16 pools worth the cost of membership in and around Washington, DC

An updated version of this post can be found here

Summer is right around the corner! There are several great pools in the area you can become a member of if you want a go-to place to splash around and become a regular swimmer at, offering you a sense of community as the number of members are typically capped at a low number. Many of these pools offer multiple pools and some have swim lessons and even swim teams! If you aren’t looking for a paid membership at a pool, DC DPR has a pool for you, free of cost if you are a DC resident. Here’s an old post of recommended swim lessons collected from readers.

This post is sponsored by Adelphi Pool; a family-friendly, affordable pool right around the corner.

Join the family-friendly Adelphi Pool in Hyattsville and spend your summer lounging by the Olympic-sized pool or keep cool as you watch your little ones play in the 30′ x 30′ fenced-in wading pool! With long hours and fun events like karaoke, raft night and s’mores night, everyone will be happy and cool at the Adelphi Pool this summer!

Surrounded by trees and open spaces, the Adelphi Pool also has plenty of places to sit and relax or enjoy a picnic lunch — choose shade or sun! On the hill overlooking the pool is a shaded picnic area where families can enjoy food from home or cookout on one of the pool’s grills. 

This private pool offers free swimming lessons at the beginning of the season for your little ones, a swim team for the older kids, as well as yoga classes. The pool also offers volleyball, ping pong, badminton, and horseshoes. 

Beauvoir Pool (NW DC)
*Family and individual memberships sold out for 2019, early bird and evening memberships available.

Tilden Woods Pool (Rockville, MD)
*The pool comes alive with activities for the entire family, both day and night. Swim in a heated pool, enjoy cookouts, raft nights, or relax in the sun or shade. They also have a top-ranked swim team. 

Omni Shoreham Hotel Pool (NW DC)
*Pool memberships for purchase in addition to joining the health club.

Cleveland Park Club (NW DC)
*Cleveland Park, North Cleveland Park and Woodley Park residents.

Living Well Health Club at Washington Hilton (NW DC)
*Health club and pool memberships.

JBAB Base Pool (SW DC)
*Active duty service members and Air Force club members receive free pool access during the entire swimming season. Swim passes available for purchase.

Palisades Swim & Tennis Club (Cabin John, MD)
*Current waitlist time is approximately 8 to 10 years for new applicants applying.

Northwest Branch Pool (Silver Spring, MD)
*Current waitlist time is approximately 2 years for new applicants applying.

Palisades Swim & Tennis Club (Cabin John, MD)
*Current waitlist time is approximately 8 to 10 years for new applicants applying.

Chevy Chase Recreation Association: CCRA (Chevy Chase, MD)
*Memberships may be offered only to those residing within a specific geographic area of Chevy Chase, Maryland. Permanent memberships are unrestricted, but have a waiting list of about 5-7 years while partial summer membership has a waitlist of 1-3 months.

Connecticut Belair Club (Silver Spring, MD)
*Membership is not limited in any way by geography.

Tuckahoe Recreation Club (McLean, VA)
*Open year round that offers its members a healthy family environment with many outstanding facilities and activities for everyone in the family to enjoy.

Columbus Club (Arlington, VA)
*Open to non-council members as well.

Overlee Community Association (Arlington, VA)
*Limited to families living in Arlington, Falls Church, and McLean.

Arlington Forest Club (Arlington, VA)
*Has a waitlist of over 500 families.