Theodore Roosevelt Island
Theodore Roosevelt Island is an 88.5-acre (358,000 m2) island and national memorial located in the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. During the Civil War, it was used as a training camp for the United States Colored Troops. This is a site of the National Park Service. In 2025 it counted 160K visits.
A national memorial inside Washington
Visits hit a record in 2024, then fell back
The National Park Service counted 174,954 visitors in 2024, a record. In 2025 the count fell 9% to 159,828. Visitors ↓
Best month: May
May is mild and quieter than average, with a high of 76°. When to go ↓
You can stay in Washington
Theodore Roosevelt Island is inside Washington, which has 247 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Baltimore
Baltimore is about 37 miles northeast (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
An airport 3 miles away
Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) has airline service, about 3 miles from Theodore Roosevelt Island.
Written from National Park Service visitor counts, NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia. Updated when the Park Service posts a new month.
How the year runs
Each month at Theodore Roosevelt Island has its visitors and its weather below.
Theodore Roosevelt Island
Theodore Roosevelt Island is an 88.5-acre (358,000 m2) island and national memorial located in the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. During the Civil War, it was used as a training camp for the United States Colored Troops. The island was given to the federal government by the Theodore Roosevelt Association in memory of the 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt. Until then, the island had been known as My Lord's Island, Barbadoes Island, Mason's Island, Analostan Island, and Anacostine Island.
The island is maintained by the National Park Service, as part of the nearby George Washington Memorial Parkway. The land is generally maintained as a natural park, with various trails and a memorial plaza featuring a statue of Roosevelt. No cars or bicycles are permitted on the island, which is reached by a footbridge from Arlington, Virginia, on the western bank of the Potomac.
- Type
- National Memorial
- Established
- 1932
- Area
- 89 acres
- Run by
- National Park Service
- Listed
- National Register of Historic Places (1966)
- Wikipedia readers
- 16K a year
- Official site
- nps.gov/this
The essentials
Where to base yourself for Theodore Roosevelt Island
To stay close, try Washington (247) and Arlington (58).
- 1White House
- 2Washington Monument
- 3United States Triumphal Arch
- 4Arlington National Cemetery
- 5Smithsonian Institution
- 6Lincoln Memorial
- 7Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
- 8Ford's Theatre
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Theodore Roosevelt Island | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | in town | — | 247 201 hotels · 2 motels · 24 inns & B&Bs · 6 lodges & cabins · 12 hostels · 2 campgrounds | 693,645 | $737K | D− |
| Arlington | 2 mi southwest | 5 min | 58 54 hotels · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins | 236,254 | $895K | — |
| Alexandria | 6 mi south | 10 min | 44 41 hotels · 2 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins | 160,662 | $735K | C |
| Bethesda | 7 mi northwest | 10 min | 26 23 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins | 69,397 | $1,170K | — |
| Tysons | 9 mi west | 15 min | 25 25 hotels | 28,936 | $640K | — |
| College Park | 10 mi northeast | 15 min | 17 16 hotels · 1 motel | 35,418 | $438K | — |
| North Bethesda | 10 mi north | 15 min | 13 13 hotels | 49,677 | $732K | — |
| Springfield | 10 mi southwest | 15 min | 13 13 hotels | 31,154 | $640K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Next door to Theodore Roosevelt Island
The best known nearby are within 3 miles.
Big draw1in town National park siteWhite House311K visitors a year
Big draw22 mi National MemorialWashington Monument204K visitors a year
Big draw3in town LandmarkUnited States Triumphal Arch
Big draw4in town LandmarkArlington National Cemetery
Big draw52 mi MuseumSmithsonian Institution30.0M visitors a year
Big draw6in town National MemorialLincoln Memorial7.7M visitors a year
Big draw72 mi LandmarkTomb of the Unknown Soldier
Big draw82 mi National Historic SiteFord's Theatre National Historic Site394K visitors a yearPhoto credits
White House: This image or media was taken or created by Matt H. Wade. To see his entire port, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Washington Monument: Oren Rozen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · United States Triumphal Arch: Hstoops, CC0 · Arlington National Cemetery: Protoant, Public domain · Smithsonian Institution: Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer, Public domain · Lincoln Memorial: Aerial_view_of_Lincoln_Memorial_-_east_side.jpg: Carol M. Highsmith derivative w, Public domain · Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: Arlington National Cemetery, Public domain · Ford's Theatre National Historic Site: Ingfbruno, CC BY-SA 3.0
A year of 159,828 visitors (2025)
Visits each year from 2016 to 2025.
Quick answers on Theodore Roosevelt Island
Is Theodore Roosevelt Island in Washington?
Yes. It’s inside Washington, DC. The address is George Washington Memorial Parkway, Arlington, VA 22209.
When is the best time to visit Theodore Roosevelt Island?
May, with a high of 76°. October is the busiest month (about 18,967 visitors).
How many people visit Theodore Roosevelt Island each year?
159,828 in 2025, according to the National Park Service. The record is 174,954, set in 2024.
How far is Theodore Roosevelt Island from Baltimore?
About 37 miles northeast of Baltimore, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Theodore Roosevelt Island?
Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), about 3 miles away.
Where should I stay near Theodore Roosevelt Island?
Washington (in town, 247 places to stay), Arlington (2 mi, 58 places to stay) and Alexandria (6 mi, 44 places to stay).
Tips from people in Washington
Questions and tips go in Washington’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · National Park Service visitor use statistics · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.