Ohio Drive SW

Ohio Drive SW runs along the Potomac River and Tidal Basin, providing access to East and West Potomac Parks through a shaded tree-lined route. The street stretches roughly 2 miles (3 kilometers) through this parkland, connecting green spaces near the National Mall.

Construction of the street, originally called Riverside Drive, began in 1912 and finished in 1916 under President Woodrow Wilson's administration. This transformation into a modern park boulevard was part of a broader effort to reshape Washington's riverfront areas.

The street holds the John Ericsson National Memorial from 1926, honoring a Swedish inventor whose design of the USS Monitor shaped Civil War naval warfare. This monument sits along the route and reflects the international connections embedded in American military history.

The street is easily reached from Smithsonian Metro Station on the Orange Line or by using the Capital Bikeshare station near West Basin Drive. Visitors should know the route gets crowded on warm days with pedestrians and cyclists.

The street earned the nickname 'The Speedway' from informal horse and buggy racing that took place along its path in earlier times. This name stuck in local memory long before the route became one of the city's favorite recreation corridors.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Inception: 1916

Part of: East and West Potomac Parks Historic District

GPS coordinates: 38.87931,-77.03036

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:41