10 Great Falls Park Alternatives When Entry Lines Are Long

Updated on May 9, 2023 by Julie McCool

Here are 10 Great Falls Park alternatives worth visiting when park entry lines back up with crowds clamoring for scenery, picnic spots, and time with friends and family. You will not enjoy the same dramatic waterfall overlooks at these alternate destinations, but you will enjoy beautiful nature and hopefully, much less time in your car.

We absolutely love spending a day in Great Falls Park, and so do many other residents and visitors in the Washington DC region. On warm weekends and holidays, the parking area can become so crowded that the entrance station closes to new visitors until others leave. On those days, you can choose to wait (sometimes an hour or more) to enter Great Falls Park, or you can look for an alternative. Fortunately, there are several other beautiful parks nearby so you don't have to waste time sitting in your car.

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Our 10 Great Falls Park alternatives are listed in two groups—eastbound and westbound—and in order of distance from the Great Falls visitor center. We've highlighted what you'll find at each destination, and linked to more detailed information so you can analyze your options. Nothing beats a beautiful day at Great Falls, but these options beat a long wait in the car.

Great Falls Park Alternatives Heading East

Difficult Run, Great Falls, Virginia

1.6 miles; hiking trails, river and park access via trail

Closest to Great Falls and with an excellent trail into the eastern end of the park. This is a bare-bones, small parking lot which also fills up quickly on warm days, but you may get lucky. Difficult Run is a great alternative if your priority is hiking.

Cross County Trail by Difficult Run, Great Falls Virginia
Cross County Trail by Difficult Run, Great Falls Virginia

Scotts Run Nature Preserve, McLean, Virginia

4.6 miles; trails, river access, waterfall

A bit further east, with more parking space in two lots and excellent woodland hiking. The most popular Scotts Run trail crosses streams and a steep hill to a small, but lovely waterfall emptying into the Potomac River.

Scotts Run loop hike waterfall
Scotts Run Nature Preserve waterfall

Turkey Run Park, McLean, Virginia

9.2 miles; picnic tables, trails, river access, restrooms open May – September

Accessed from the George Washington Memorial Parkway, Turkey Run Park is much less visited and there is plenty of parking. Trails lead steeply down to the river and a stretch of the Potomac Heritage Trail. There are several picnic tables near the parking lots.

Potomac River from Turkey Run Park
Potomac River from Turkey Run Park

Potomac Overlook Regional Park, Arlington, Virginia

12. 2 miles; picnic area, trails, river access, nature center, birds of prey displays

This family-friendly park has a fun nature center and displays featuring birds of prey. There are easy woodland trails and a steeper trail that follows Donaldson Run down to the Potomac.

Potomac Overlook Regional Park trails
Potomac Overlook Regional Park trails

Theodore Roosevelt Island, Arlington, Virginia

17.5 miles; trails, river views, rest rooms, statue and plaza

This island park is actually in Washington DC, but the parking area and access point is in Arlington Virginia. In addition to nature and Potomac River views, visitors enjoy nice hiking and a plaza with plaques and statues honoring Theodore Roosevelt.

Roosevelt Island boardwalk after rains
Roosevelt Island boardwalk

Great Falls Tavern and Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, Potomac, Maryland

12.4 miles; picnic area, trails, river access, visitor center

Across the river in Maryland is another national park with fantastic hiking and history. Note that nice weather also makes this Great Falls Park alternative extremely popular and the lines here can be just as bad as on the Virginia side. Hardy hikers will love the challenging rock scrambles and incredible views from the Billy Goat Trail. Boardwalks and paths on Olmstead Island allow easier access to excellent river and falls views.

Olmstead Island bridge Great Falls Maryland
Olmstead Island bridge Great Falls Maryland

Great Falls Park Alternatives Heading West

Riverbend Regional Park, Great Falls, Virginia

4.5 miles; picnic area, trails, river views, visitor center

To our mind, this is the best Great Falls alternative on our list and it's just a short drive away. Riverbend has a nice visitor center with rest rooms, open picnic area, river access and views, and a variety of trails including a 1.5 easy walk to Great Falls Park. If the main parking area is full, try the nature center, or park near the entrance and hike in.

Relaxing at Riverbend Park
Relaxing at Riverbend Park

Meadowlark Botanical Garden, Vienna, Virginia

6.3 miles; picnic area, trails, visitor center and rest rooms

If your goal is a relaxing stroll and maybe a picnic, head to Meadowlark Garden in Vienna. You won't be near the river, but there is a nice pond and lovely trails through the gardens. In spring, this is one of our favorite spots in Fairfax County to enjoy cherry blossoms.

Weeping cherry trees Meadowlark Vienna Virginia
Weeping cherry trees Meadowlark Vienna Virginia

Lake Fairfax Park, Reston, Virginia

7.2 miles; picnic area, trails, lake views, visitor center, boating and pool in season

Another nice Great Falls alternative that's away from the river, Lake Fairfax Park is a very popular spot for picnics and a stroll by the lake. In summer, the crowds can overwhelm the popular Water Mine Waterpark, but you can usually find space for a picnic or a hike.

Lake Fairfax Park Reston Virginia
Lake Fairfax Park Reston Virginia

Seneca Regional Park, Great Falls, Virginia

9.8 miles; trails, river access

If you tried to hike at Riverbend and found it full, continue heading west to the quieter Seneca Park. The park has nice woodland trails and a segment of the Potomac Heritage Trail and the parking area is rarely full.

Spring trail Seneca Tract
Seneca Regional Park trail

Warm weekend days mean a surge of visitors to popular local parks, and we hate to see folks wasting time idling in a car line instead of enjoying the fresh air. We can't guarantee that all of these Great Falls Park alternatives will have open spots when you visit, but we're certain at least some of them will.

If you know other Great Falls Park alternatives that should be on our list please let us know in the comments. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for more fun places to explore in Northern Virginia and surrounding areas. Thanks!

These 10 Great Falls Park alternatives offer hiking, scenery, and family fun when the Virginia park's entry lines grow long with warm weather crowds.

This article was published in 2017 and updated in 2018.