Picnic Area #1 at Rock Creek Park in Washington, D. C.
LOCATION
Picnic Area #1 at Rock Creek Park is located next to Peirce Mill near the corner of Shoemaker and Spring of Freedom streets. See the Picnic Areas web page for an interactive location map.
PARKING
This picnic area has its own parking lot with a capacity of approximately 30 vehicles. If your group is coming by bus, you must reserve either Picnic Area #1 or #24, as these are the only picnic areas that can accommodate buses.
AMENITIES
Picnic Area #1 is one of the two nicest picnic areas at Rock Creek Park. If I were holding an event, this or Picnic Area #24 would be my first choice. It is situated on a large, open field that borders Rock Creek. There are eight tables and a covered pavilion with restrooms built onto it. Grilling can be done at the fireplace inside the pavilion, or you can bring your own grill. Along with a field suitable for all sorts of games, picnickers can visit Peirce Mill, which is just across Tilden Street. A possible downside is that the tables may be spread out over a couple of football fields’ worth of real estate, so you might have to carry them back to a common area.
Picnic Area #1 can accommodate up to 75 guests. It is handicap accessible.
Covered pavilion at Rock Creek Park’s Picnic Area #1
Fireplace inside the pavilion at Rock Creek Park’s Picnic Area #1
NOTE: Table and grill count may vary due to theft, breakage, or the addition of new tables and grills. If you plan on hosting a group picnic, be sure to stop by and check out the facility in advance to make sure it will fit your needs. You are allowed to bring your own grill. Used charcoal must be disposed of in the trash cans, not dumped onto the ground.
Tables in the field at Rock Creek Park’s Picnic Area #1
RESERVATIONS
If you plan on hosting a group picnic at Rock Creek Park, Picnic Area #1 must be reserved in advance from May 1st through November 31st. Reservations can be made for a half day, from either 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM or from 3 PM to 7 PM, or for a full day by reserving both time slots. The current fee is $65 per time slot. Reservations can be made online up to one year in advance at www.recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777. Other picnic areas that can be reserved are #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #13, and #24.
All tables are taken on a first come, first served bases the rest of the year. For complete picnic area rules, see the National Park Service’s official Rules and Regulations web page for Rock Creek Park.
With a few exceptions, use of any photograph on the National Park Planner website requires a paid Royalty Free Editorial Use License or Commercial Use License. See the Photo Usage page for details.
Last updated on January 11, 2022
