George Washington Memorial Parkway
Park Regulations & Safety
Permits
NO TRUCKS ARE ALLOWED ON THE GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL PARKWAY, CLARA BARTON PARKWAY OR THE SPOUT RUN PARKWAY!
Commercial vehicles require a permit.
Vehicles used for activities by a school or non-profit institution do not require a permit.
Permits are required for certain activities within the park. There is a $50.00 fee for permit applications. Scroll down for more information. These include:
- Commercial vehicles
- Weddings
- Any activity in which participants are paying to participate, such as tours or classes
- Religious services and ceremonies
- Funeral and memorial ceremonies
- Competitions, such as orienteering or trail races
- Filming in the park
Details
Commercial Vehicles
A National Park Service Commercial Vehicle Permit must be obtained prior to the use of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, the Clara Barton Parkway, Spout Run Parkway, Crest Lane, East Boulevard or West Boulevard by any type of commercial vehicle.
If routes other than the George Washington Memorial Parkway or the Clara Barton Parkway are available to reach your destination, then a permit will not be issued for use of the Parkway by a commercial vehicle.
You must be aware that there are low bridge clearances which range from 10'2" to 18'5" in height.
Commercial Vehicle Definitions
Title 36: Parks, Forests, and Public Property
PART 5âCOMMERCIAL AND PRIVATE OPERATIONS
§ 5.6 Commercial vehicles.
(a) The term âCommercial vehicleâ as used in this section shall include, but not be limited to trucks, station wagons, pickups, passenger cars or other vehicles when used in transporting movable property for a fee or profit, either as a direct charge to another person, or otherwise, or used as an incident to providing services to another person, or used in connection with any business.
(b) The use of government roads within park areas by commercial vehicles, when such use is in no way connected with the operation of the park area, is prohibited, except that in emergencies the Superintendent may grant permission to use park roads.
(c) The Superintendent shall issue permits for commercial vehicles used on park area roads when such use is necessary for access to private lands situated within or adjacent to the park area, to which access is otherwise not available.
Commercial Vehicle Permit Application and Temporary Construction Permit Application
Contact Person
Please contact the Park Ranger for Permits at (703) 289-2516 with any questions or inquiries. Applications can be faxed to (703) 289-2598
TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION PERMITS
Fees
Presently their are no application fees for this permit.
Details
If you are conducting construction work under a Nartional Park Service contract or agreement, you are not required to have an additional permit.
If you are conducting construction activities on non-NPS property but need to access from the National Park Service property you will need a Temporary Construction Permit. For example, bridge repairs on a bridge over the George Washington Memorial Parkway and the ower needs to work under the bridge where equipment is on Parkway property.
Other activities needing a permit would be survey work or variable message boards on Parkway property.
Contact Person
Please contact the Park Ranger for Permits at (703) 289-2516 with any questions or inquiries. Applications can be faxed to (703) 289-2598.
Details
Rates vary according to site and day of week.
Contact Number
To reserve your picnic area call: 1-800-365-2267. The hours of operation for the reservation center are: DAILY - 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
SPECIAL USE PERMITS
Special Use Permit Application
GROUP KAYAK OR CANOE TOURS
Organized groups (of 3 or more people) who plan to lead kayak or canoe tours in Dyke Marsh need to contact the Permits staff to determine if a permit is required. There are times when groups may not be allowed to enter the marsh due to resource concerns (bird nesting, etc.).
WEDDINGS OR USE OF ATHLETIC FIELDS
Fees
There is a one time $50.00 non-refundable application fee.
Details
A permit is required to use athletic fields or to hold a wedding within the park properties.
Contact Person
Please call the Park Ranger at 703-289-2513 to discuss the details of your application.
FILMING, DEMONSTRATIONS & SPECIAL EVENTS
Fees
There are no fees for Demonstration Permits.
Details
Demonstrations may be held only pursuant to a permit issued. Please contact the NPS at the contact number listed below for additional information.
Demonstrations involving 25 persons or fewer may be held without a permit provided that the other conditions required for the issuance of a permit are met and provided further that the group is not merely an extension of another group already availing itself of the 25-person maximum under this provision or will not unreasonably interfere with other demonstrations or special events. Please contact the NPS contact at the number listed below for additional information.
Contact Person
Contact the National Park Service at 202-619-7225 for an application or for any information on specific requirements.
Details
Filming and Photography may be held only pursuant to a permit issued by the NPS. Please contact the NPS at the contact number listed below for addtional information.
Fees
Filming: 3-10 people $150.00
11-30 $250.00
31-49 $500.00
over 50 $750.00
Photo: 0-10 $50.00
11-30 $150.00
over 30 $250.00
Plus a $50.00 non-refundable application fee
Contact Person
Contact the National Park Service at 202-619-7225 for an application or for addtional information on specific requirements for permits.
George Washington Parkway In Depth
News from the Parks
National Parks Escape, This Time Around
January 8, 2009 - 5:17pm
Unlike the last two years, popular recreation areas in Western Washington have escaped serious damage from this week’s heavy rain. Mount Rainier National Park and Gifford Pinchot National Forest were devastated by flooding in 2007. Last year, flooding hit Olympic National Park.
January 8, 2009 - 5:17pm
Unlike the last two years, popular recreation areas in Western Washington have escaped serious damage from this week’s heavy rain. Mount Rainier National Park and Gifford Pinchot National Forest were devastated by flooding in 2007. Last year, flooding hit Olympic National Park.
Dorgan with Game and Fish
January 8, 2009 - 5:06pm
Sen. Byron Dorgan, (D-N.D.) said he agrees with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department on the elk situation at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Since the unveiling of the National Park Service’s Draft Elk Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement on Dec. 17, Game and Fish officials have voiced their displeasure that the document did not include their “Alternative G,” as a viable option.
January 8, 2009 - 5:06pm
Sen. Byron Dorgan, (D-N.D.) said he agrees with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department on the elk situation at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Since the unveiling of the National Park Service’s Draft Elk Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement on Dec. 17, Game and Fish officials have voiced their displeasure that the document did not include their “Alternative G,” as a viable option.
Coming to the Inauguration? Read This First, Then Think Again
January 8, 2009 - 5:05pm
All roads will lead to Washington on Inauguration Day, but many of them will be closed. With packed trains, buses and planes, how will as many as 2 million people who are hoping to witness history crowd into a city whose subway system usually accommodates 718,000 a day?
January 8, 2009 - 5:05pm
All roads will lead to Washington on Inauguration Day, but many of them will be closed. With packed trains, buses and planes, how will as many as 2 million people who are hoping to witness history crowd into a city whose subway system usually accommodates 718,000 a day?
Scientists Ready to Analyze Yellowstone Park Quake Data
January 8, 2009 - 5:01pm
Between Dec. 27 and Jan. 2, more than 500 small earthquakes shook Yellowstone National Park. The swarm of quakes was centered below Yellowstone Lake, beginning southeast of Stevenson Island and migrating north toward Fishing Bridge before quieting.
January 8, 2009 - 5:01pm
Between Dec. 27 and Jan. 2, more than 500 small earthquakes shook Yellowstone National Park. The swarm of quakes was centered below Yellowstone Lake, beginning southeast of Stevenson Island and migrating north toward Fishing Bridge before quieting.
Haleakala National Park Gets New Superintendent
January 8, 2009 - 5:00pm
Sarah Creachbaum, a 15-year veteran of the National Park Service, has been named superintendent of Haleakala National Park.
January 8, 2009 - 5:00pm
Sarah Creachbaum, a 15-year veteran of the National Park Service, has been named superintendent of Haleakala National Park.
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