Reagan National Airport-To-Reston

A Classic Redefined -- River and Monument Route

Departure Zone B

22 Mile Run

Measured: 22 Mile

View: Start Location / Street Map / Satellite Map

Directions:

1. Head north on the Mt. Vernon Trail. Follow the dotted yellow line along the river for about four miles.
2. At the end of the Roosevelt Island parking lot, go up the ramp.
3. Follow the path across Lynn St. and Ft. Meyer Dr. (carefully) and in front of the Marriott - you are now on the Martha Custis trail. At Custis Trail miler marker 0 there is a overhead bridge. Just to the right, there is a small park with restrooms and a water fountain.
4. Follow the Custis trail to the west for about four and a half miles. Stay with the solid yellow line.
5. At the end of the Custis trail (you will have just passed under I-66 yet again), go right a short distance to the W&OD.
6. Turn right and follow the W&OD to Reston.

Notes:

Dennis Hays' Preface: "This update on an old classic was developed to greatly simplify the course while adding new vistas of the Potomac River and our National Monuments." For those of you looking for a less strenuous course option, check out Dennis' advice column from 2003.

The course in brief.

1. Head north on the Mt. Vernon Trail. Follow the dotted yellow line along the river for about four miles.
2. At the end of the Roosevelt Island parking lot, go up the ramp.
3. Follow the path across Lynn St. and Ft. Meyer Dr. (carefully) and in front of the Marriott - you are now on the Martha Custis trail.
4. Follow the Custis trail to the west for about four and a half miles. Stay with the solid yellow line.
5. At the end of the Custis trail (you will have just passed under I-66 yet again), go right a short distance to the W&OD.
6. Turn right and follow the W&OD to Reston.

Dennis'

Drop-off: Get dropped off at Departure zone "B." There are restrooms and water fountains just inside the door. Go down to the gate level and take the moving walkway toward the Metro and parking lots (stop first at Cinnabon if you need a carb/sugar fix). Go left and up thorough the ruins of Abington Plantation. Go out the top and to the right through the car rental area, turning back 160 degrees at the end (on the left) to join the connector to the Mt. Vernon Trail.

Water: There is water at the airport. The next opportunity comes four miles into the run on Roosevelt Island (a bit off our route - over the bridge and up the trail). Then it is about another mile and a half on the Custis trail (yellow marker 10 by their system - also look for a bike shop sign) to a CVS that sells cold water, Gatorade, and beer. There also is a Starbucks and a Giant. Go a further mile to mile marker 2 on the Custis to the next water fountain. There is then a fountain after another two and a half mile later at the juncture of the Custis and the W&OD. On the W&OD, look for a fountain at Route 7 (and possible RR water), a fountain in Vienna, and RR water at Hunter Mill.

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