Overview
Greenbelt is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland.
2 sights · 29 things to do · 5 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 6 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Greenbelt
NASA/Goddard Visitor Center
NASA's premier center for unmanned scientific space exploration is the Goddard Space Flight Center. The small Visitor Center features many exhibits to excite tomorrow's inter-planetary researchers. The Visitor Center is …
Greenbelt Park
An oasis of forest on the inside of the Capital Beltway at the B-W Parkway. Operated by the National Park Service, Greenbelt Park is one of the best camping opportunities near Washington DC. There is a walking path from …
Buddy Attick Park
A park with a lake, maintained by the city of Greenbelt. The park includes large playground and several picnic areas. Watch for birds, reptiles, and water mammals while hiking the trail that circles the small, man-made G…
Washington Birthday Marathon
Greenbelt hosts the eighth-oldest marathon in North America, held each year since 1961. The race starts and finishes in Old Greenbelt and is run on the USDA Research Farm.
The Greenbelt Arts Center
Community theater with a year-round season including musicals, dramas, Shakespeare and an occasional concert. The theater includes an art gallery with a revolving display. Presented online performances and digital art du…
Eleanor Roosevelt High School
The school has large and active drama and music departments. They put on a musical play in early December and the 4 bands, 3 orchestras, 4 choirs and student-run small groups perform throughout the school year. The shows…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 90°F; winter lows dip to about 30°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby Washington, D.C.)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington — 13 mi away (major hub). Directions
- BWI Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Baltimore — 17 mi away (major hub). Directions
Ground transportation is available via The Airport Shuttle.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $8–$8 a night (typical $12), from 2 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$50, mid-range ~$90, comfortable ~$170.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning The Greenbelt Museum, Greenbelt Skatepark, Greenbelt Aquatic and Fitness Center
- Lunch Chef Lou's Desserts
- Afternoon The Greenbelt Arts Center, Old Greenbelt Theatre
- Dinner Generous Joe's
- Evening Chevy's
Day 2
- Morning Greenbelt Park, Buddy Attick Park, Prince Georges County Trap and Skeet Center
- Lunch Osaka Restaurant
- Afternoon Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Green Man Festival
- Dinner Pollo Cabana
- Evening Ruby Tuesday
Day 3
- Morning NASA/Goddard Visitor Center, Playgrounds, Music and Drama club at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
- Lunch Three Brothers Pizza
- Afternoon Greenbelt Mini-Maker Faire, Greenbelt Day
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Contained within today's City of Greenbelt is the historic planned community now known locally as "Old Greenbelt" and designated as the Greenbelt Historic District. The historic district was built during the New Deal era in 1937 and much of the original housing is now owned collectively as a cooperative. The architecture is in the Art Deco style. Greenbelt's residents take the city's history of cooperation and volunteerism seriously; as a result they organize a variety of festivals, events, performing and visual arts.
The city has three areas: Old Greenbelt is the historic area between Greenbelt Road, the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Kenilworth Avenue and the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. Greenbelt West includes the Beltway Plaza strip mall and the Franklin Park rental housing complex. Greenbelt East is a collection of 1990s developments and the Greenway Center. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center is within the city limits.
Get in
By plane
- Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) is 25 minutes north on the B-W Parkway.
- Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) is 30 minutes south via the B-W Parkway (but through Washington, D.C.). The Metro can be taken from DCA to the Greenbelt station.
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is 40 miles west in Virginia. By car, take the Dulles access road to the Washington Beltway (495) north to exit 23. Or use the airport's metro station and then connect to the Greenbelt station, which should take about 100 minutes total.
Ground transportation is available via The Airport Shuttle.
By train
Metrorail trains run to the Greenbelt Station on the Green Line.
MTA's MARC commuter trains between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. also run to the above-mentioned Greenbelt Station on the Camden Line.
By bus
Metrobus service to Greenbelt is available. University of Maryland shuttle buses serve Greenbelt.
The Bolt Bus offers service from New York City to the Greenbelt Metro Station.
By car
Take exit 23 from the Washington Beltway (95/495) onto Kenilworth Avenue. Go briefly south and turn onto 193 or briefly north and turn right onto Crescent Road.
By bike
The American Discovery Trail goes through Greenbelt Park, past Buddy Attick Park and north into the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center.
The East Coast Greenway Trail goes through Greenbelt.
Get around
Route 193 runs the long way through Greenbelt, connecting the 3 main sections of the city. To get to Roosevelt Center in Old Greenbelt from 193, head north on Southway to its end and park in the large parking lot.
Metrobus connects the Greenbelt Metro Station, the Beltway Plaza, Crescent Road in Old Greenbelt (Roosevelt Center), the Greenway Center, Cipriano Square, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and on to the New Carrollton Metro Station.
Old Greenbelt is very walkable with a network of walking paths separate from the roads.
See
See NASA/Goddard Visitor Center
NASA's premier center for unmanned scientific space exploration is the Goddard Space Flight Center. The small Visitor Center features many exhibits to excite tomorrow's inter-planetary researchers. The Visitor Center is accessible from ICESat Rd., not from the Center's main gate.
