Bike to President Lincoln's Cottage in Washington, DC

By George Rogers
Updated July 24, 2009

For visitors to President Lincoln’s Cottage who want to see a bit of the city on their journey and get some exercise at the same time, biking is the perfect option. Over the past few years many bike lanes have been added to DC streets making it safer and easier to travel by bike. There are many routes you can take including Lincoln’s commute route (see Matt Ringlestetter’s blog entry of September 19, 2007).

If you’re biking from the center of the city as I do every day on my commute to work here, the following route offers the safest and most scenic route to President Lincoln’s Cottage:

  1. Head east on Q Street NW (bike lane)
  2. Turn left (north) on 14th Street NW (bike lane) and ride for 3 blocks
  3. Turn Right on T Street NW for 3 blocks
  4. Left (north) on 11th Street (bike lane after Florida Ave) for about 11 blocks
  5. Right on Irving Street NW for a few blocks
  6. Left on Warder Street NW 
  7. Right on Rock Creek Church Road (slight incline and then steady incline)
  8. After 1 block you’ll see the Armed Forces Retirement Home grounds on your right
  9. Continue up the hill on Rock Creek Church Road and at the very top of the hill you’ll find the Eagle Gate on your right
  10. Enter the Eagle Gate and the guard will direct you to the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center
  11. Take your bike around to the back of the building where you’ll find a bike rack

You’ll also find beautiful picnic tables under huge shade trees. Our Museum Store sells bottled water, sodas, juice, and snacks , but after your trek up to the third highest point of land in DC, you may want to pack a lunch and rest for a while!

Mr. Rogers is the Director of Development at President Lincoln’s Cottage
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