existing stone fireplaces or trash receptacles when completely extinguished.

• Do not attach ribbons, posters, or directional signs to any park object, either natural or man-made.

• Balloons are prohibited in Rock Creek Park.

• Picnic grove sites are subject to inspection by a Park Ranger and/or US Park Police at any time.

• The permittee is responsible for any damages to government property or for any costs incurred by the National Park Service or U.S. Park Police resulting from the permittee's event. The National Park Service willissue a Bill of Collection for costs incurred due to vandalism, negligence or other actions by a permitted group or individuals in the group. The permittee is expected to leave the site in clean condition.
• Commercial activities are prohibited on National Park Service property. Commercial catering is not permitted on park grounds. Permittee must take receipt of any commercial goods off of park property.
• Solicitation, collection of money and collection of personal information are prohibited on National Park Service property.
• Parking is permitted in designated paved areas only. Vehicles are prohibited from driving or parking on the grass. Parking is limited within the park, not guaranteed by this permit. Parking is not reserved and will remain open to the public at all times.
• Do not move tables between picnic sites.
• Permittee's use of the picnic grove may not interfere with other park visitors' use of nearby playground equipment, parking spaces, restroom facilities, or tables and benches outside the picnic grove area.
• Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
• Specialized recreation equipment, mechanical or carnival rides such as moon bounces, dunk tanks, photo booths, rides using livestock, and petting zoos and/or displays using live animals are prohibited in Rock Creek Park.
• Electric generators are prohibited.
• Amplified sound systems are prohibited. This includes live bands, DJ, etc.
• Volleyball and badminton nets must be self-supporting. Nets may not be tied to any natural or built feature in the park. Supports for the nets may not be driven into the ground. Softball, soccer and similar activities are permitted in areas adjacent to the picnic groves, only temporary goals, bases, backstops and similar equipment may be used.
• Tents, canopies, or any other structures are prohibited.
• Groups that will be transported by bus may only reserve picnic groves 1 and 24, which are served by wider city streets that can accommodate over-sized vehicles. Buses traveling to grove 1 must enter and leave via Tilden Street. Buses traveling to grove 24 must enter and leave via the Colorado Avenue entrance to the Carter Barron Amphitheater parking lots.
• Failure to observe the above regulations and additional Park regulations found at https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/rules-and-regulations.htm may result in a citation and/or permit revocation.

• If there are other individuals in the picnic area when you arrive, please provide the reservation information and most will gladly honor it. However, if any individuals refuse to leave your reserved site or you have any other law enforcement issues, please call US Park Police at 202-610-7500.

Natural Features

Rock Creek Park is truly a gem in our nation's capital. Fresh air, majestic trees, wild animals and the ebb and flow of Rock Creek emanate the delicate aura of the forest.

Nearby Attractions

Rock Creek Park is located near many national monuments and museums in the nation's capital.

Recreation

Recreational activities in Rock Creek Park include: soccer, picnics, hiking, biking, roller blading, tennis, fishing, horseback riding and attending a concert or park ranger program.

Contact Information

Default

Rock Creek Park, 3545 Williamsburg Lane NW Washington DC 20008

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 202-895-6000

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

Rock Creek Park is located in northwest Washington, DC, lying between Connecticut Avenue to the west and 16th Street to the east. For directions to a specific picnic site, please refer to the Rock Creek Park map online at www.nps.gov/rocr .

Available Campsites

• Site Picnic Grove 10 - 9:30AM to 1:30PM, Loop ROCK CREEK PARK PICNIC AREA, Type Group Picnic Area
• Site Picnic Grove 08 - 9:30AM to 1:30PM, Loop ROCK CREEK PARK PICNIC AREA, Type Group Picnic Area
• Site Picnic Grove 07 - 3:00PM to 7:00PM, Loop ROCK CREEK PARK PICNIC AREA, Type Group Picnic Area
• Site Picnic Grove 24 - 9:30AM to 1:30PM, Loop ROCK CREEK PARK PICNIC AREA, Type Group Picnic Area
• Site Picnic Grove 09 - 3:00PM to 7:00PM, Loop ROCK CREEK PARK PICNIC AREA, Type Group Picnic Area
• Site Picnic Grove 01 - 3:00PM to 7:00PM, Loop ROCK CREEK PARK PICNIC AREA, Type Group Picnic Area
• Site Picnic Grove 09 - 9:30AM to 1:30PM, Loop ROCK CREEK PARK PICNIC AREA, Type Group Picnic Area
• Site Picnic Grove 13 - 9:30AM to 1:30PM, Loop ROCK CREEK PARK PICNIC AREA, Type Group Picnic Area
• Site Picnic Grove 08 - 3:00PM to 7:00PM, Loop ROCK CREEK PARK PICNIC AREA, Type Group Picnic Area
• Site Picnic Grove 10 - 3:00PM to 7:00PM, Loop ROCK CREEK PARK PICNIC AREA, Type Group Picnic Area
• Site Picnic Grove 06 - 9:30AM to 1:30PM, Loop ROCK CREEK PARK PICNIC AREA, Type Group Picnic Area
• Site Picnic Grove 24 - 3:00PM to 7:00PM, Loop ROCK CREEK PARK PICNIC AREA, Type Group Picnic Area
• Site Picnic Grove 07 - 9:30AM to 1:30PM, Loop ROCK CREEK PARK PICNIC AREA, Type Group Picnic Area
• Site Picnic Grove 06 - 3:00PM to 7:00PM, Loop ROCK CREEK PARK PICNIC AREA, Type Group Picnic Area
• Site Picnic Grove 13 - 3:00PM to 7:00PM, Loop ROCK CREEK PARK PICNIC AREA, Type Group Picnic Area
• Site Picnic Grove 01 - 9:30AM to 1:30PM, Loop ROCK CREEK PARK PICNIC AREA, Type Group Picnic Area

Photo Gallery