Where to Play Tennis in Washington DC
Washington runs on rules. Its tennis courts come down to two: an hour for singles when people are waiting, ninety minutes for doubles.
There is no booking. Turn up, and if people are waiting, keep to the limit. A permit holder has the court for their time.
We checked 43 places to play across 29 neighborhoods. None takes a booking. This guide tells you where they are and how the rules work.
Venue facts last checked October 2, 2026. The Department of Parks and Recreation's rules checked October 15, 2026.
- 43
- no booking needed
- 8
- courts at Banneker
- 8
- within 3 km of Banneker
- 19
- with lights
Start at Banneker
Banneker is in Columbia Heights, on Georgia Avenue. 8 courts, with lights. No booking.
Busy? An hour for singles, ninety minutes for doubles, then the court goes to whoever is waiting. Permit holders go first.
The closest courts to Banneker
Banneker full? These are the nearest places on our list, closest first.
- Bruce Monroe Park0.6 km from Banneker
Columbia Heights, Mt. Pleasant, Pleasant Plains, Park View
- Courts: 1
- Lights: No
- Lincoln-Bell1.4 km from Banneker
Columbia Heights, Mt. Pleasant, Pleasant Plains, Park View
- Courts: 2
- Lights: No
- Kennedy1.5 km from Banneker
Shaw, Logan Circle
- Courts: 1
- Lights: Yes
- Raymond1.6 km from Banneker
Brightwood Park, Crestwood, Petworth
- Courts: 1
- Lights: No
- Marie-Reed1.6 km from Banneker
Kalorama Heights, Adams Morgan, Lanier Heights
- Courts: 2
- Lights: Yes
- Harry Thomas1.7 km from Banneker
Edgewood, Bloomingdale, Truxton Circle, Eckington
- Courts: 1
- Edgewood1.9 km from Banneker
Edgewood, Bloomingdale, Truxton Circle, Eckington
- Courts: 2
- Lights: Yes
- Francis Field2.8 km from Banneker
West End, Foggy Bottom, GWU
- Courts: 4
As the crow flies.
How booking works here
There is none to make. The Department of Parks and Recreation's rules set time limits when people are waiting and give permit holders priority. Two National Park Service courts on our list, Montrose Park and Francis Field, say first come, first served, and ask you to keep to an hour when others are waiting.
No booking needed
These are the places on our list. Turn up and play, and keep to the time limit when others are waiting.
- RaymondBrightwood Park, Crestwood, Petworth · Courts: 1
- Dwight A. MosleyBrookland, Brentwood, Langdon · Courts: 5
- Langdon ParkBrookland, Brentwood, Langdon · Courts: 4
- Garfield ParkCapitol Hill, Lincoln Park · Courts: 2
- Woody Ward Recreation CenterCapitol View, Marshall Heights, Benning Heights · Courts: 1
- NewarkCathedral Heights, McLean Gardens, Glover Park · Courts: 3
- HearstCleveland Park, Woodley Park, Massachusetts Avenue Heights, Woodland-Normanstone Terrace · Courts: 2
- BannekerColumbia Heights, Mt. Pleasant, Pleasant Plains, Park View · Courts: 8
- Bruce Monroe ParkColumbia Heights, Mt. Pleasant, Pleasant Plains, Park View · Courts: 1
- Lincoln-BellColumbia Heights, Mt. Pleasant, Pleasant Plains, Park View · Courts: 2
- Congress HeightsCongress Heights, Bellevue, Washington Highlands · Courts: 1
- DeanwoodDeanwood, Burrville, Grant Park, Lincoln Heights, Fairmont Heights · Courts: 1
- Kelly MillerDeanwood, Burrville, Grant Park, Lincoln Heights, Fairmont Heights · Courts: 3
- Kenilworth ParksideEastland Gardens, Kenilworth · Courts: 4
- EdgewoodEdgewood, Bloomingdale, Truxton Circle, Eckington · Courts: 2
- Harry ThomasEdgewood, Bloomingdale, Truxton Circle, Eckington · Courts: 1
