Banneker Pool

Free for DC residents! We always get excited when this pool officially opens for the summer. The energy of the crowd is so fun - there’s a lot of people in the pool, reading, laying out and sometimes there’s a DJ with a microphone playing music and hyping up the crowd. An ice cream shop is nearby for after a fun pool day!

To see all parts of D.C., visit the Banneker Pool, one of the city’s most popular outdoor pools. A large pool with lanes and sections for children, people from across the city visit between Memorial Day and Labor Day. It’s free with a D.C. I.D. There are plenty of chairs for lounging and there are lifeguards on duty whenever they are open. For being popular and older, it’s fairly clean.

Visit the Banneker Pool in D.C., a popular outdoor spot open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It has lanes and areas for children, free entry with a D.C. ID, plenty of lounge chairs, and on-duty lifeguards. Despite its age, it's relatively clean.

Banneker Pool is an awesome free option for DC residents, just know what you’re walking into. They usually have a very loud DJ, which is great if you’re coming to party, dance, and hang out with a big, energetic crowd. But if you’re hoping for a relaxing swim or to read quietly poolside, this is not the spot. That said, I do really like doing laps here. They have a separated swim area dedicated to lap swimming and they keep it pretty clear, which I appreciate. I’ll definitely be back just not planning to stay any longer than my lap swim requires

I love Banneker Pool! Spacious, beautiful pool. I only made it to two different pools this year. DC seems to have doubled the number of lounge chairs at both pools. So much better!