The Francis Scott Key Bridge, built in 1923, is a reinforced concrete arch bridge carrying US‑29 over the Potomac River between Georgetown and Rosslyn. We didn't cross it today, instead we crawled along the Whitehurst Freeway in early rush-hour traffic and rolled past it on our way into Maryland. Even from the slow lane, the bridge's clean arches looked great in the afternoon light. It's a handsome, sturdy link between the city and Virginia, and a reminder that they best view comes when you're stuck nearby rather than driving over it. [Review 1273 of 2026 - 113 in Washington DC - 26451 overall] read more

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A short but vital bridge to get across the Potomac to DC. Our Uber took this route at rush hour so we were able to see some sites as we parked on the bridge. They were renovating it for so long I forgot what it looked like from the bridge. read more

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Small esthetically pleasing bridge connecting dc over the Potomac. Easy on and off and not much traffic when I went over despite the lights at each end. read more

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Feel mixed sentiments on this bridge. From an architecture standpoint, it is stunningly beautiful. That cannot be denied. For those of us who like to hike or bike, there's a section of the bridge reserved for us slower folks. I say this with a mischievous grin. The bridge can be a traffic jam. Hiking, biking, maybe even crawling on your hands and knees could improve your speed over it. Georgetown is a popular place. This is the main way to get there from Virginia. Be sure to have YouTube documentaries on your Bluetooth. read more

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Great Scott! This bridge might be the Key to everything! Drake wrote a song about this bridge... oh wait, that was Francis Drake. My bad. Everyone I know in the DC area and in Northern Virginia uses the Key Bridge. But I think most of us always thought it was just a Key bridge because it was the key to the area or something - or like a key part of the commute. While it's actually named after a dude named Key. Who knew him. Not I. It's a beautiful bridge that contributes perfectly to the picturesque gorgeousness of Georgetown. Getting on to it can often be a nightmare from the Georgetown side especially, but it's beautiful and it's very helpful and gets you straight on to the 66 Highway once you get on to the Virginia side. On the other side, things are a bit of a nightmare, I've waited 40 mins to get on this bridge before, and they should do something about it - and they definitely need to clean up the Georgetown traffic and figure something out. But overall I'm a big fan. read more

What's with all the hype? The Francis Scott Key Bridge is a bridge and, in all honesty, not much more. I've awarded it one (1) star on the very basis that it fulfills its purpose as a bridge: it allows vehicles and pedestrians to cross the Beautiful and Majestic Potomac River to go from Arlington, VA to Washington, DC or from Washington, DC to Arlington, VA. The additional two (2) stars are attributed to the other key characteristic of the Francis Key Scott Bridge: it is The Windiest Place in the DC Metro Area. I have nothing more than tangential evidence, but I recommend walking over the Francis Key Scott Bridge on a cold February night to get the full experience of the blustery wind bashing your face. Other than that, there's really not much to say. The traffic on the Francis Key Scott Bridge is abysmal. Drive at your own risk. In other reviews, my fellow Yelpers praise The Beauty of the Francis Key Scott Bridge. I'm sorry, what? Please elaborate? Yes, sometimes the view of the District from the Francis Key Scott Bridge is nice. But the Francis Key Scott Bridge itself leaves much to be desired. It's a slab of rapidly degrading concrete and not much more. Make use of this three (3) star establishment to cross the river, but don't expect much more. read more

The Francis Scott Key Bridge - The view from the Francis Key Scott Bridge on a somewhat cloudy day. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

