Grilling in DC sans permits?

May 22, 2009 4:24 PM

Where can we grill outdoors, in a park-setting, in DC or Arlington -- without permits or law enforcement getting involved?

We're dying to grill outside tomorrow, and live rather close to Rock Creek Park, but it appears one needs a permit in advance to do any grilling there. On further inspection, most parks in DC don't allow it, and it would take all the fun out of it to be looking over our shoulders while trying to enjoy the outdoors.

So where can we go that we *don't need a permit* and can just show up and tailgate / grill out?

We're even considering crashing some kids' soccer game if we can just join the sidelines and start grilling.

thanks!

posted by garfy3 to food & drink (5 answers total)

Here's a list of parks in Arlington. The ones with the smoking grill icon are the ones you want!
posted by candyland at 4:43 PM on May 22, 2009

You don't need a permit for less than 10 people.

The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Permit Office manages and issues permits for all DPR facilities and sites, community gardens, and for picnic areas at Rock Creek Park and Fort Dupont Park, operated by the National Park Service. A permit is required for the use of any DPR facility or site by: more than 10 people for an hour or more; organized leagues; or for special events or the reservation of a multipurpose room.
posted by elle.jeezy at 4:47 PM on May 22, 2009

interesting - candyland: i'm working some google-map magek now to see which places will work, thanks for the link. i do wonder whether anyone cares at these parks if we just show up and start grilling, though. it doesn't seem to be explained anywhere on the site.

elle.jeezy: we may just give Rock Creek a try - do you know if we're allowed to bring out own grill, or must one use only the existing ones?
posted by garfy3 at 5:44 PM on May 22, 2009

you can bring your own grill. no one cares if you just show up. you just got there first. we used to go to rock creek all the time, esp. up by military road. also, the picnic areas along the canal are nice too.
posted by elle.jeezy at 7:42 PM on May 22, 2009

get there early. you have to be out at dark, i think. you can try to get there late and grill 'til closing; we did that alot. ymmv depending on the location. look for places off the beaten rock creek path.
posted by elle.jeezy at 7:57 PM on May 22, 2009