Go Kayaking & Paddling on the Potomac

Photo by Christina Rovelli

Arlington has surprisingly excellent access to the Potomac River, and getting out on the water is one of those experiences that reframes how you understand the region entirely. Columbia Island Marina — tucked away near the Pentagon off the George Washington Memorial Parkway — is a genuine hidden gem, offering kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals with access to the calm, sheltered Pentagon Lagoon or the open Potomac beyond. The views from the water looking back toward the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial are extraordinary, and the atmosphere feels nothing like the busier DC waterfront just across the river. After your paddle, Island Time Bar and Grill sits right at the marina for a well-earned waterfront drink.

For a different launch point, the Key Bridge Boathouse just across the river in Georgetown (a short walk from Rosslyn) offers kayak, canoe, paddleboard, and even hydro-bike rentals. Paddling from here around Theodore Roosevelt Island — which is officially part of Arlington — is a spectacular route, and you can even dock and hike the island’s 88 acres of wooded trails mid-trip. For those looking to go deeper than recreational rentals, One Arlington Rowing provides high-level coaching for competitive youth rowers, and the Arlington Boathouse Foundation is actively advocating for a permanent community boathouse on the Arlington shore to expand access for residents of all ages.