"Fall colors near the new perimeter trail bridge" by U.S. National Park Service , public domain
Greenbelt
Park - Maryland
Greenbelt Park, located in Greenbelt, Maryland, is managed by the United States National Park Service. The forested park lies approximately 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Washington, D.C., and is situated just within the Capital Beltway (which bounds the park to the northeast). The park land was originally intended to form part of the green belt surrounding the city of Greenbelt. The southern portion was assigned to the National Park Service, thus forming the park, while another section became part of the Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC).
Official Visitor Map of Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (NHP) in Washington D.C., Maryland and West Virginia. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
Official Brochure of Greenbelt Park in Maryland. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
https://www.nps.gov/gree/index.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenbelt_Park
Greenbelt Park, located in Greenbelt, Maryland, is managed by the United States National Park Service. The forested park lies approximately 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Washington, D.C., and is situated just within the Capital Beltway (which bounds the park to the northeast). The park land was originally intended to form part of the green belt surrounding the city of Greenbelt. The southern portion was assigned to the National Park Service, thus forming the park, while another section became part of the Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC).
Enjoy affordable camping, hiking, and peaceful forest surroundings just ten miles from Washington, DC!
Off I-95 South Take Exit 23 Route 201 Kenilworth Avenue South(toward Bladensburg). (this will be a left). Drive on Kenilworth Avenue (Route 201). Once crossing over I-95, you will see sign for Route 193 Greenbelt Road. Veer right to Take Route 193 East. Take a left on Greenbelt Road . (Greenbelt Road is Route 193 and is an overpass over Route 201) The park entrance is a quarter mile on the right hand side.
Greenbelt Park Ranger Station
The Ranger Station is located near the campground entrance, two miles from the park headquarters and park entrance.
Campground and Ranger Station is two miles from the park entrance. Upon arrival at park entrance off Greenbelt Road (Route 193) Proceed to stop sign. Take a right at stop sign and proceed two miles to Ranger Station near the campground
Greenbelt Park Campground
The park features a 172 site campground and is open year round. The campground is known for its affordability, safety, peaceful surroundings, and National Park Service hospitality. Campers must pay for sites via the online reservation system.
Camp site
20.00
Three tents and up to six people per campsite. Campground consists of tent and RV Sites
Tent in the Greenbelt campground
tent in the campground
Camp within Thirteen miles of the Nation's Capital
Greenbelt Park Campground New grill
new grill in the campground
Enjoy a campfire in the new grill under the stars at Greenbelt
Greenbelt Park Maryland campground map
Overhead view of campground with numbered camp sites and locations of buildings
Enjoy a campfire in the new grill under the stars at Greenbelt
RV in the Greenbelt Park, Maryland campground
RV in the campground
Camp in the Urban Oasis of the Greenbelt Park campground
Tent in the Greenbelt Park, Maryland campground
tent in the campground
Camp within 13 miles of Washington, D.C.
Tent in the Greenbelt Park campground
Tent in the Greenbelt Park campground
Camp within 13 miles of the Nation's Capital
New grill in the Greenbelt Park Maryland campground
a round back grill with grill on top on a campsite in the Greenbelt Park campground
Enjoy a campfire in the new grill under the stars at Greenbelt
Trees in Greenbelt Park, Maryland
trees in Greenbelt Park
Enjoy the beautiful forest in the Urban Oasis of Greenbelt Park,Maryland
Father and son relaxing in the Greenbelt Park campground
Father and son sitting in chairs reading in the Greenbelt Park campground
A family weekend getaway at the Greenbelt Park campground
Fall Colors in the Sweetgum Picnic Area, Greenbelt Park, Maryland
Fall Colors in the Sweetgum Picnic Area, Greenbelt Park, Maryland
Fall Colors in the Sweetgum Picnic Area, Greenbelt Park, Maryland
Perimeter Trail bridge in Greenbelt Park
bridge in Greenbelt Park
Enjoy the beautiful trails of Greenbelt Park
Spring and Fall Campfire Programs at Sunset
campfire in the forefront and people watching a campfire program in the background
Enjoy a free campfire program under the stars at the Greenbelt Park campground
Pawpaw: Small Tree, Big Impact
Pawpaw are small trees that don't grow past 100 feet. Yet they have a big influence-- they're the most commonly observed sapling in our National Capital Region forests. Pawpaw trees are virtually immune to deer browse and also produce the largest edible fruit native to North America!
A hand holds a lumpy green pawpaw fruit
NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Greenbelt Park, Maryland
Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports.
tent in campsite
Forest Regeneration 2018
In 2018, tree seedlings and small saplings are in short supply in the parks of the National Capital Region. Without these trees of tomorrow, what will our forests look like?
