Facility Overview

DC Cherry Parking, situated along Buckeye Drive SW in East Potomac Park (commonly recognized as NPS Lot D), offers an expansive open-air surface parking destination on the picturesque peninsula between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel. The facility is directly adjacent to the East Potomac Tennis Center and serves as one of the most scenic and convenient parking areas for exploring the National Mall, Hains Point, and the Tidal Basin. Because this is an open-air surface lot with no overhead barriers or low ceilings, it provides unobstructed vertical clearance, making it suitable not only for standard sedans, compact crossovers, and family minivans, but also for full-size pickup trucks, large passenger SUVs, and high-roof conversion vans. Marked stalls and wide driving aisles allow easy maneuverability and straightforward parking.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

This parking area offers prime access to Washington, DC's premier outdoor destinations, waterfront districts, and iconic monuments:

• Tidal Basin & Cherry Blossom Festival: A scenic 15-to-20-minute stroll north leads directly to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, and the world-famous Yoshino cherry tree groves circling the Tidal Basin.
• East Potomac Tennis Center: Directly adjacent to the lot, featuring 24 indoor and outdoor tennis courts.
• East Potomac Golf Links: Located less than a 5-minute walk down Ohio Drive SW, home to 36 holes of golf, an 18-hole miniature golf course, and a lighted driving range.
• The Wharf DC: Visitors can access the vibrant Southwest Waterfront dining, entertainment, and shopping district either by walking across the Case Bridge/Maine Avenue or boarding the complimentary seasonal Wharf Jitney ferry operating between East Potomac Park and Recreation Pier.
• Hains Point & River Trails: Circling the perimeter of East Potomac Park, the 4.1-mile waterfront loop offers jogging, biking, rollerblading, and skyline views of the Potomac River and Reagan National Airport flight paths.
• National Mall Memorials: The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Washington Monument, and Smithsonian museums are located roughly 1 to 1.5 miles north.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Access to Buckeye Drive SW is straightforward via Ohio Drive SW, which connects directly to Interstate 395 (Southwest Freeway) and the 14th Street Bridge corridor, providing fast highway connections to Northern Virginia, downtown Washington, and Interstate 695. Buckeye Drive functions as the primary east-west connector across the East Potomac Park island, linking the Potomac River side with the Washington Channel side. Traffic within the park flows smoothly along dedicated vehicular lanes bordered by designated bicycle and pedestrian tracks. Public transit users can connect via Metrorail at the Smithsonian Station (Orange, Blue, and Silver lines) or L'Enfant Plaza Station (Orange, Blue, Silver, Yellow, and Green lines), each situated roughly 1 to 1.3 miles north. In addition, several Capital Bikeshare docking stations are positioned nearby along Ohio Drive and at the Jefferson Memorial.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Spacious, open-air surface parking with clear stall striping and generous turning radiuses.
• Unlimited overhead clearance accommodating tall vehicles, camper vans, and rooftop cargo carriers.
• Convenient mobile payments supported through ParkMobile (Zone 5814) alongside on-site multi-space credit card pay stations.
• Designated accessible (ADA) parking spaces situated close to the East Potomac Tennis Center pathways.
• Direct access to public recreation amenities including tennis courts, picnic areas, and riverfront multi-use trails.
• Park patrol surveillance managed under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service and United States Park Police.

Ideal For

• Spring travelers and photographers visiting during the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
• Recreational visitors, golfers, and tennis players using the East Potomac Park facilities.
• Tourists and sightseers visiting the Jefferson, FDR, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorials.
• Diners and shoppers heading to The Wharf via the free waterfront pedestrian jitney.
• Runners, cyclists, and fitness enthusiasts taking advantage of the flat Hains Point recreation loop.

Visitor & Driver Tips

During peak cherry blossom bloom in late March and early April, vehicle access to East Potomac Park experiences high demand, and parking spaces can fill rapidly by 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM on peak weekends. Drivers are encouraged to arrive early in the morning or later in the afternoon to secure a stall. Always confirm your zone number on the ParkMobile app (Zone 5814) upon parking to avoid parking enforcement citations issued by the District Department of Public Works. Metered parking is enforced daily from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM with a maximum stay of up to 6 hours in Lot D. If you plan to visit The Wharf, consider checking the seasonal schedule of the Wharf Jitney to enjoy a quick, scenic boat hop directly across the Washington Channel.