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Exorcist Steps

4.5 (148 reviews)

Exorcist Steps Photos

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Sara S.

A spooky night and steep hill climb, but worth it if you want to walk the same steps that priest fell down in the movie. Overall a very cool stop in DC & it takes you right to the exorcist house once you're up. Recommend watching it (maybe even on 2x speed lol IYKYK) before you go so you get the full effect of being on a film location.

Nicole R.

If you can find these stairs, you're in for a real treat. They're at the end of the Key Bridge as you enter Georgetown but the parking area is extremely limited. Some people come to tone their butt, and others come to get silly. The old farts like me just gawk and get tired looking at them. haha You cannot visit without making at least one attempt to jog to the top without stopping :)

Nick P.

The original Exorcist movie came out in 1973. One of the most iconic movies in history. If you're a horror fan, the stairs will be a real treat. If you're not a fan, this is a great place to get your exercise in. Be careful, the stairs are steeped. It wasn't hard to locate since we saw other people going up/down the stairs and taking pictures. There is limited parking. When we were taking pictures, for some reason a horde of people started to come. It was nice while it lasted.

Heather R.

Autumn spooky vibes, warm evening breeze, dimly lit stairwell that reaches to heaven next to an abandoned gas station. Perfect setting to remember that classic movie that made this location so memorable, "The Exorcist." You almost feel like the devil is watching and waiting to kick your ass or make you a deal. It's got the background of nearby traffic, the sound of light breezes next to the river ( you could possibly find a body there if they drain it), and you can even hear the faint sounds of drunk college kids perfect for a B-movie horror flick, but no...this would not compare to the pure evil vibe that you want to feel from these stairs and since there is none, you may decide to climb them or take pictures hoping that you'll catch something spooky, but it remains a good, delicious memory from the 70's of how to stay away from Lucifer and be a good person to pray and ask for your God to give you protection as you wait to enter the gates of heaven someday.

Too many beers 2023
Franklin M.

I never knew these steps were in DC, if I had known I would've been here years ago. That movie scene where the priest leaps to his death is still in my mind after watching that movie decades ago.

Lynx M.

Saw the movie as a kid and worked on the remake as an adult. Every time I come to DC I have to visit these stairs. It's just something I do now, like a tradition. The stairs are steep from the bottom, but worth the climb, and will literally have you saying FAWK ME! when you reach the top lol Fun experience climb half to the landing turn your back to the street and just be still. See if you feel anything. Me and a little girl did this and she said wtf before I could lol it felt like someone pushing us on the stomach and chest!! Lol its totally worth checking out if you are in the DC area. I do suggest bringing fun props to take pictures! for the ladies it's a great shop not to far that sells pandora charms and it's a Starbucks 3 minutes walk from there...

Historic place info
Eloy Y.

If you like movies and are passing through Georgetown (Washington DC), you need to visit this location of the final scene from the 1973 movie 'The Exorcist' almost 50 years ago. It is the moment when the priest (Father Karras) falls out of the window and rolls down the stairs to his death. The Exorcist stairs are located at 3500 Prospect St, NW. You can get there by continuing on 36th Street, descending from the corner of Prospect St and 36th St NW, down to a small parking area next to an abandoned gas station which my partner, his sister and I parked yesterday. It is a space where you can take some very creative photos and to show your friends that you are one of the most famous sets in the history of cinema.

Erin B.

Neat location, especially if you're a fan of the movie. I didn't get any creepy feelings, nor did any demonic entities attempt to push me down the stairs. lol Finding parking was the nightmare! I couldn't find the area near the top as reported by other Yelp reviewers. Most of the surrounding streets are 1-way, which means you have to drive multiple blocks just to turn around. The lot at the bottom of the stairs is private with several towing warning signs. It's off a busy, 1-way main road and is at an intersection. On my 2nd drive by, I noticed a closed business next door which I planned to park in. Just as I get to it, I see it's blocked off. Time for round 3! I finally decided to risk it and pulled into the private lot to take my chances. I only stayed long enough to climb to the top, FaceTime a friend who's a fan of the movie, and walk down to my car. No tow trucks were waiting for me. Overall I'd say it was worth it!

Valeri S.

There is not much I can say here. They were stairs. Non polluted and pretty clean. We went up the stairs and then back down. People were taking pics and doing the same we did. Was fun to just go and experience

11.23.18  view from Prospect St
May A.