No, this bridge is not much of a bridge. It is not the Brooklyn Bridge, the Bay Bridge, or the Golden Gate Bridge. Essentially, it is a landmark, but not a particularly well known one. It does not have to be. This bridge gets you from Rosslyn, Virginia to Washington, D.C. (Georgetown more specifically). It crosses the Potomac River, and you get some fantastic views of the Watergate Hotel and the Kennedy Center to the east. To the west you get to see downtown Rosslyn and a great view of the Mount Vernon trail as it heads away from the city. And yes, it is a nice vantage point to see planes landing into DCA when they are using the River Visual to land on Runways 19 and 15. There are pedestrian walkways on both sides of the bridge, allowing for easy foot traffic to get to either side without having to risk your safety. In addition, there are high guardrails to prevent you from falling, but I think they are more there to prevent suicides. I could be wrong though. In any event, this was real cool to cross in-person. I have crossed this bridge on several occasions via car, but I got to experience something new trying it this way. If you have a moment take a photo from where you are on this bridge, it is quite a sight. read more

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For driving, this major artery bridge spanning the Potomac between Rosslyn, VA and the eastern tip of Georgetown, DC, is a nightmare: at best, a slow crawl with a mix of incompetent and aggressive drivers; at worst, a parking lot/traffic snarl with a mix of incompetent and aggressive drivers. Oh, and an occasional large Georgetown University transport bus (typically driven by a passive-aggressive driver) thrown in. Still, it's a beautiful bridge (in need of done maintenance) especially at sunrise and sunset, with a gorgeous view of the Kennedy Center, waterfront, and the Washington monument from one side, and the routes of Georgetown University and the tree-lined banks of the majestic Potomac on the other. Decent for walking across, just be very watchful when either using the crosswalk on the western side of the bridge across the northbound exit ramp to the Whitehurst Freeway, or the crosswalk on the eastern side to get across the intersection with M Street. read more

The Francis Scott Key Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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To really get a sense of a bridge you need to see it from the top and from bellow. Have seen the view from here so many times (trust me you will see it too if you get stuck in traffic here so much). And when I get bello it for a walk I can watch the people stuck on the bridge, knocking I will join them soon... Do not expect the Verrazano bridge of NYC or the Golden gate of SF, but still nice area for a walk. And if it is freezing, and the temperature frees the top of the river, it is stunning. Take couple hours, go out. read more

The Francis Scott Key Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The Key bridge is one of the most beautiful bridges connecting Northern VA to Georgetown and downtown DC. Unfortunately as a passenger in the car I wasn't able to get very good pictures of it. We crossed it mid morning from the George Washington Memorial parkway to K Street. Named after the author of the "Star Spangled Banner" this bridge has been here for many years. As you cross the bridge you get some breathtaking views of the city. We really didn't encounter any traffic problems since it was after morning rush hour. I guess timing is everything when it comes to crossing it. read more

The Francis Scott Key Bridge - This is a beautiful bridge. Too bad guardrail blocked the view - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The Francis Scott Key Bridge is a symbol of freedom to me. Not because it's namesake is the writer of the Star Spangled Banner but crossing that bridge signifies one of the first times my friends and I decided that we were grown ass adults and we were going to go to Georgetown by ourselves and dine at the world's greatest restaurant Pizzeria Uno's. We took the metro to Rosslyn and cautiously walked over the bridge. It was windy so sand was blowing in our faces but we were young, wild and free so we did not care at all. Every few moments we would look over the bridge to watch the little boats pass by below. It was a magical moment in our lives and I will never forget it. Traffic is a bitch, but five stars for the memories it holds! read more

10/13/20 Very few times have I walked across this bridge. This bridge is pretty high off the ground and I even remember hearing a story about someone jumping off of it during the winter. Not to far from this bridge are the Exorcist Stairs which I have seen someone bike down them. I have watched the bridge get upgraded so you can drive off the bridge and head onto Washington DC. I have seen some lovely women walking, running or biking across the bridge. The women I have seen make this bridge an even better beauty. Great place to visit because there are so many landmarks close to it. read more

Lovely little bridge. I've made it a point to run or do some kind of exercise when I'm on vacation. So when I found out this bridge was right next to my hotel, I was ecstatic. It was a half mile run early in the morning, officially crossing over from VA to DC. Ran a little more on M street, observed a pair of lovers sitting near the canal, and listened to the birds. Enjoy. read more

