Entry No. 23 — the Washington, D.C. file — filed under: planetarium

Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium

The only planetarium in the entire National Park Service system is squeezed into a modest brick nature center in the middle of Rock Creek Park, sharing the building with a live eastern box turtle, a bird-observation deck, and a kids' Discovery Room — a free dome show a few miles from the monuments that almost nobody associates with the NPS.

The move: Catch a free evening planetarium show, then step outside onto the half-mile Woodland Trail while your eyes are still adjusted to the dark for a short night walk into the park.

• 📍 Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC
• 💸 $
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: 3545 Williamsburg Lane NW, Washington, DC 20008

Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: nps.gov · wtop.com

last checked: 2026-07-19