A forest plot in Rock Creek Park showing some vegetation recovery.
American Eels in the Potomac Watershed
American eels are found everywhere along the Atlantic Coast, but many aspects of these fish remain poorly understood. They are perhaps one of the most mysterious fish in the Potomac watershed.
Hands hold a 2 to 3 foot long eel over a red container.
Forest Regeneration 2017
Tree seedlings and small saplings are in short supply in the parks of the National Capital Region. Without these trees of tomorrow, what will our forests look like?
A forest plot showing tree seedling and low-growing plant recovery.
Veteran Story: Matthew Carroll
After a career in the U.S. Air Force, Matthew Carroll joined the National Park Service as the superintendent of Greenbelt Park and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.
Matthew Carroll
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding Lyme disease prevention among employees, day visitors, and campers at Greenbelt Park
A 2010 survey reveals that while perceived risk of Lyme disease and tick encounters was high in the park, use of preventive measures was low.
Black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis
Stream Restoration Dreams: Stage Zero
Learn “stage zero” stream restoration basics and how they could be applied in Mid-Atlantic streams.
Water spreads across the ground around standing and fallen trees
Ash Tree Update 2017
The state of ash trees in 2017 in the National Capital Region after more than 10 years of harm from the invasive emerald ash borer.
A white ash leaf
Forest Regeneration 2019
In 2019 tree seedlings and small saplings are in short supply in National Capital Area parks. Without these trees of tomorrow, what will our forests look like?
A brown bird with a white breast and dark spots on its chest stands on the leaf-littered ground.
Oak Decline
Learn more about oak decline where a host of stressors interact to weaken trees over time, leading to what becomes "death by a thousand cuts."
Looking up into the canopy of a mature oak showing symptoms of oak decline.
Spring Amphibian Timeline
Learn how the progression of amphibian appearances unfurls every spring.
A gray tree frog clings to a small tree branch.
Amphibian Diversity & Habitat Connectivity
Habitat fragmentation is a major threat to amphibian communities, especially in National Capital Region parks at risk due to the region's growing urbanization.
A small frog crouches on a lichen-covered rock.
Memorials for the Future
Memorials for the Future, is a competition that aims to rethink the way we develop and experience memorials in Washington, D.C.
Memorials for the Future Logo
National Park Getaway: Greenbelt Park
Welcome to an urban oasis. Although most visitors find it hard to believe, Greenbelt Park is just 12 miles from Washington, D.C. The peace and quiet that you'll find here evoke images of a dense forest or mountain resort. That's what you’ll experience when you visit Greenbelt Park—un-trampled nature in a region where most wild spaces have disappeared.
a road in a forest
Forest Soils
Highlights from a 2007-2017 study of soils in National Capital Region Network I&M-monitored parks. Includes discussion of parent materials, heavy metal soil pollutants like lead, and how past land use effects O horizons.
Collage of 6 color photos of soil profiles showing colors from orange-y reds to browns and grays.
Stiltgrass and Tree Seedling Recovery
Recent analysis at Maryland's Catoctin Mountain Park shows Japanese stiltgrass does not limit the growth of tree seedlings in a forest recovering from deer overpopulation.
Invasive Japanese stiltgrass blankets the sides of a shady forest road.
Spotted Lanternfly 101
What you need to know about spotted lanternfly: a new, invasive, insect pest approaching the National Parks of the Mid-Atlantic.
A spotted lanternfly with wings spread showing namesake spots
Spotted Lanternfly in Perspective
While spotted lanternfly and emerald ash borer are both invasive insect pests, introduced from Asia, that feed on trees (primarily), they have few other similarities. Learn how they differ in host preferences, feeding mode, and life cycle.
A spotted lanternfly with black wingspots on a tree branch
Brood X Periodical Cicadas FAQ
Learn about the Brood X periodical cicadas that emerged in 2021 throughout the Mid-Atlantic U.S.
A perched periodical cicada with red eyes and orange wings
Forest Regeneration 2020
What is the future of our forests? A look at forest regeneration capacity in National Capital Area national parks based on 2020 monitoring data.
hand holding a leaflet on a white ash seedling
National Capital PRISM and Invasive Species
Since invasive species don’t recognize park boundaries, we need to work together with our partners, neighbors, and other federal and state entities to manage across borders. We can’t do it alone!
a hand holds a rosette of green leaves over the water
Sea Level Rise in the DC Area
Learn about current and projected rates of sea level rise in the greater DC area, based on local water level data collected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
A tall white cylinder attached to a wooden pier with Hains Point in the background.
Beech Trees in the National Capital Area
American beech (Fagus grandifolia), the most common tree species in National Capital Area parks, is currently facing the emerging threat of Beech Leaf Disease (BLD).