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It's a cool bridge to walk over to get across the river. It didn't fall apart, the cars didn't hit me as I walked across, and I wasn't tossed over the rail. So that deserves 5 stars for me. The view is pretty nice as well. read more

The oldest bridge that goes over the Potomac completed in 1923 is liked just as much as it is hated. If you are trying to commute into Georgetown or back into Virginia - chances are you've been stuck in a lot of ungodly traffic at one time or another. On the other hand, some people love it; especially bikers and pedestrians since it offers a lovely view of both sides of the Potomac. When you get a lovely sunrise or sunset is the best time to be there. The namesake of this bridge is after the gentleman who wrote the Star Spangled Banner on September 14, 1814. He was inspired to write that after the Battle at Fort McHenry. FS Key had a home in Georgetown, so the fact that they would name the bridge after the fact isn't so far-fetched. If in Georgetown and you need a metro immediately - the best option is to walk to Foggy Bottom metro or to Rosslyn (Arlington) to catch it using the Key Bridge as your access point. It is highly doubtful they will ever expand the metro to Georgetown. read more

The Francis Scott Key Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This bridge is great for going to/from Georgetown, Washington DC to Arlington, VA or any two places on either side of those two aforementioned places. Very nice for a morning stroll, or in my case, a night walk. Nice to see the Potomac River and the DC skyline (kinda-ish; I mean the most distinctive feature was the Washington Monument) and the business buildings on the Virginia side. Not a very long bridge and very accessible to Rosslyn metro station. :) read more

This bridge pisses me off, mostly because I drive it on my commute to and from work every day. And what do I see? People outside walking, running, just enjoying the day while I am in my car and have a job. Despite my envy, this isn't a bad or particularly scary bridge. It is a fine bridge. I just don't know why cars are breaking down on it all the time and causing traffic jams... oh, and if you want to make a left, get in the left lane ASAP and STOP HOLDING UP THE MIDDLE LANE you suck at life if you do this. That is all. Go back to your bridginess, bridge. read more

As someone without a car, you may wonder why I'm writing a review for a bridge. I go on photowalks fairly often and earlier this spring/summer, I took the metro to Rosslyn and then walked over the Key Bridge to Georgetown and then walked even further to K St before hopping on the Farragut North metro to get home. The Key Bridge is where I took some pictures of the waterfront at night. Only 2 or 3 turned out well due to the wind and my inability to keep from shaking. (This is where a tripod would have been helpful...) but I enjoyed my evening on the bridge. There is plenty of walking space on both sides which bikers can also take advantage of. I will be back to take more pictures soon, now that I bought a tripod. Back when I did have a car, I tried not to use the bridge too often as the traffic of M St and Wisconsin really irritated me. But if you're driving here during a low-peak hour of the day, it's not too bad. read more

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I have a massive fear of heights. This fear, besides making me a victim of many jokes, hoaxes and teasing, prevents me from doing a great deal of things such as hang gliding, skydiving, flying without alcohol, using many, many escalators, and of course, crossing bridges. I was very surprised to learn a few years ago I can in fact cross the Key Bridge without falling to the ground and beginning a massive anxiety attack. For that I am very grateful. This is a beautiful, well constructed bridge on a small portion of US Route 29 which links the very corporate, shadowy Rosslyn, VA to the bright, open and sunny outdoor mall that is Georgetown, Washington D.C. Besides the regular motor traffic, you'll find a great deal of university students, young professionals and tourist either walking, jogging or biking across. I've even stopped on it to hoop dance here. The pedestrian area is nice and wide, which is probably why I can venture across, as long as I walk away from the rail, closer to the motor traffic...and certainly never look down. Tip: Always watch for the bikers, they never slow down. This is now the only way I access Georgetown since parking is a major pain in the rear. Besides, I honestly enjoy the walk and the views of the Potomac. Walking across the bridge into VA at night has often sparked a creative surge of thoughts which has triggered melodies for my song writing & music mixes. My grandmama would be proud of me, though I still cannot use those darn Rosslyn Metro escalators. read more