Do
Outdoors
Do Greenbelt Park
An oasis of forest on the inside of the Capital Beltway at the B-W Parkway. Operated by the National Park Service, Greenbelt Park is one of the best camping opportunities near Washington DC. There is a walking path from the campground through the woods that leads to the College Park Metro station about a half mile away. The path is hard to find so ask a Ranger for directions. The park is also excellent for picnics in one of the three picnic areas, bicycling, roller blading, and nature walks on 9 miles of trails.
Do Buddy Attick Park
A park with a lake, maintained by the city of Greenbelt. The park includes large playground and several picnic areas. Watch for birds, reptiles, and water mammals while hiking the trail that circles the small, man-made Greenbelt Lake.
Do Greenbelt Tennis Courts
Do Greenbelt Sand Volleyball Courts
Do Playgrounds
There are playgrounds throughout the City, including at Greenbelt Park, Buddy Attick Park, Schrom Hills Park, and across Crescent Road from the library near the City Center. With all of the playgrounds, Greenbelt has been designated as a "Playful City USA."
Sports
Do Greenbelt Aquatic and Fitness Center
An indoor pool, an outdoor pool, a hot tub and a variety of aerobic and weight-lifting machines. It is the oldest public pool in Maryland and is open daily year round. On summer weekends, entry is limited to Greenbelt residents and passholders, but a day pass can be purchased at all other times.
Do Greenbelt Skatepark
Performing arts
Do Eleanor Roosevelt High School
The school has large and active drama and music departments. They put on a musical play in early December and the 4 bands, 3 orchestras, 4 choirs and student-run small groups perform throughout the school year. The shows and concerts are very high quality for High School productions.
Visual arts
There are displays of art by local artists at the New Deal Cafe, in the lobby of the Greenbelt Arts Center, in the Community Center and in the Greenbelt Aquatic and Fitness Center.
The City's Recreation Department has an Artist in Residence program at the Community Center. There is a studio open house on the first Sunday of each month.
Movie theater
Do Old Greenbelt Theatre
Historic single-screen movie theater, opened in 1938 and renovated in 2015. One of the few single-screen movies theaters still operating.
Festivals
Do Greenbelt Day
A civic festival put on by the City's Recreation department. Various activities, including arts, music and sports.
Do Blues Festival
Blues music through the ages, from acoustic to rockin'. Includes workshops and a musical instrument petting zoo.
Do Greenbelt Labor Day Festival
The highlight of the City's year, the festival has been held every year since 1955 over Labor Day weekend (first weekend in September.) Greenbelt's Outstanding Citizen is selected during the opening ceremony on Friday and he or she leads the Monday morning parade. It is the largest festival of its kind in Maryland with more than 10,000 people attending each year. There is live music all weekend on the outdoor stage, including rising stars talent show. Inside the Community Center look for the art and photo shows. Stock up on books for the year at the giant used books sale featuring more than 25,000 books. Try your luck at bingo. In Roosevelt Center, learn about local organizations at the information day tables on Saturday and visit the Retro Town Fair and shop at the Craft Fair on Sunday. The carnival rides, games, food and activity booths are open all weekend.
Do Greenbelt Pumpkin Festival
The community carves jack-o-lanterns which are placed on a path through the woods.
Do Greenbelt Schools Creative and Performing Arts Festival
Participants from all the Greenbelt Schools, elementary through high school, perform together.
Do Halloween Costume Contest and Parade
Costume contest and parade in late October, followed by a free movie in the Old Greenbelt Theater.
Do The Festival of Lights
Tree lighting Friday evening. On Saturday and Sunday, a craft fair featuring hand-made and original arts and crafts for sale by local artists.
Buy
Shop at the Festivals: Hand-made art and crafts at the Festival of Lights, the Green Man Festival and the Harvest Festival. Used books at the Labor Day Festival.
Eat
Eat Chef Lou's Desserts
Baked goods and ice cream.
Eat Generous Joe's
Pizza, pasta and deli sandwiches. "The fill your belly deli." Eat in, take out or phone for local delivery.
Eat Osaka Restaurant
This is a tasty, reasonably-priced sushi restaurant.
Eat Pollo Cabana
Slow-cooked charcoal rotisserie-style Peruvian chicken. Gourmet taste at a fast-food price. Also has wraps and salads.
Eat Three Brothers Pizza
If you had an Italian mama from New York coming to visit, this is the pizza she'd want! Part of a Maryland chain.
Drink
Do The New Deal Cafe
Live music daily with a wide range of styles: jazz, folk, alternative, blues and rock. In 2012, the New Deal Cafe was voted the best local music venue in the Washington DC area by listeners of WTOP radio. Known as "The community's living room," on some nights the audience takes the stage at the singer-songwriter open mic, the poetry open mic and others. Don't miss the future superstars at the popular monthly kid's open mic. The monthly Reel and Meal has a documentary film and discussion with optional vegetarian buffet. The Cafe features a vegan menu. Craft beers on tap and a selection of wine. Local artwork hanging on the walls is changed monthly. Free Wi-Fi.
Drink Chevy's
Great margaritas in a chain Mexican restaurant.
Drink Ruby Tuesday
A popular place to hang-out after meetings at NASA.
Sleep
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