Discover Arlington
36 carefully curated photography spots with GPS coordinates, shooting tips, and local insights
Arlington National Cemetery
Rows of white headstones, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, JFK’s Eternal Flame and rolling ceremonial lawns offer solemn, graphic compositions and human-interest moments. Visit early weekday mornings or golden hour for soft light and few visitors; afternoons give warm slant light on headstones. Park at the visitor center (bag/ID screening); follow posted rules, respect silence, and note drones are prohibited. Paths are mostly accessible; allow several hours to walk key sections and catch the 30–
US Marine Corps War Memorial
Massive bronze sculpture of six Marines raising the American flag — iconic shapes, strong silhouettes and reflective bronze detail. Best at sunrise or blue hour for dramatic sky/backlighting; late afternoon gives warm side light. Accessible plaza with limited on-site parking; nearest Metro Rosslyn. Respectful behavior expected — it's a solemn memorial and popular with tourists and veterans.
Lady Bird Johnson Park
Small riverside park on Columbia Island with sweeping Potomac views, framed shots of the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument across the river, a pedestrian bridge, trails and memorials. No entry fee; accessible paths and limited parking — many photographers park at Pentagon North and walk over. Best at sunrise/sunset for warm light and reflections, or on July 4th for fireworks (expect crowds and slow exit).
Scenic Overlook
Small roadside overlook on the George Washington Memorial Parkway with sweeping views of the Potomac River, Alexandria and the DC skyline. Best at golden hour and blue hour for warm light and city lights. Easy roadside parking (limited), wheelchair accessible; no entry fee. Weekday mornings or late evenings reduce crowds.
Long Bridge Park
Modern riverfront park with wide lawns, a pedestrian/upper-deck concrete path and a bridge offering direct views across the Potomac to D.C. and Reagan National Airport. Ideal for skyline, waterscape and airplane-spotting shots. Best at sunrise/sunset for golden light and silhouettes; weekday mornings are quieter. Ample parking at north end (paid on weekends/most weekdays), accessible paths and clean restrooms. No entry fee.
George Washington Memorial Parkway Second Overlook
Small pull‑off overlook on the George Washington Memorial Parkway with clear views across the Potomac toward the DC skyline, Roosevelt Island, and river bends. Ideal for sunrise/sunset color, cityscapes, and river reflections. Easy roadside access, no fees; limited parking — best on weekdays or early morning. Light is strongest at golden hour; nights offer long‑exposure skyline shots. Seasonal trees add foreground interest in fall and spring.
Potomac Overlook Regional Park
Small park with wooded trails, a native-plant demonstration garden, boardwalk overlooks and views toward the Potomac — good for river panoramas, seasonal wildflowers, and migratory songbirds. Free entry, small parking lot off Marcey Rd; park hours vary so check online. Best light at sunrise/sunset for river glow; spring and fall offer peak color and birds. Boardwalks and visitor-area are mostly accessible; trails can be narrow and uneven.
3 Aviation Circle (Upper Level)
Upper-level walkway at 3 Aviation Circle sits adjacent to Reagan National Airport with close-up views of taxiing and departing aircraft, Potomac River foreground and distant D.C. skyline. Best at golden hour and blue hour for warm light and skyline colors; nights offer lit terminals and aircraft lights. Easily reached via Reagan National Metro; short walk from parking garages and terminal concourses. Expect airport security rules (no access beyond secure areas without ticket), occasional glass/f
Courthouse Clock Arch
The Courthouse Clock Arch is a striking urban landmark framed by Clarendon’s civic buildings — ideal for architectural detail shots and context images showing scale against the street. Best at golden hour or blue hour for warm light on metal and backlit silhouettes. Easy curbside access, sidewalks and nearby street parking; no entry required. Weekday mornings are quieter. The site’s engineering details and community prominence make it a rewarding quick stop for city photographers.
Bon Air Park Rose Garden
Compact public rose garden in Bon Air Park offering seasonal color, formal beds, winding paths and benches — ideal for close-ups, floral studies and intimate landscape frames. Best at golden hour or overcast for even light. Small parking nearby on Lexington St; accessible paved paths and no entry fee. Weekday mornings have fewer visitors; expect peak blooms late spring–early summer.
Gulf Branch Nature Center & Park
Small urban woodland and stream park with shaded trails, boardwalk over Gulf Branch stream, seasonal wildflowers and migratory songbirds. Great for intimate nature, macro and stream long-exposure shots. Open year-round without entry fee; small parking lot off Military Rd (weekdays easier). Best light: early morning for birds and mist, golden hour for warm backlight; spring and fall offer peak color. Trails are mostly stroller-friendly; bring insect repellent in summer.
