21 Apr Hains Point Loop Trail in East Potomac Park

One of the best ways to spend a beautiful, sunny day in the DC area is to hike the Hains Point Loop Trail in East Potomac Park. Even though it is 4.1 miles (~6.6 kilometers) long, it is considered to be an easy trail due to the fact there is essentially no elevation change. On the other hand, you can check out the Billy Goat Trail Section A in Potomac, MD for a more strenuous and adventurous hike.

To learn more about the Hains Point Loop Trail, including a trail map and description, keep reading below!

Contents:

1) Location of Hains Point Loop Trail

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

3) Best Time to Visit

4) Background

5) Hains Point Loop Trail Information

6) Additional Park Activities

7) Recommended Items to Bring

1) Location of Hains Point Loop Trail

Hains Point Loop Trail is located within the borders of East Potomac Park in Washington, DC. If you look at a map, East Potomac Park is the piece of land that almost looks like a slice of pizza surrounded by the Potomac River and Washington Channel. Due to its location, it appears as though it is in between DC and Virginia. However, its official location is inside the borders of DC.

For reference, the Hains Point Loop Trail is a 15 to 30 minute drive from downtown DC as well as from Arlington, VA. The drive could take even longer, but it all depends on traffic. If you are passing through Pentagon City, VA on your drive, then check out some of the best things to do in Pentagon City.

Parking

There is no shortage of parking for the Hains Point Loop Trail. First, you can park along just about all of the streets within East Potomac Park. However, please be sure to read the parking signs to make sure you are parking legally. For example, there are parking spots all along Ohio Drive South. This road runs along the rim of the majority of East Potomac Park. The best part about these parking spots? They are free!

Second, there are a few parking lots in the southwest corner of the park. However, please note that these lots generally charge a fee for parking.

Third, there are specific parking lots for the tennis courts as well as the golf course. Please read the signs within these lots, for you usually cannot park there unless you are participating in the respective activity.

View of the water + city from Hains Point Loop Trail

Nearby Airports

The closest airport to Hains Point is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. It is only a 10 to 15 minute drive away. Additionally, the Dulles International Airport is located 35 minutes to the west.

You can use public transportation from either of the airports to arrive at East Potomac Park. However, please note the closest metro stations are the Smithsonian as well as Independence Ave and 14th Street. You will then need to walk approximately 15 minutes from either station to start on the Hains Point Loop Trail within the park.

On the other hand, you can rent a car from the airport or utilize a ride share service such as Uber.

Lodging

Washington DC has hundreds of lodging accommodations available for your visit. If you prefer to be near a bunch of shops and restaurants, then stay close to Dupont Circle or Logan Circle. On the other hand, stay close to Adams Morgan or Shaw if you want to be near the going-out scene.

Additionally, you can stay across the river in Arlington, VA. Stay in Pentagon City to be close to shopping, Clarendon to be close to the going out scene, and Ballston to be close to some amazing restaurants.

View of a cherry blossom tree during sunset at East Potomac Park

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

The official open hours of East Potomac Park are from around dawn to dusk daily. They will often put down gates or put up traffic cones to close portions of Ohio Drive South outside of those times.

Ready for some good news? There is no entrance fee! You can thus visit the park and hike to Hains Point at no cost to you, for even the parking is free along Ohio Drive South.

View of the water from Hains Point Loop Trail

3) Best Time to Visit

Arguably the best time to visit East Potomac Park and hike to Hains Point is in the springtime during cherry blossom season. Not only can you enjoy the general DC views at this time, but you can also plan to see the cherry blossoms during peak bloom. If you have not seen them before, take my word for it that they are quite beautiful. However, please note that the area will have the largest crowds during this time of year.

If you want to avoid the crowds of cherry blossom season, plan to hike the Hains Point Loop Trail on a weekday morning or afternoon. Otherwise, you can plan to visit outside of cherry blossom season. The hike to Hains Point is beautiful throughout the entire year, though spring through autumn are the preferred seasons.

Estimated Time to Hike the Hains Point Loop Trail

The Hains Point hike is 4.1 miles (~6.6 kilometers) long, and an average hiker can complete the trail in about one hour and 15 minutes. However, you always want to add a bit of padding time for exploring, pictures, etc. Therefore, I recommend you plan for a minimum of an hour and a half within your itinerary.

Cherry blossom trees lining the road at East Potomac Park

4) Background

Hains Point Loop Trail leads visitors to Hains Point within East Potomac Park. Once you reach Hains Point, you will be able to see the meeting point between three different bodies of water: (1) Potomac River (2) Washington Channel (3) Anacostia River.

How Did Hains Point Loop Trail Receive Its Name? 

Hains Point Loop Trail is named after Hains Point, which is located at the southernmost point of East Potomac Park. Hains Point received its name from Peter Conover Hains. Peter was the engineer behind the creation of the Tidal Basin. Next time you visit the Tidal Basin, especially if it is when the cherry blossoms are at peak bloom, you can thank Peter Hains for making it happen.

View of Hains Point in East Potomac Park

5) Hains Point Loop Trail Information

Hains Point Loop Trail is an easy yet beautiful walk through East Potomac Park in Washington, DC. You can hike to Hains Point in the morning and then spend the afternoon exploring all of the museums and other historical attractions in Washington, DC.

For additional hiking trails in the DC area, check out Billy Goat Trail Section A in Potomac, MD and Scott’s Run Falls in McLean, VA.

