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Fort Washington Park: fees, hours, camping and when to visit

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on National Park Service data. Published by Humblebee.

Entrance fee
None[1]
Busiest month (2025)
July[2]
Recreation visits, 2025
502,171[3]
Campgrounds
1[4]

Fort Washington Park is a unit of the National Park System in Maryland[5]. NPS lists it as a fee-free park, so there is no entrance fee[1].

Entrance fees and passes

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for Fort Washington Park[1]. Some tours, campgrounds or permits inside a park can still have their own fees.

When to visit and hours

NPS lists the park grounds as open daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM[6]. The Historic Fort is listed as open Wednesday through Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM[7]. Vehicle access through the gated areas is listed from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM[8]. The gates are closed on three holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's[8]. In 2025 the busiest month was July and the quietest was October[2]. NPS describes summers as hot and humid, with scattered afternoon thunderstorms, and winters as cold with occasional snowfall[9]. Spring and fall weather is generally moderate but can change quickly[9].

January 2025: 22,237 recreation visitsJanFebruary 2025: 17,202 recreation visitsFebMarch 2025: 44,373 recreation visitsMarApril 2025: 65,831 recreation visitsAprMay 2025: 64,396 recreation visitsMayJune 2025: 61,213 recreation visitsJunJuly 2025: 66,145 recreation visits66,145JulAugust 2025: 63,355 recreation visitsAugSeptember 2025: 49,441 recreation visitsSepOctober 2025: 8,918 recreation visitsOctNovember 2025: 18,381 recreation visitsNovDecember 2025: 20,679 recreation visitsDec
Recreation visits counted by the National Park Service in each month of 2025. The busiest month, July, is highlighted[2].
Show visits by month
Month, 2025Recreation visits
January22,237
February17,202
March44,373
April65,831
May64,396
June61,213
July66,145
August63,355
September49,441
October8,918
November18,381
December20,679
Show visits by year
Year Recreation visits
2021[3] 636,276
2022[3] 406,917
2023[3] 448,220
2024[3] 491,013
2025[3] 502,171

Camping

NPS and Recreation.gov list one campground here, called Fort Washington Park Day Use Facilities, with 8 sites[4]. Check the listing before you plan an overnight stay.

Pets and dogs

Under the national NPS pet rule, pets must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times where they are allowed[10]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings or on designated swimming beaches, and service animals are excepted[10]. NPS lists pets as permitted on 4 of the 5 things to do here, including birding and the artillery demonstration[11].

Before you go

Questions people ask

Is there an entrance fee at Fort Washington Park?
NPS lists Fort Washington Park as a fee-free park, so there is no entrance fee[1].
What are the hours at Fort Washington Park?
NPS lists the park as open daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM[6]. The Historic Fort is listed as open Wednesday through Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM[7].
What is the busiest month at Fort Washington Park?
In 2025 the busiest month was July, and the quietest was October[2].
Are dogs allowed at Fort Washington Park?
Where pets are allowed, NPS rules require a leash no longer than six feet[10]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings[10].
Can you camp at Fort Washington Park?
NPS and Recreation.gov list one campground, Fort Washington Park Day Use Facilities, with 8 sites[4].

Facts and sources

  1. NPS lists Fort Washington Park as a fee-free park: there is no entrance fee. National Park Service
  2. NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
  3. NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 636,276, 2022: 406,917, 2023: 448,220, 2024: 491,013, 2025: 502,171. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
  4. Campgrounds in Fort Washington Park (list on this page). National Park Service
  5. Fort Washington Park is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: Park) in Maryland. National Park Service
  6. Operating hours, Fort Washington Park: Open daily, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. National Park Service
  7. Operating hours, Fort Washington Historic Fort: Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Listed exceptions: Thanksgiving Day 2026-11-26 to 2026-11-26; Christmas Day 2026-12-25 to 2026-12-25; New Year's Day 2027-01-01 to 2027-01-01. National Park Service
  8. Operating hours, Fort Washington Park Gated Areas: Open daily for pedestrian access from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and for vehicle access through gated areas from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; gates are closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s... National Park Service
  9. NPS weather and seasons overview for Fort Washington Park. National Park Service
  10. National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15
  11. NPS lists 5 things to do at Fort Washington Park: Junior Ranger Programs at National Capital Parks - East, Collect all the National Capital Parks - East Passport Stamps, Watch an Artillery Demonstration at Fort Washington Park, Birding at Fort Washington... National Park Service
  12. Visitor centers listed by NPS: 1 (Fort Washington Park Visitor Center). National Park Service

Fees and hours are what NPS lists in its data at the snapshot date. They change: tell readers to confirm on the official park page before a trip. Visits are NPS recreation visits (counted entries, not unique people). Use them only for this park's own months and years, never to rank parks. Campground list and site counts come from NPS and Recreation.gov records. Count fields can differ slightly between the two. The pet rule is the national baseline (36 CFR 2.15). The park may close more areas to pets. Do not claim specific trails allow dogs unless a fact says so.