Attraction in Georgetown How often do I visit Washington DC? not very much that's why I had to see the steps where they filmed the death of the character Father Damien Karras in the Exorcist. I enjoy visiting locations where scenes from movies were filmed and I like to add off beat tourist attractions in our itinerary. The Exorcist is a classic horror movie. This was great! We took Lyft here which was about 2 miles (8 mins) from the President Woodrow Wilson House. We got dropped off at Prospect Street... at first we couldn't find the stairway but we walked a few steps to our left to find the iconic Exorcist steps. Holy moly... we looked down the stairs and they are steep! It could be disorienting for someone descending here at night. A dusk or night visit to this site makes a much spookier view. Creepy! We proceeded to make our way down... slowly. The steps are in between two buildings and led down to M Street NW. At the foot of the stairs (on the wall to your left) there is a bronze plaque commemorated by the mayor of DC on October 2015. I know they're just regular steps but I still found it pretty cool and Linda Blair's possessed full-turning head still gives me the creeps. So how did they film the death of Father Damien Karras in the Exorcist? I looked it up... the steps were padded with 1/2"-thick rubber! Now you know! Check! Review #1199

Steps
Richard W.

Very cool to see these since it was a memorable scene in the movie. Also, ran up to the top... heck of a run!

Marlon T.

Whether or not you've seen the 1973 movie, The Exorcist, please YouTube the famous "Take Me!" scene where Father Damien Karras saves the girl and he falls to his death down the stairs. Then, come check out this historic staircase in Georgetown where it was filmed! I've been living in the DMV area for a while now and finally made my way to check out this stairs. I have 0 regrets since I'm a movie fan and stuff like this defines DC local flavor. You can find the stairs by either going to the bottom of them on Canal Rd NW between 35th and 37th (like you're walking to Georgetown University) or going to the top of them on Prospect St NW and 36th St (they're down a ramp). Hopefully there aren't lots of random stair runners and slow walkers to get in the way of your perfect photo!

Halfway down
Yvette S.

Gorgeous and creepy.....sounds like my personality. A must see location to check off your horror movie bucket list. Be careful walking these steps as it is extremely steep! The Exorcist house is right next door at the top of the steps. Come and enjoy this piece of movie history because Captain Howdy said so.

ghosts

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2 years ago

Cool to see if you are in the area. Nice to see this given piece of DC history that most people do not know about

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4 years ago

How can you not go? If you know what these stairs are, of course you need to come here! Creepy spooky cool!

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4 years ago

Somebody pushed me! Hey they're steps but from a classic movie scene so... no spoilers

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4 years ago

It's very cool to see that the steps used in the Exorcist movie are real and still exist to this day!

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Review Highlights - Exorcist Steps

The "Exorcist" film is still awesome, eventho much of the scenery around campus has changed.

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Georgetown Glow Outdoor Light Exhibition - 2018- Run Beyond

Georgetown Glow Outdoor Light Exhibition

(12 reviews)

Georgetown

Georgetown Glow is free public art with elements to captivate all ages & demographics. It can be…read morepaired with some history or can be enjoyed to captivate your Instagram followers. It is currently in it's fifth year, running from early December to early January. It looks like the installations change every year so there is something new to explore and enjoy. I won't go through every installation that I saw for this reason. There are some really instagramable moments, my favorite in 2018 was definitely Prismatic, but I have a big soft spot for Run Beyond as well. You should definitely plan to get out and explore a lot of the installations, just walking or driving by won't give you the full effect of some of them. Some of them also can't be seen from your vehicle, bundle up and explore! There are also a few that incorporate motion & sound. Here is the biggest "well duh" moment- see these installations after dark. Not during sunset, not at dusk- make sure it is really dark for the full effect. I mean- they are light installations, so maybe that shouldn't even be mentioned. I opted to see Georgetown Glow as part of a tour group (Free Tours by Foot DC) and our tour started almost an hour before sunset so I made a point to revisit the installations we saw early on during the tour- it was definitely worth the trip back to see the earlier installations. I thought taking the walking tour was a great way to see some of the installations and learn more about the history of Georgetown. Our tour guide was excellent, but was definitely a better Georgetown guide vs a Glow guide. She had great historical stories to connect to the themes of the art installations as we walked through Georgetown. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see all of the artwork during this foot tour, but we had plenty of time to explore the ones we did encounter on our tour. I would recommend doing Georgetown Glow both ways, take a tour if that's your thing, but really for the art itself I think you can easily enjoy every installation without the tour aspect and just read the information provided on the website to learn more. It is an outdoor, free, public display so expect that a few of the installations may have technical difficulties. I visited on the second night of the displays and noticed some light vandalism, most likely caused by careless spectators. It didn't take away from the overall effect though. One thing I appreciated is even though this is a December outdoor light exhibit, it wasn't Christmas themed. There is definitely plenty of holiday cheer to enjoy as you explore the city between installations. The art itself focuses on different themes giving you a brief mental break from the holidays.