Mural by David de la Mano
A large monochrome mural by David de la Mano on a busy Arlington corner—striking silhouetted human figures and negative space that photograph well against changing skies. Easy curbside access with street parking and nearby shops; no entry fee. Visit golden hour or overcast afternoons to emphasize mood and texture; weekdays bring fewer cars and pedestrians. Respect private property and local residents when setting up tripods.
The Pike
The Pike is a large public-sculpture resembling an oversized windmill blade anchored in a small plaza off Columbia Pike. Its scale and simple geometry make it ideal for minimal, graphic compositions. Accessible at street level with nearby metered parking and transit; no entry fee. Best visited at golden hour or after sunset when side-light or uplighting emphasizes texture; weekdays avoid crowds. The plaque explains the artist’s intent, adding cultural context.
Arlington Historical Museum (Hume School)
Hume School (Arlington Historical Museum) — a compact 19th‑century red‑brick schoolhouse with textured masonry, historic bell, and quirky artifacts (roof spire with shotgun marks). Small interior exhibits and volunteer‑led tours; limited weekend hours (typically Sat–Sun 1–4pm) so call ahead. Street parking is limited; Virginia Highlands Park and a hidden stairway (west end of 16th St) provide alternate approaches and elevated viewpoints. Best light: late afternoon/ golden hour for warm brick ton
Lacey Woods Park
Small urban woodland with winding trails, creekside stretches and seasonal understory—great for intimate forest scenes, macro shots of fungi and spring wildflowers, and bird activity. Best visited at golden hour or early mornings for soft side-light through trees and low human traffic. Trails are mostly dirt; no entry fee. Limited street parking nearby and reachable by short bike/public-transit rides from Arlington neighborhoods. Especially attractive in spring and fall.
Donaldson lookout
Small hilltop overlook with sweeping views of the Potomac River and the DC skyline (Rosslyn, Key Bridge, monuments). Best at golden hour and blue hour for dramatic light and reflections. Easy walk from Roberts Ln with limited roadside parking; accessible terrain and no entry fee. Weekday mornings are quieter; watch for seasonal foliage framing and occasional joggers.
Rock Spring Park
Small, wooded neighborhood park with a spring-fed stream, rocky ravine and mature trees — good for intimate nature compositions, stream long exposures, seasonal color and close-up plant/wildlife shots. Open year-round with street or small lot parking on Little Falls Rd; quiet weekdays and early mornings are best. Trails are uneven; wear boots. No entry fee.
Bluemont Junction Park
Small, photogenic greenspace along the Bluemont Junction Trail featuring remnant rail beds, a shaded stream, meadow edges and views that blend natural textures with nearby Arlington urban elements. Best at golden hour and blue hour for soft side-light and reflections; spring wildflowers and autumn foliage add color. Easily accessible by trail or short street parking; flat, stroller- and wheelchair-friendly paths. No entry fee; weekdays and early mornings reduce jogger/cyclist traffic.
Windy Run Park
Small wooded park with a winding creek, footbridges, rocky stream beds and mature trees—great for intimate nature and waterscape shots, seasonal color and bird activity. Best at golden hour or after rain for dramatic water flow; spring and fall offer foliage interest. Trails are unpaved and uneven; street parking on N Kenmore St and nearby residential lots. No entry fee; expect quiet weekdays, busier weekends and dog walkers.
Fort Ethan Allen Park
Small Civil War fortification park with preserved earthworks, wooded trails and open mown areas — great for intimate landscape and historic-detail shots. Best at golden hour or in fall for warm light and foliage; weekday mornings are quiet. Small street parking; no entry fee. Trails are uneven — bring comfortable shoes. Interpretive signs add context for storytelling images.
Courthouse River Plaza Fountain
Compact urban plaza with meandering river-style fountain and rock-like seating — tranquil water flows create reflections and leading lines. Seasonal operation and centrally located by Arlington Courthouse; no entry fee. Best visited at golden hour or after rain for reflections. Street and garage parking nearby; wheelchair-accessible paths.
Dark Star Park
Compact urban park featuring large concrete spheres (
Upton Hill Regional Park
Small hilltop park in Arlington with open slopes, mature trees, sports fields and local skyline glimpses toward DC. Best for seasonal foliage, sunset/sunrise skies, casual landscape and urban fringe shots. Easy street parking and a small lot; park access is free (waterpark/batting cages separately ticketed). Weekday mornings or golden hour reduce crowds; paths are a mix of paved and gravel, with limited steep sections.
Rock Spring Park Dinosaurs
Small public park with several mid-century concrete dinosaur sculptures set among trees and lawns — a quirky local landmark. Shoot playful low-angle portraits to exaggerate scale, patterns of dappled light through trees, and candid family interactions. Best at golden hour or overcast days for even light; weekdays and early mornings minimize families. Free, street parking on N George Mason Dr; easy walking access, wheelchair-accessible paths. No entry fee; respect neighborhood quiet hours.