Hains Point Loop Trail Directions

To see the outline of the Hains Point Loop Trail, please refer to the screenshot of google maps below. The trail is outlined with a purple highlighter. Moreover, the trail essentially follows along the roads of Ohio Drive South and East Basin Drive SW. There are sidewalks along all of the roads, so you will have a designated hiking path.

Due to the fact it is a loop trail, you can truly begin the trail from any point. My recommendation is to find a convenient parking spot and then begin the trail from there. You will be able to complete the full loop trail since you have to hike back to your car at the end anyways. As mentioned above in the location section, there is parking available all along the side of Ohio Drive South as well as in a few lots in the southwest corner of East Potomac Park.

Outline of Hains Point Loop Trail from Google Maps

Hains Point Loop Trail Description

Hains Point Loop Trail is a 4.1 mile (~6.6 kilometer) trail located in East Potomac Park. There is very minimal elevation gain, for the entire trail is fairly flat. An average hiker can complete the trail in approximately one hour and 15 minutes. Moreover, it is considered to be an easy trail.

Attractions Along the Way

When hiking along the trail, you will pass by a variety of attractions. The order in which you pass them simply depends on where you start the trail. Therefore, please note the following are in no particular order. First, you will pass by the George Mason Memorial in the southwest corner. Second, you will pass behind the Thomas Jefferson Memorial on the Tidal Basin. You can always take a small detour to circle the memorial and see it from the front.

Third, you will walk parallel to the Washington Channel as well as the Potomac River for the vast majority of the trail. You can look across the water to see Virginia as well as Washington, DC. When you look across to the Virginia side, you can catch a glimpse of Gravelly Point. It is a popular picnic spot due to the planes flying directly overhead. Fourth, you will pass by the tennis courts, golf course, and playground. Feel free to stop by any or all of them if you have extra energy to expend.

Fourth, you will find a large, grassy area when you reach Hains Point. This is the perfect place to stop, lay down a blanket, have a picnic, and enjoy the views. Since Hains Point is located at the southernmost tip of East Potomac Park, you can see where the Washington Channel, Anacostia River, and Potomac River meet. Additionally, you can look across the Washington Channel and Anacostia River into DC and across the Potomac River into Virginia.

If you choose to hike the trail in spring during cherry blossom season, you will also pass by a vast number of cherry blossom trees along the way.

Hains Point Loop Trail in East Potomac Park

6) Additional Park Activities

Do not fear, for the Hains Point Loop Trail is not the only activity within East Potomac Park. There are many other things to do and see. You can even spend the whole day within the park.

While there are some organized activities and attractions, there are a myriad of other things to do within the park. For example, you can have a picnic, fly a kite, host a party, go fishing, ride a bike, etc.

Getting Active

First, East Potomac Park is home to a golf course. Pack up your golf clubs, grab a few friends, and head out to the golf course to smash those golf balls across the green. Second, there is a mini golf course right beside the “normal-sized” golf course. This is the perfect activity for a date night. Challenge your date so that whoever loses has to pay for dinner or dessert afterwards. If you are looking for other date ideas, consider heading across the river to Arlington, VA for date night.

Third, there are a bunch of tennis courts within the park. They have outdoor as well as indoor courts, so you can truly play in any type of weather. There are five indoor hard courts, nine outdoor hard courts, and ten Har-Tru outdoor clay courts. Fourth, there is a playground located pretty close to Hains Point.

View of the Potomac River from Hains Point Loop Trail

Contemplating History

On the very western edge of East Potomac Park are a few memorials. First, the more well-known one is the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. You might recognize it from pictures because of its dome roof. Moreover, there is a small bookstore located by the memorial. Second, there is the George Mason Memorial. Both memorials are right next to the Tidal Basin, which provides for beautiful views of DC across the water. If you would like to get on the water, then consider renting a Tidal Basin paddle boat.

However, you will pass by both of these memorials while hiking along the Hains Point Loop Trail. You can thus stop and explore them a bit during your hike if you wish.

View of sunset behind the Jefferson Memorial

7) Recommended Items to Bring

1. Water bottle: I will always recommend that you bring water with you when hiking a trail. Water is even more important if you visit in the summer, for DC can be pretty hot and humid at that time of year. Consider a reusable water bottle to reduce plastic waste. They also keep your water cooler due to their insulation – bonus!

Hygiene

2. Sunscreen: While this might not be as important on a cloudy day, it will be on a day full of beautiful clear skies. Walking around even for just 30 minutes can lead to sunburn if you have fair skin.

3. Bug spray: Let’s be honest – mosquitos, gnats, and any other little type of fly can ruin an experience. You cannot truly enjoy an attraction if you are swatting away bugs from your face the whole time. Therefore, be prepared with bug spray or a mosquito repellent bracelet. While in Iceland, I visited the Hverir Geothermal Area and essentially ran along the path because there were so many little black flies.

Hiking Apparel for the Hains Point Loop Trail

4. Hiking shoes: Your feet will thank you if you wear a pair of hiking shoes or other similar type of footwear. I did not own a pair of hiking shoes for a long time. However, I finally splurged and bought myself a pair before my Iceland road trip. Hiking shoes are generally not cheap, though I will say they are well worth the investment. They provide grip and traction to help you out while hiking as well as to keep you safe.

5. Hiking poles: Hiking poles are not a necessity for the Hains Point Loop Trail due to the fact that the trail is pretty flat. However, feel free to bring them along if you want the extra support while walking along the trail.

PIN IT to save it for later!

For a more relaxing activity, buy tickets to a nearby lantern festival: Lantern Festival in Washington, DC.

Or spend the day with dolphins: Kayaking with Dolphins in Virginia Beach.