Civil War Defenses of Washington
Hours
See this week's hours below.
- Entrance fee
- The Park Service lists no entrance fee for this site.
- Phone
- 202-895-6000
- Address
- Civil War Defenses of Washington, Washington, DC 20012
About Civil War Defenses of Washington
On forested hills surrounding the nation's capital are the remnants of a complex system of Civil War fortifications. These strategic buttresses transformed the young capital into one of the world's most fortified cities. By 1865, 68 forts and 93 batteries armed with over 800 cannons encircled Washington, DC. Today, you can visit 18 of the original sites now managed by the National Park Service.
Hours
Rock Creek Park sites
The park grounds at Battery Kemble, Battleground National Cemetery, Fort Bayard, Fort Bunker Hill, Fort DeRussy, Fort Reno, Fort Slocum, Fort Stevens, and Fort Totten are managed by Rock Creek Park These sites are open daily from dawn to dusk.
| Monday | Sunrise to Sunset |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Sunrise to Sunset |
| Wednesday | Sunrise to Sunset |
| Thursday | Sunrise to Sunset |
| Friday | Sunrise to Sunset |
| Saturday | Sunrise to Sunset |
| Sunday | Sunrise to Sunset |
National Capital Parks — East sites
The park grounds at Fort Carroll, Fort Chaplin, Fort Davis, Fort Dupont, Fort Foote, Fort Greble, Fort Mahan, Fort Ricketts, and Fort Stanton are managed by National Capital Parks — East. These sites are open daily from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.
| Monday | 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Thursday | 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Friday | 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Saturday | 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Sunday | 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
George Washington Memorial Parkway site
The park grounds at Fort Marcy are managed by George Washington Memorial Parkway. This site is open daily from 6 am to 10 pm.
| Monday | 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Thursday | 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Friday | 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Saturday | 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Sunday | 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
Getting there
Directions vary based on your preference of site.
Weather
Check the weather forecast for each individual site for accurate information.
Things to do
Arts and Culture, Biking, First Person Interpretation, Food, Guided Tours, Hiking, Junior Ranger Program, Living History, Mountain Biking, Park Film, Picnicking, Road Biking, Self-Guided Tours - Auto, Self-Guided Tours - Walking, Theater, Wildlife Watching.
Source: National Park Service data feed, checked September 24, 2026. Hours shown are the Park Service's posted standard hours plus any date changes it lists. Official page for Civil War Defenses of Washington ↗