Picnic area at Great Falls Park in Virginia

Great Falls Park is heavily visited due to its scenic views of the waterfalls and its wide variety of outdoor activities. Of course active people get hungry, so the park accommodates them with one of the largest picnic areas of any National Park I have visited. Picnic tables and grills stretch for a tenth of a mile all the way from the Visitor Center down to the third Great Falls overlook. All tables are taken on a first come, first served basis. Great Falls Park is a trash free park, meaning that there are no trash cans. You must pack up your trash and take it with you, so be sure to bring bags.

Picnic area at Great Falls Park in Virginia

While trees may cast shade on some tables, many are out in the open sun. Furthermore, there are no covered shelters or pavilions.

Picnic area at Great Falls Park in Virginia

The area of tables near the Visitor Center is the Grand Central Station of picnic areas. If you want to get away from the crowd, walk all the way down to the Great Falls Overlook 3. There is a separate picnic area with a half dozen tables and a grill that is definitely not as popular.

Groups of tables by the Great Falls Overlook 3 at Great Falls Park in Virginia

Vehicles cannot be driven to the picnic tables, but there is an unloading zone. However, it’s still a long walk to the tables at the far end of the picnic area, and after parking your car you may have up to a half-mile walk back to your table.

Great Falls Park has a concession stand located in the courtyard between the two buildings of  the Visitor Center. For a schedule of when it is open, see the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the park.

Concession stand in the courtyard between the two buildings of the Visitor Center at Great Falls Park in Virginia

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