I've been going to GLOW since the first edition and I just love it! I like some installations…read morebetter than others but it's a great idea and it's nice seeing people walking around at night in the Winter! It would be nice to have shuttle tours for people who can't walk as much. Maybe the Circulator used to do free rides? I can't remember. DC has so many free events and exhibits and GLOW is one of the best.

Graffiti Cliffs of Georgetown

Graffiti Cliffs of Georgetown

(7 reviews)

Georgetown

I like the graffiti cliffs for a multitude of reasons. My main reasoning is it allows me to get an…read moreescape from the hustle and bustle of the city while still being right in the middle of it. Additionally, it offers a great view of Rosslyn, Georgetown, and the Potomac. It is one of those experiences in the city that takes you away while still being present. A couple of downsides to this area is that it can be a bit sketchy and you're best to watch your back when you come up here. On the flip side, they're there for the same purpose that you are - to chill. You leave them alone and you will be left alone. It is easy to access for the most part. Just take the stairs up from the parking below by the kayaks and you'll find yourself on the C & O Trail. Wear good shoes. You will be better off than wearing sandals.

If you want to see some American Graffiti, this is where you come. Jimmy Cliff and Cliff Richard…read more(ew) like it here too, hence it's named the Graffiti Cliffs. I didn't even know the Graffiti Cliffs of Georgetown even existed (even) until my most recent visit, which is weird because I know everything, lol, and I used to live around here. But it's a must visit. I love it. The views are amazing and the graffiti on all of the cliffs and things around here is awesome. The sometimes strict local police let everything go here, so it's basically just a free artistic place. It's sort of like a tolerance zone for prostitution, but instead, it's art. Although Barbi and I consider some forms of prostitution to be art, too, especially when we do it. So Graffiti. Not as much fun as prostitution but it might be better to look at depending on who the client is. I mean artist. However, I learned that just a few weeks after I visited here, they closed it off. Not even for Coronavirus, but before Corona. Hopefully it'll be opened up again as soon as Coronavirus is over. It better be.

Tregaron Estate

Tregaron Estate

(11 reviews)

Woodley Park

TL:DR - A oasis in Washington, DC…read more While the phrase "hidden gem," is too often overused, the Tregaron Conservancy is place where that label is completely apropos. Located off Macomb Street in the toney Cleveland Park neighborhood, this is definitely a spot frequented by locals. Walking up to the small gate entrance, it's almost as if this a secret garden of sorts. Make you way up the winding path, and visitors encounter some of the most beautiful green spaces in all of DC. The Tregaron Conservancy and the associated grounds are joint tenants with the adjacent Washington International School (https://tregaron.org/news/washington-international-school-tregaron-conservancys-perfect-partner). Just be aware that while the main sections of the Tregaron are open to the public, the school portion is not. While the Tregaron is not expansive, there are many nice sections. There are benches down by the Lily Pond which I have often enjoyed a coffee and conversations with friends. The remaining grounds are kept pristine with slight hills which are perfect for an afternoon picnic or just sitting to enjoy sunny days. There is also the scenic Klingle Valley trail which winds through the woods and eventually connects up with Rock Creek Park after crossing through busy Connecticut Ave. Good information before you make the trip: https://tregaron.org/planning-your-visit My advice is to take the Metro to the Cleveland Park stop, and make the short 10 minute walk. There are many restaurants and bakeries where you can pop in, get a beverage and pastry to enjoy at the Tregaron. Bonus Tip: If you need to use a restroom, the Cleveland Park Library is at corner of Connecticut Ave and Macomb Street (https://www.yelp.com/biz/cleveland-park-library-washington?osq=cleveland+park+library&sort_by=date_desc) There aren't many "attractions" at the Tregaron...but that's really the point. It's a place to escape the concrete jungle that is DC and commue and appreciate nature, at least for a short while. If you are looking for an "in the know" place and want to impress long time DC residents and visitors alike, I highly recommend visiting the Tregaron Conservancy.

The Tregaron Conservancy is a beautiful hidden gem for a short walk in a natural setting right…read moreinside the city. I'm amazing by how much of an escape it feels like as it's tucked on a very small land area. It may not be a tourist destination to make a trip out for, but I am so grateful to have this local spot. The area could be walked through very quickly, but I have also spent hours sitting by the pond and birdwatching or just enjoying nature. The park can be tricky to find, I access it from Klingle Valley Trail. Note - this is the Conservancy which is an outdoor park. I believe the "Estate" is now the Washington International School building and is not open to the public.

Exorcist Steps - localflavor - Updated May 2026

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