- HillcrestFairfax Village, Naylor Gardens, Hillcrest, Summit Park · Courts: 4
- Chevy Chase PlaygroundFriendship Heights, American University Park, Tenleytown · Courts: 2
- FriendshipFriendship Heights, American University Park, Tenleytown · Courts: 2
- Montrose ParkGeorgetown, Burleith/Hillandale · Courts: 4
- Rose ParkGeorgetown, Burleith/Hillandale · Courts: 3
- Volta ParkGeorgetown, Burleith/Hillandale · Courts: 2
- Lafayette-PointerHawthorne, Barnaby Woods, Chevy Chase · Courts: 4
- Fort StantonHistoric Anacostia · Courts: 1
- ArboretumIvy City, Arboretum, Trinidad, Carver Langston · Courts: 2
- Marie-ReedKalorama Heights, Adams Morgan, Lanier Heights · Courts: 2
- Turkey ThicketNorth Michigan Park, Michigan Park, University Heights · Courts: 6
- Benning StoddertRiver Terrace, Benning, Greenway, Dupont Park · Courts: 9
- Fort Dupont CourtsRiver Terrace, Benning, Greenway, Dupont Park · Courts: 4
- KennedyShaw, Logan Circle · Courts: 1
- JeffersonSouthwest Employment Area, Southwest/Waterfront, Fort McNair, Buzzard Point · Courts: 1
- King-GreenleafSouthwest Employment Area, Southwest/Waterfront, Fort McNair, Buzzard Point · Courts: 1
- RandallSouthwest Employment Area, Southwest/Waterfront, Fort McNair, Buzzard Point · Courts: 3
- HardySpring Valley, Palisades, Wesley Heights, Foxhall Crescent, Foxhall Village, Georgetown Reservoir · Courts: 2
- PalisadesSpring Valley, Palisades, Wesley Heights, Foxhall Crescent, Foxhall Village, Georgetown Reservoir · Courts: 3
- Fort StevensTakoma, Brightwood, Manor Park · Courts: 4
- TakomaTakoma, Brightwood, Manor Park · Courts: 5
- Fort DavisTwining, Fairlawn, Randle Highlands, Penn Branch, Fort Davis Park, Fort Dupont · Courts: 1
- SherwoodUnion Station, Stanton Park, Kingman Park · Courts: 1
- Francis FieldWest End, Foggy Bottom, GWU · Courts: 4
- DakotaWoodridge, Fort Lincoln, Gateway · Courts: 1
- Fort LincolnWoodridge, Fort Lincoln, Gateway · Courts: 8
- Bald EagleCourts: 2
When to go
Early. With no booking, the first one there plays, unless a permit holder has the court.
Want to play after dark? 19 of the places on our list have lights on record.
FAQ
- Do I need to book a tennis court in Washington DC?
- No. None of the 43 places on our list takes a booking. Permit holders for court time take priority.
- How long can I play?
- When people are waiting: one hour for singles and an hour and a half for doubles, the Department of Parks and Recreation says.
- Are tennis courts free in Washington DC?
- We cannot say. No District page we read says the courts are free, and none gives a price for playing without a permit.
- Can pickleball players use the tennis courts?
- Where pickleball lines are painted on a tennis court, yes. The Department of Parks and Recreation says they follow the same rules as tennis players.
How we checked
Every fact on this page comes from the District's Department of Parks and Recreation, the District's open data or the National Park Service. Each venue page shows the source and the date we read it. We do not review courts and we have not played them for you. If something here is wrong, the source changed after we read it. Tell us.
- “One hour of play for singles and 1.5 hours of play for doubles when players are waiting for courts.” “Where blended pickleball lines are present, pickleball players may use the tennis courts and follow the same rules outlined for tennis.” “Permit holders for court time take priority.” dpr.dc.gov, read October 15, 2026
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