The Francis Scott Key Bridge

The Key Bridge is one of the main arteries connecting Northern Virginia to DC. With that said, you can bet this bridge is a parking lot during rush hour, especially in bad weather. Today was a decent day to cross the bridge by bike on the walkways.
TIP: Use caution if you are biking on the actual bridge during rush hours. .. just not worth it.

This is my most favorite bridges to cross the georgetown canal. It literally safely transports you from one side to the other. The experience was awesome and I highly recommend you try this bridge.

I have a massive fear of heights.
This fear, besides making me a victim of many jokes, hoaxes and teasing, prevents me from doing a great deal of things such as hang gliding, skydiving, flying without alcohol, using many, many escalators, and of course, crossing bridges.
I was very surprised to learn a few years ago I can in fact cross the Key Bridge without falling to the ground and beginning a massive anxiety attack. For that I am very grateful.
This is a beautiful, well constructed bridge on a small portion of US Route 29 which links the very corporate, shadowy Rosslyn, VA to the bright, open and sunny outdoor mall that is Georgetown, Washington D.C. Besides the regular motor traffic, you’ll find a great deal of university students, young professionals and tourist either walking, jogging or biking across. I’ve even stopped on it to hoop dance here. The pedestrian area is nice and wide, which is probably why I can venture across, as long as I walk away from the rail, closer to the motor traffic… and certainly never look down.
Tip: Always watch for the bikers, they never slow down.
This is now the only way I access Georgetown since parking is a major pain in the rear. Besides, I honestly enjoy the walk and the views of the Potomac. Walking across the bridge into VA at night has often sparked a creative surge of thoughts which has triggered melodies for my song writing & music mixes.
My grandmama would be proud of me, though I still cannot use those darn Rosslyn Metro escalators.

Big bridge that connects Georgetown and Rosslyn. Better for walking than for driving; the Georgetown end especially is full of streets that back up badly in anything remotely close to rush hour.
As a pedestrian bridge, it offers views from high up and a useful access point from the Metro in Virginia to GU, the surrounding neighborhood, and ultimately Downtown. You can also head down to the Canal from here and hike/​bike to your heart’s content.

I cross the Key Bridge every morning and afternoon during the week. Although traffic backs up during rush hour, it’s not any worse than the other bridges in the DC area. No complaints here!

I enjoyed driving over the bridge to get to DC… great view of DC or Arlington! I didn’t know why everything nearby was «Key» something… until I saw that the full name of the bridge is Francis Scott Key Bridge. Then it clicked, haha…

The Francis Scott Key Bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Local Tip: It’s a half a mile walk from the Rosslyn Metro to the Georgetown side of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. As an Arlington resident, I often park in Rosslyn rather then trying to battle the parking hounds.
The world is very photogenic from this height. These are a few of my favorite things:
Stunning views of the Rosslyn skyline at night, the Washington Monument standing in all it’s glory across the water, kayakers rowing their boats up and down the Potomac, leaf peeping towards Roosevelt island observing changing colors in the crispness of fall.
I like to incorporate this bridge into my urban hikes regardless of the season. From Rosslyn, the Key Bridge connects me to the Exorcist Stairs, Jack’s Boathouse, The Curse of the Three Sisters (tiny islands connected to Native American urban legends) walks along the C&O canal and the shops in Georgetown.
Hey you, get out of the car. Take a hike!

Lovely little bridge.
I’ve made it a point to run or do some kind of exercise when I’m on vacation. So when I found out this bridge was right next to my hotel, I was ecstatic.
It was a half mile run early in the morning, officially crossing over from VA to DC.
Ran a little more on M street, observed a pair of lovers sitting near the canal, and listened to the birds.
Enjoy.

This bridge pisses me off, mostly because I drive it on my commute to and from work every day. And what do I see? People outside walking, running, just enjoying the day while I am in my car and have a job.
Despite my envy, this isn’t a bad or particularly scary bridge. It is a fine bridge. I just don’t know why cars are breaking down on it all the time and causing traffic jams… oh, and if you want to make a left, get in the left lane ASAP and STOP HOLDING UP THE MIDDLE LANE you suck at life if you do this.
That is all. Go back to your bridginess, bridge.

Having achieved «duke» status at this crossing of the Mighty Potomac I have decided to set up a toll booth and begin charging $ 5.00 per vehicle to pass. I think a month of toll collection would put me in position to buy that glass house on the hill above M Street overlooking the bridge. A perfect vantage point from which to survey my oddest dukedom.

This is a nice looking bridge. It’s even better when you’re kayaking under it or catching a view at sunset with your special someone.
I used to run across it from Arlington, and I really enjoyed crossing it while the cars were stuck in traffic.
Watch out for the taxis that turn right onto the Whitehurst freeway, if you’re not looking you may get run over.

«This thing dead ends into some of the greatest steps EVER. I just love it. Driving over to Georgetown it provides a picturesque and beautiful entry into the city… with the steps in front of you, and the Francis Key small park (in Dec. with christmas lights and ornamental stars, etc) to your right.
It is just a bridge, of course, but it provides a beautiful view of the city and the area as well as the Potomoc. You will probably drive over it, so… might as well enjoy it. (sure… GO SLOW!)»

As someone without a car, you may wonder why I’m writing a review for a bridge.
I go on photowalks fairly often and earlier this spring/​summer, I took the metro to Rosslyn and then walked over the Key Bridge to Georgetown and then walked even further to K St before hopping on the Farragut North metro to get home.
The Key Bridge is where I took some pictures of the waterfront at night. Only 2 or 3 turned out well due to the wind and my inability to keep from shaking. (This is where a tripod would have been helpful…) but I enjoyed my evening on the bridge. There is plenty of walking space on both sides which bikers can also take advantage of. I will be back to take more pictures soon, now that I bought a tripod.
Back when I did have a car, I tried not to use the bridge too often as the traffic of M St and Wisconsin really irritated me. But if you’re driving here during a low-​peak hour of the day, it’s not too bad.