A forest with healthy green leafed beech trees
Forest Regeneration 2021
The latest look at forest regeneration capacity in National Capital Area national parks based on monitoring data from 2021.
Green forest showing healthy understory of oak seedlings.
Vines on Trees at Forest Edges
Learn how climbing vines affect tree growth and mortality in National Capital Region park forests. This material was originally presented in a 2016 resource brief.
Vines climb on trees at the forest edge at Rock Creek's Barnard Hill Park.
Forest Regeneration 2022
Tree seedlings and small saplings are still in short supply in National Capital Region national parks. A look at forest regeneration capacity based on monitoring data from 2022.
Sunlight filtering through a green forest with green seedlings covering most of the forest floor.
The Struggle for Sovereignty: Series Overview
Since the founding of the United States, Native American leaders, delegates, and activists have traveled to the nation’s capital to protest violations of their homelands and to assert their sovereign rights as independent nations. These articles focus on a series of major protests from 1968-1978, in which Native peoples from across the United States converged on Washington, D.C. to bring their issues to the nation’s capital.
Tipi and flag that reads
Series: The Struggle for Sovereignty: American Indian Activism in the Nation’s Capital, 1968-1978
From 1968 to 1978, American Indian activists engaged in a series of marches to the nation's capital to demand rights for their tribes and communities. Foremost among their demands was that the United States honor its treaties with Indigenous nations. These movements laid the foundation for the ongoing struggle for Native rights in the United States. Read on to learn more about this important chapter in Native American history.
Group of people marching in front of statue
NCR's Forest Interior Birds
Explore how forest interior breeding birds are faring in National Capital Region (NCR) parks. These species prefer the shadiest and quietest core of the forest landscape and are excellent indicators of a healthy forest ecosystem. We look at data on wood thrush, ovenbird, Kentucky warbler, Louisiana waterthrush, hooded warbler, and scarlet tanager from a report summarizing population trends for forest birds in NCR parks.
a woodthrush perched on a branch with blurred green foliage background
Seep Shrimp
Learn about the tiny creatures that live in our forest's seeps.
three researchers in high-vis yellow gear search for shrimp in a snowy forest
Forest Regeneration 2023
Tree seedlings and small saplings are slowly increasing in National Capital Region national parks. A look at forest regeneration capacity based on monitoring data from 2023.
Three people stand in a forest, smiling and pointing to a large tree trunk between them.
Incised Fumewort (Corydalis incisa)
Incised fumewort (Corydalis incisa) is a "high risk" invasive plant in the mid-Atlantic US with the potential to become widespread and cause a lot of damage. Learn how to identify it, differentiate it from the native yellow corydalis (Corydalis flavula), and help be on the lookout for this invasive species.
A cluster of incised fumewort with green leaves and bright purple tubular flowers with violet ends.
When Forests Come Down with a Bug: Forest Pests in the Greater DC Area
Beech leaf disease, emerald ash borer, spotted lanternfly, spongy moth, oak decline and oak wilt are all pests present in National Capital Region (NCR) park forests. Learn about their effects and spread based on NCR Inventory & Monitoring data, and get the heads up on elm zigzag sawfly and beech bark disease.
A black and red insect sits on a leaf.
Series: Amphibian Monitoring in the National Capital Region
Amphibians are a crucial part of both aquatic and land ecosystems, and National Capital Region parks are home to at least 20 different amphibian species. Learn how amphibian populations are changing based on more than fifteen years of NPS monitoring by the National Capital Region Inventory & Monitoring Network.
Northern red salamander on a patch of sun dappled moss
NCP East Amphibian Monitoring 2023
National Capital Parks - East is hopping! Learn what recent amphibian monitoring data shows us about amphibian populations in the park!
American toad (Bufo americanus)
Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park Service
To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation.
A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera.
Native Grapes
Seven species of grapes are native to the National Capital Region. Learn how to tell them apart, where they grow, and how they benefit birds, bugs, and beasts alike.
Multiple clusters of grapes hang off of a leafy vine.
Forest Regeneration 2024
Forest regeneration in the National Capital Region continues to slowly improve, especially in parks that manage their deer populations. A look at forest regeneration capacity based on monitoring data from 2024.
Forest with tall trees in the background and green saplings in the foreground
What's Bugging our Forests 2024: Effects of Pests and Pathogens in NCR
Emerald ash borer, beech leaf disease, spotted lanternfly, and several other pests are active in National Capital Region (NCR) parks. Learn what forest vegetation monitoring data through 2024 shows about the condition of tree species like beech and ash and how parks are protecting their forests.