Lubber Run Park
Small urban park with a meandering stream, wooded trails, a picnic amphitheater and mature trees offering close-in nature scenes inside Arlington. Photographers can capture flowing water, intimate woodland compositions, seasonal wildflowers and strong fall color. Best at golden hour or overcast days for even light; weekday mornings are least crowded. Easy street parking on N Columbus St, paved and unpaved paths are wheelchair-accessible in parts, no entry fee. Compact size makes it good for half
Mosaic Park
Small, colorful pocket park in Ballston featuring tiled mosaics, seating nooks and textured walkways—ideal for detail shots, environmental portraits, and abstract compositions. Best at golden hour or overcast for even color; weekday mornings offer fewer people. Easily accessible on Metro (Ballston-MU), street parking and nearby lots; free entry.
Rocky Run Park
Small 2-acre urban community park with dramatic rope-climbing structures, a multi-use oval field, basketball courts, a pavilion and a toddler play area. Best for close-up action, kid portraiture and playful geometry. Visit weekday mornings or late afternoon for soft light and fewer crowds; golden hour brings warm side-light on ropes and slides. Playground areas are unlit after dark though courts have lighting. Accessible by bus, limited on-street parking, public restrooms and water fountains on‑
Woodstock Park
Small neighborhood green with mature trees, playgrounds, open lawn and picnic areas—great for intimate outdoor portraits, candid community life, seasonal foliage and simple landscape compositions. Visit at golden hour or overcast afternoons for soft light. Weekday mornings are quiet; street parking is typically available. Accessible paths make gear transport easy. Expect local families, dog walkers and youth sports—respect privacy during candid shots.
Oakland Park
Small neighborhood green space with mature trees, a playground, walking paths and open lawn — ideal for candid family/child portraits, seasonal foliage and intimate nature frames. Best at golden hour or soft overcast light; weekday mornings have few people. Street parking on Wilson Blvd; reachable from Clarendon/Arlington transit. No entry fee; accessible paths and benches make gear setup easy.
Brandymore Castle Historical Marker
A small historical marker and vestiges of the Brandymore Castle estate beside the paved Washington & Old Dominion Trail—good for intimate history shots, trail compositions, and seasonal landscapes. Best at golden hour or autumn for warm light and color. Easily accessible from the W&OD trailhead with no entry fee; parking available at nearby trail lots. Expect cyclists and walkers; weekdays or early mornings reduce traffic. No special permits required.
Slater Park
Small neighborhood park with tree-lined paths, open lawns and recreational features — good for intimate landscape, environmental portrait and seasonal foliage shots. No entry fee; street parking and nearby residential access make gear transport easy. Best visited at golden hour or weekday mornings for soft light and few people. Accessible pathways; expect typical suburban background (homes, cars) that can be used for context or isolated with shallow depth of field.
Spielschiff (Play Ship)
A whimsical play-ship playground sculpture set in an urban park near Courthouse, ideal for lively child-focused scenes, candid family moments, and low-angle compositions that contrast the wooden structure with nearby buildings and trees. No entry fee; easily reached from Courthouse Metro (short walk). Best visited weekdays or early evenings to avoid crowds. Golden hour softens skin tones and highlights textures; overcast days work for even light. Pathways and limited street parking nearby—bring/
Thrifton Hill Park
Small neighborhood hill with open lawn, mature trees and unobstructed skyline views toward northern Arlington/Ballston. Great for golden-hour portraits, skyline silhouettes and seasonal foliage. No entry fee; street parking and short walk from Ballston Metro. Accessible paths; best at sunrise or sunset on weekdays to avoid crowds. Autumn brings color; winter offers clear sightlines for cityscapes.
Old Glebe Fairy garden
A tiny community 'fairy garden' of miniature houses, sculptures and plantings—ideal for whimsical close-ups, detail shots and environmental storytelling. Best visited weekday mornings or late afternoons for soft side light; overcast days give even, shadow-free detail. Easily accessible from the sidewalk at Old Glebe Rd; free street parking nearby but bring comfortable shoes for crouching. No entry fee—respect neighborhood property. Great for practicing macro, shallow depth-of-field and narrative
The Trap
The Trap is a lively Clarendon bar with neon signage, intimate interior woodwork and a buzzy street presence — good for moody indoor editorial shots, neon-lit exteriors at night, and candid bar portraiture. Best visited after sunset for neon and warm interior tones; weekday afternoons or early evenings reduce crowds. Street parking and nearby garages available; request permission for close-up portraits of patrons. No formal entry fee.
3416 11th Street South
Quiet residential block in south Arlington with mid-century and Tudor-style homes, mature trees and tidy front gardens — good for intimate neighborhood, architectural details and seasonal foliage shots. Easy street parking, wheelchair-accessible sidewalks. Best at golden hour or autumn color; weekdays are quieter. Nearest transit: ART bus and nearby Columbia Pike amenities.