Hains Point Picnic Area (East Potomac Park)
National Mall and Memorial Parks
The Hains Point Picnic Area is at the southern tip of East Potomac Park and offers a delightful picnic destination with beautiful views of the Potomac River, Anacostia River and the Washington Channel. Other popular activities on Hains Point include fishing, bicycling, running, and playtime for the kids on the playground.
Reservations for picnic areas (A, B, C, D) are required seven days a week (Sunday through Saturday), year-round.
You may reserve picnic areas for half day $90.00 (Week Days: 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Weekends: 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.); full day $180.00 (Week Days: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Weekends: 9:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.). To make a full day reservation, purchase both the morning and afternoon time slots for your desired day.
The maximum number of picnickers per site is 75. Shelters will not accommodate all participants at the same time.
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.
The National Park Service and Hains Point prohibit alcoholic beverages, balloons, and glass containers at the park or anywhere on NPS Property.
Volleyball and badminton nets must be self-supporting. Do not tie nets to any natural or built feature in the park. Do not drive net supports into the ground. The park permits soccer and similar activities in areas adjacent to the picnic areas.
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 will issue 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.
Failure to observe the above regulations and additional Park regulations found at https://www.recreation.gov/venues/VR21297 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.
Need to Know
Need To Know
Hains Point offers four picnic areas for reservation (Areas: A, B, C, D). Each area accommodates up to 75 people. Picnic areas include limited picnic benches with no shelters. A public restroom is located in the area. Limited parking is available. There are no electrical outlets and grills are not provided.
You are responsible for cleaning up after your event. Please bring clear plastic bags. Place in or beside trash containers if they are full.
Permittee must furnish charcoal. Collection of wood in the park is prohibited. Fires may only be built in personal grills. Fires may be prohibited during dry seasons. Don't dump spent charcoal or other ash on the ground. Place ashes in the existing trash receptacles when completely extinguished.
Do not attach ribbons, posters, or directional signs to any park object, either natural or man-made.
Hains Point and all national park areas prohibit alcoholic beverages, balloons, and glass containers.
Picnic 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 will issue 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 receive any commercial goods or catering 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. Do not drive or park 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 areas 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.
The park prohibits 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.
The park prohibits electric generators.
The park prohibits amplified sound systems. This includes live bands, DJ, etc.
Contact Information
1100 Ohio Drive SW Washington DC 20242
Phone Number
(202) 245-4715