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This is a nice looking bridge. It's even better when you're kayaking under it or catching a view at sunset with your special someone. I used to run across it from Arlington, and I really enjoyed crossing it while the cars were stuck in traffic. Watch out for the taxis that turn right onto the Whitehurst freeway, if you're not looking you may get run over. read more

Big bridge that connects Georgetown and Rosslyn. Better for walking than for driving; the Georgetown end especially is full of streets that back up badly in anything remotely close to rush hour. As a pedestrian bridge, it offers views from high up and a useful access point from the Metro in Virginia to GU, the surrounding neighborhood, and ultimately Downtown. You can also head down to the Canal from here and hike/bike to your heart's content. read more

The Key Bridge is one of the main arteries connecting Northern Virginia to DC. With that said, you can bet this bridge is a parking lot during rush hour, especially in bad weather. Today was a decent day to cross the bridge by bike on the walkways. TIP: Use caution if you are biking on the actual bridge during rush hours . . . just not worth it. read more

Having achieved "duke" status at this crossing of the Mighty Potomac I have decided to set up a toll booth and begin charging $5.00 per vehicle to pass. I think a month of toll collection would put me in position to buy that glass house on the hill above M Street overlooking the bridge. A perfect vantage point from which to survey my oddest dukedom. read more

The Francis Scott Key Bridge - View from the Key - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

"This thing dead ends into some of the greatest steps EVER. I just love it. Driving over to Georgetown it provides a picturesque and beautiful entry into the city... with the steps in front of you, and the Francis Key small park (in Dec. with christmas lights and ornamental stars, etc) to your right. It is just a bridge, of course, but it provides a beautiful view of the city and the area as well as the Potomoc. You will probably drive over it, so... might as well enjoy it. (sure.... GO SLOW!)" read more

The Francis Scott Key Bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places. Local Tip: It's a half a mile walk from the Rosslyn Metro to the Georgetown side of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. As an Arlington resident, I often park in Rosslyn rather then trying to battle the parking hounds. The world is very photogenic from this height. These are a few of my favorite things: Stunning views of the Rosslyn skyline at night, the Washington Monument standing in all it's glory across the water, kayakers rowing their boats up and down the Potomac, leaf peeping towards Roosevelt island observing changing colors in the crispness of fall. I like to incorporate this bridge into my urban hikes regardless of the season. From Rosslyn, the Key Bridge connects me to the Exorcist Stairs, Jack's Boathouse, The Curse of the Three Sisters (tiny islands connected to Native American urban legends) walks along the C&O canal and the shops in Georgetown. Hey you, get out of the car. Take a hike! read more

What's nice about it is that it connects two neighborhoods that are aesthetic as well as historic. Both neighborhoods have a lot to offer in terms of food, commerce, recreation, etc. read more

I enjoyed driving over the bridge to get to DC...great view of DC or Arlington! I didn't know why everything nearby was "Key" something...until I saw that the full name of the bridge is Francis Scott Key Bridge. Then it clicked, haha... read more

This is my most favorite bridges to cross the georgetown canal. It literally safely transports you from one side to the other. The experience was awesome and I highly recommend you try this bridge. read more

The most beautiful and strongest bridge I have ever used whiles executing tasks as a driver and delivery contractor in the Washington DC metropolitan area of United States of America. read more

I cross the Key Bridge every morning and afternoon during the week. Although traffic backs up during rush hour, it's not any worse than the other bridges in the DC area. No complaints here! read more

Such a nice bridge! We stayed in Rosslyn during our DC stay and this bridge was 2 mins from our hotel, getting us into Georgetown and providing us with AMAZING views of the Potomac River, Georgetown and DC. It takes around 5 mins to walk across, but it's definitely a new view. Best to walk over this bridge, since the drivers driving are sometimes careless and won't stop for you if you are biking. read more