Overhead view of green leaves with dark streaks between their veins
Over 100 Corps Members and Staff Participate in The Corps Network's Great Outdoors Day of Service
On June 27, more than 130 corps members and staff participated in The Corps Network’s 10th annual Great Outdoors Day of Service at Greenbelt Park located in Maryland. This event celebrated Great Outdoors Month, which takes place each June.
Group photo of participants from an outdoor service event
Greenbelt
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Greenbelt Park
Maryland
Seeing a bird’s nest, playing on wide open fields, examining wildflowers, and camping are just a few of the things you can enjoy in Greenbelt Park.
ALL PHOTOS: NPS
An Urban Oasis
Greenbelt Park is a retreat from the stress
of city life and a refuge for native plants
and animals. Just 12 miles from downtown
Washington and 23 miles from Baltimore,
its 1,100 acres contain facilities for camping, hiking, biking, picnicking, and other
outdoor recreation.
forests testify to the land’s ability to
rebound. In a few years—unless outside
forces interfere with the process—the
pines will have disappeared, and hardwood forests will again cover the area.
In the 1930s Greenbelt, Md., became the
first planned community in the United
Hundreds of years ago trees and flowers
States built as a federal venture in houscovered these rolling hills, and wildlife
ing. From the beginning it was designed
roamed the woodlands. Algonquin Indians as a complete city, with businesses, schools,
and other tribes hunted, fished, and gath- and facilities for recreation. In 1950 the
ered plants throughout the area.
National Park Service established Greenbelt Park and acquired land for the estabThen the colonists arrived. Trees fell before lishment of the Baltimore-Washington
the broadax. Forests gave way to farmland. Parkway. The parkway, which opened in
Wildlife retreated with the frontier. For the 1954, was created to provide an uninternext 150 years people cleared the land,
rupted, scenic route for passenger vehicles
plowed the fields, and planted tobacco,
between the two cities.
corn, and other crops. The fertile soil
returned high yields, but the people did
Deer, squirrels, and red foxes make their
not give back as much as they took from home at Greenbelt Park, as do blue jays,
the soil. The land wore out, producing less cardinals, and other birds. In spring diseach season. Farming ceased. Erosion
plays of flowering dogwood, laurel, and
scarred the land until finally nature slowed azalea catch the eye. In summer visitors
the process and new growth began.
strolling along the park’s trails are surrounded by wildflowers or ferns lining
The soil began to recover in the early
deep-cut streams. The colors of changing
1900s. Today mixed pine and deciduous
leaves in autumn are as vivid as can be
found anywhere in the region. In winter a
new world opens up. Crisp days and sunlight filtering through bare tree branches
provide an invigorating atmosphere for
observing nature.
The park offers activities for the naturalist
and casual visitor, and it has a conveniently located campground for visitors to the
Nation’s Capital. Greenbelt Park is an oasis
where you can relax in an exceptional
outdoor setting.
Watch for white-tailed deer throughout the park.
Enjoying Your Visit
Picnicking There are three picnic areas: Sweetgum,
Holly, and Laurel. Holly and Laurel may be reserved.
Sweetgum is available first-come, first-served. Each
area has restrooms, water, picnic tables, and grills
(only charcoal fires are permitted).
Camping Open year-round, the 174-site campground accommodates tents, recreational vehicles,
and trailers up to 36 feet long. Restrooms, showers,
picnic tables, water, and grills are provided. There
are no utility connections, but a disposal station is
available. Camping is limited to 14 days per year.
Fees are charged. Campsites are first-come, firstserved. Reservations are available Memorial Day
through Labor Day. For reservations call 800-3652267, or visit http://reservations.nps.gov.
Lodging, Services, and Transportation Greenbelt
Park is in a metropolitan area and close to motels,
restaurants, grocery stores, service stations, and
shopping centers. Buses and the Metrorail at
Greenbelt, College Park/University of Maryland,
and New Carrollton provide service to and from
Washington, D.C. Schedules and fares vary with
the time of day; rush hours have more frequent
service and higher fares. For trip planning call
202-637-7000 or visit www.wmata.com.
Park Programs Guided walks, talks, and evening
programs are offered seasonally. Check bulletin
boards, ask at the ranger station, or visit our website for schedules.
Accessibility Restrooms and picnic areas are accessible for visitors with disabilities. For information
about services and facilities call 301-344-3948.
Preservation of the Park Stewardship—saving our
natural and cultural resources for future generations—is something everyone can enjoy. Please
help us safeguard this park by treating it with
respect.
• Do do not remove, deface, or destroy any plants,
animals, rocks, or natural or cultural features—all
are protected by federal law.
• Do not disturb, feed, or approach park wildlife.
• Pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet,
or otherwise confined.
• All vehicles, including bicycles, must stay on the
paved roads. Their use on any trail or off the pavement is strictly prohibited. Parkin