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9/11 National Memorial Trail
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Trail Town

Arlington

Arlington County, DMV

Pentagon Memorial

About Arlington

Arlington is a vibrant urban county located directly across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., offering an ideal blend of history, culture, and modern amenities. With 11 Metro stops providing car-optional access throughout the region, Arlington is home to major national landmarks including the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery (established 1864), the Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima), and the Air Force Memorial. Diverse neighborhoods like Ballston, Crystal City, and Rosslyn offer eclectic theaters, international dining, and user-friendly public transportation.

9/11 Connection

Arlington is home to the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, honoring the 184 people whose lives were lost at the Pentagon and on American Airlines Flight 77 on September 11, 2001. The memorial, which opened on September 11, 2008, features 184 illuminated benches arranged by age (from Dana Falkenberg, age 3, to John Yamnicky Sr., age 71), each positioned beside its own reflecting pool. The memorial is located at 1 Rotary Road on the Pentagon Reservation and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with restrooms available 7AM-10PM daily. A 24-minute audio tour provides a narrative of the September 11 events and memorial design.

Trail Access

The 9/11 Memorial Trail runs through Arlington via the 18-mile Mount Vernon Trail, a paved shared-use path along the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Southbound from Rosslyn, the trail passes directly by the Pentagon and the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial (accessible via a short connecting path). The Pentagon City Metro station (Blue and Yellow Lines) provides the most direct transit access to the memorial.

Trail Services & Facilities

Bike Shops

Restrooms

  • Pentagon Memorial entrance

    Business • Daily 7AM-10PM

  • Pentagon City Metro station

    Business • During Metro operating hours

Water Sources

  • Pentagon Memorial entrance

    Water fountains

  • Mount Vernon Trail stations

    Water refill stations (NPS installing up to 14 new stations by 2026)

Food & Dining

Lodging

  • The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City

    Luxury Hotel • 1250 South Hayes Street, Arlington, VA 22202

  • DoubleTree by Hilton - Crystal City

    Full-Service Hotel • 300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA 22202

  • Embassy Suites by Hilton Crystal City

    All-Suite Hotel • 1393 S Eads St, Arlington, VA

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