Nature Center
Facility · District of Columbia ·
Managed by the National Park Service
Rock Creek Park (Other Designation) · Restricted Access
- 344 ft
- Elevation
The Nature Center is home to our Planetarium and nature exhibit area which features displays of plants and animals that can be found in the park. Most of Rock Creek park's public and educational programs begin at the Nature Center.
Getting there
From the beltway:
• Take exit 31B and head south on Georgia Avenue.
• Take Georgia Avenue to 16th Street and veer right (you are continuing south).
• Turn right (west) at Miliatary Road.
• At Glover Road turn left (south) and veer to the left when the road forks.
• Turn into the first driveway on your left. The second parking lot is for the Nature Center.
38.96005, -77.05176 · 38°57'36.2"N 77°3'6.3"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 3.2 | 2.7 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 4.7 | 5.2 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 3.3 | 3.9 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 3.1 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Nature Center
- Can you reserve a site at Nature Center?
- No. Nature Center is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.
Camping near Nature Center
- Rock Creek Park Group Picnic Areas (DC) 0.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site Tours 3.7 mi · Tickets · we watch it
- The National Christmas Tree Lighting Opening Ceremony 4.6 mi · Tickets · we watch it
- Old Stone House 3.8 mi · Facility
- Georgetown Visitor Center 3.9 mi · Visitor Center
- National Portrait Gallery 3.9 mi · Facility
- National Music Center 4 mi · Facility
- The Morrison-Clark Inn 4.1 mi · Facility
- The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection 4.2 mi · Facility
- The Willard InterContinental, Washington DC 4.5 mi · Facility
- White House Visitor Center 4.6 mi · Facility
- Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery 4.6 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone (202) 895-6070
- Email rocr_superintendent@nps.gov
- Info Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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