Lesson Locations

From the Capital Beltway (I-495)

1. Take River Road (exit 39) west towards Potomac.
2. Continue west on River Road approximately 8.9 miles and make a left turn onto Pennyfield Lock Rd. (The sign for Pennyfield Lock Road is on your right and you will see a sign on the left that says "Historic Tobytown".)
3. Drive to the end of Pennyfield Lock Road to a stop sign and park in the parking area immediately in front of you adjacent to the C&O Canal. You should see a Potomac Paddlesports trailer.

Note: Please have your waivers completed, in hand, and all your clothing and supplies ready to go fifteen minutes prior to start time so that we can start promptly.

Also, for restrooms, make a left at the stop sign and continue to the end of the access road. You should find the Port-o-Johns near the Pennyfield House. After you use them, please return to the parking area near the stop sign.

From the Capital Beltway (I-495)

1. Take Exit 41 toward Carderock/Great Falls, MD and merge onto the Clara Barton Parkway.
2. Take the Parkway 1.7 miles until it ends at Macarthur Blvd., and then turn left onto Macarthur Blvd.
3. The parking area will be on your left, across the street from the Old Angler's Inn.
4. Look for the Potomac Paddlesports Trailer.

Please Note:

1. There are three separate lots at different levels. Please look around for us.
2. Please have your waivers completed in hand and all your clothing and supplies ready to go fifteen minutes prior to start time so that we can start promptly.
3. Vehicles have been broken into at this parking lot. Please leave all valuables at home and bring a small drybox for your credit cards and cash. You can store your car key in a hidden key box on the underside of your fender.

From the Capital Beltway (I-495)

1. Take River Road (exit 39) west towards Potomac.
2. Continue west on River Road approximately 12.3 miles and make a left turn to stay on River Rd. for another 0.7 miles.
3. Turn left on Rileys Lock Rd and continue until you see a sea kayak trailer in the gravel lot on the left across from the boat ramp.

Note: Please have your waivers completed, in hand, and all your clothing and supplies ready to go fifteen minutes prior to start time so that we can start promptly.

Southbound on the George Washington Parkway

1. Take the George Washington Parkway southbound. Follow signs towards Reagan National Airport.
2. After you pass the exit for Rt. 66, get in the right lane and get ready to exit.
3. Turn Right into the Marina just after the signs for “Lyndon B. Johnson Memorial Grove and Columbia sland Marina.
4. Park in the lot on your left near the restrooms. You will see a kayak trailer and instructors nearby.

Northbound on the George Washington Parkway

1. Take exit after Reagan Washington National Airport for I-395 South.
2. Stay Right and take immediate first exit, Exit 10 A (Boundary Channel Drive).
3. Follow directions From I-395, below.

From I-395 (northbound or southbound)

1. Take Exit 10 A (Boundary Channel Drive)
2. Merge Right towards the North Parking of the Pentagon
3. Continue on in the Left lane around the Pentagon. The Pentagon Lagoon and marina will be to the right.
4. Come to a stop sign. There will be a sign that says "George Washington Memorial Parkway", with an arrow to the right.
5. Turn Right and enter Route 27 North (there will not be a sign for 27 North) for a short time (stay in right lane).
6. Take first exit right to George Washington Parkway south. There is a sign for Lady Bird Johnson Park to the right on the exit ramp.
7. Merge right onto George Washington Parkway south.
8. Just past yield/merge sign, turn Right into Marina (before the Humpback Bridge).
9. Park in the lot on your left near the restrooms. You will see a kayak trailer and instructors nearby.

From DC, Baltimore, and Annapolis

To start, make sure you are on Route 50 heading east, and then follow the steps below.

1. From Route 50, take exit 22 for Aris T. Allen Blvd (MD 665). (Aris T. Allen Blvd. will become Forest Drive.).
2. After approximately 3.9 miles, turn left onto Hilltop Lane.
3. After approximately 1.1 miles, turn left on Primrose Road.
4. Proceed about 0.2 miles. Bear left at the fork in the road and proceed up on Park Road (unmarked).
5. Park in the treed lot on your left near the restrooms. You will see a kayak trailer and instructors nearby.

From the Capital Beltway (I-495)

To start, make sure you are on Route 50 heading east, and then follow the steps below.

1. Take Braddock Road West (exit 54A).
2. Almost immediately after you get off the Beltway, take your first right into the Wakefield Park entrance.
3. Follow the park road all the way around to the back of the park, where you'll see the Audrey Moore Rec Center and a large parking lot.
4. Park, then walk with your gear down the path (just to the right of the Rec Center) to the big patio behind the pool.
5. Please Note: We will meet here to collect waivers and conduct a briefing. No one is allowed inside the pool before handing in a waiver.

From DC, Baltimore, and Annapolis

To start, make sure you are on Route 50 heading east, and then follow the steps below.

1. Take Route 50 east towards the Bay Bridge.
2. Cross over the Bay Bridge (toll required).
3. After about 9.5 miles, merge onto Ocean Gateway/US-50 towards Ocean City.
4. After 34.8 miles, turn right onto Church Creek Rd/Gypsy Hill Rd/MD-16.
5. After 7.3 miles, turn left on MD-335/Church Creek-Golden Hill Rd.
6. After 3.8 miles, turn left onto Key Wallace Rd.
7. After 0.8 miles, the Blackwater Visitors Center will be on your right.
8. Park in the Visitors Center parking lot and look for the Potomac Paddlesports trailer and guides.

If you get lost, you can call the Blackwater NWR Visitors Center at (410) 228-2677.

From DC Beltway (I-495) Outer Loop

1. Take Exit 34 (Rt. 355) north toward Rockville.
2. Go approximately 2 miles through several traffic lights and make a right onto Randolph Road.
3. At the first traffic light, make a right onto Maple Avenue.
4. The store is on the left.

From DC Beltway (I-495) Inner Loop

1. Take Exit 36 (Old Georgetown Road) north toward Rockville.
2. Go approximately 2 miles through several traffi c lights and make a left onto Rockville Pike (Rt. 355).
3. At the first traffic light, make a right onto Randolph Road.
4. At the first traffic light after that, make a right onto Maple Avenue.
5. The store is on the left.

From Rt. 29

1. Exit off onto Randolph Road heading west toward Rockville (if going south on 29 that's a right turn, if going north make a left turn).
2. Continue on Randolph Road for about 8 miles, making certain to bear right at the to stay on Randolph.
3. Cross the railroad tracks, then make a left at the second light onto Maple Avenue.
4. The store is on the left.

From Rt. 270

1. Take the Montrose Road exit.
2. Go east on Montrose Road for about 2 miles.
3. Montrose Road will pass underneath Rockville Pike.
4. When you come up on the other side, you'll see the light for the Maple Avenue intersection about 100 meters ahead.
5. Take a right on Maple Avenue and you'll see the store just ahead to the left. You're there!