Outdoor swimming pools in and around Washington, DC

An updated post can be found here

Most of us are missing the typical summers of cooling off, meeting friends and practicing our strokes at our favorite pools. Below are limited options, some with options to join late in the summer while some have waitlists. 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 during a regular season! 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 fingers crossed upon entry into phase 3 we may be able to access some of these pools. Pool goers this summer are being asked to make a reservation at most of the listed pools as well as minimize their time in opened locker rooms, and some are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets to outdoor pools. See each site for individual rules.

Omni Shoreham Hotel Pool (NW DC)
*Website not updated to reflect 2020, call for details (202) 234-0700.

Beauvoir Pool (NW DC)
*CLOSED FOR 2020

Cleveland Park Club (NW DC)
*Cleveland Park, North Cleveland Park and Woodley Park residents. Website does not state if there is a waitlist.

Living Well Health Club at Washington Hilton (NW DC)
*Currently closed. 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.

Montgomery County Maryland
*They have seven outdoor pools and are open to pass holders.

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. Website does not mention a waitlist.

Adelphi Pool (Hyattsville, MD)
*Waitlist

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.

Bannockburn Swim & Dive Club (Bethesda, MD)
*Website does not mention a waitlist.

Merrimack Pool (Bethesda, MD)
*Website does not mention a waitlist.

Carderock Springs Swim & Tennis Club (Bethesda, MD)
*To inquire about membership and/or to be put on a waiting list, contact the Club Membership Secretary Cari Ardrey

Mohican Swimming Pool (Bethesda, MD)
*Full Memberships are available to those applicants residing in the area encompassed by the Capital Crescent Trail, the Potomac River, Goldsboro Road, and River Road, or in the Town of Glen Echo. Individuals living outside of this zone may apply for late summer only memberships.

Old Farm (N Bethesda, MD)
*Website does not mention a waitlist.

Robin Hood Swim Club (Silver Spring, MD)
*Website does not mention a waitlist.

Potomac Woods (Rockville, MD)
*There are no geographical boundaries for membership. Website does not mention a waitlist.

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)
*Only open to members at this time.

Tuckahoe Recreation Club (McLean, VA)
*Currently has a waiting list for full membership. This means that by applying now you may be admitted to membership in about 6 months.

Columbus Club (Arlington, VA)
*There is no wait list for the Columbus Club Pools. The only membership option available is the full family membership.

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

WTOP released an article with information on pool openings in various counties in Virginia and Maryland, for more info read here.