Regatta Site Information
St Andrew's School in Delaware
The Potomac and Thompson's Boat Center in DC
To Philadelphia (Stotesbury & Head of the Schuylkill)
A PDF File with regatta site directions from NCASRA
The Occoquan (aka "the Quan" for short) runs along most of the border between Prince William and Fairfax Counties in northern Virginia. The Occoquan and it's Sandy Run Northern Virginia Regional Park and our own Oxford Boat House are about 30 miles southwest of Washington, DC. The Occoquan regularly hosts national-level and regional crew regattas at the high school, collegiate, and masters levels during the spring and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships in June. Our boathouse is west of the Sandy Run Park site on a bend in the Occoquan. The Occoquan Reservoir is formed by damming up the Occoquan River at a site just west of the small village named (can you guess?) Occoquan.
One of the upstream sources of the Occoquan River is the historic stream known as Bull Run - site of two major Civil War battles. The eastern (closer) end of the Occoquan also has a rich history. A little known Civil War battle was fought just a little upstream of where we now have the Occoquan Dam. We understand that in one battle, hot lead was flying across the water at about the same location where today we find the 1000 meter mark on the regatta course. Along the northern shore of the Occoquan (on the17 mile long Bull Run-Occoquan Trail), one can still see remains of Union artillery fortifications which regularly shelled the Confederate troops stationed across the river in what are now our own Lake Ridge and West Ridge communities.
Directions to Sandy Run from the Washington Beltway, Baltimore
and points north on I95:
From the Washington Beltway, (either 495 or 95), take the 95 south exit towards Richmond.
Take exit 163, Lorton Road, Route 642, west. After about 1.6 miles, bear
right on Furnace Road and follow it until it meets Route 123 (Ox Road). Turn right
on Ox Road and travel 1.2 miles to Hampton Road where you will turn left. Go about
.5 miles on Hampton Road and turn left on Van Thompson Road (you will see power lines
overhead, just in front of you). After about 1/4 mile Van Thompson bears sharply to
the left at a well weathered barn and continues down a hill to the entrance to Sandy Run
Park.
From Lake Ridge: Proceed east on Old Bridge to Rt 123, head north on 123 over the Occoquan and then follow the same route as above turning off Rt 123 onto Hampton Road.
Here's a local road map to Sandy Run Park off Hampton Road.
Oxford Boathouse and Woodbridge Senior High School (WSHS) are also shown in red.
North is to the top of the map.
Two maps showing the changes in our area over the last decade or so
A topo map of our area from 1986 shows a lot of undeveloped area...
Same map overlaid by an aerial photo from mid-90s showing the large amount of growth in the region
Here are some aerial photos of the Occoquan with Sandy Run and our boathouse. North is to top, Town of Occoquan is just off to the right.
A very high shot:
A sort of high shot:
Even closer...
Back to the Top
Directions to Sandy Run
Regional Park from the
Washington Beltway, Baltimore and points north on I95:
From the Washington Beltway, (either 495 or 95), take the 95 south exit towards Richmond.
Take exit 163, Lorton Road, Route 642, west. After about 1.6 miles, bear right on Furnace
Road and follow it until it meets Route 123 (Ox Road). Turn right on Ox Road and travel
1.2 miles to Hampton Road where you will turn left. Go about .5 miles on Hampton Road and
turn left on Van Thompson Road (you will see power lines overhead, just in front of you).
After about 1/4 mile Van Thompson bears sharply to the left at a well weathered barn and
continues down a hill to the entrance to Sandy Run Park.
From Lake Ridge: Proceed east on Old Bridge to Rt 123, head north on 123 over the Occoquan and then follow the same route as above turning off Rt 123 onto Hampton Road.
Here is a map of the walking trails and general lay out of Sandy Run Regional Park's Rowing Facility:
Back to the Top
The Anacostia Rowing Course features some of the best water in the Mid-Atlantic region upon which to row. Information which will help you enjoy the regatta follows, along with directions to the site from various starting points.
INFORMATION
Make sure that you have personal identification (such as a driver's license). You'll park in the Washington Navy Yard, so you'll show your I.D. as you enter. Please prepare yourself for any possible weather conditions. Dress to stay warm and dry, for there is little shelter beyond that which is needed for emergencies. If the forecast is hot, bring plenty of water as it is not readily available.
Plan ahead for food and drinks. McDonald's will be open from 8 am to late afternoon. It
is located in the Navy Yard, one block from the parking lot. Many people like to bring
their own food and drinks. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted. Parking is in the Navy
Yard and is organized as follows:
-Cars are to be parked in the multilevel garage on the southwest corner of
10th and O Streets. The directions which follow will guide you directly to this garage.
-Buses are to be parked in the blue-lined spaces in the open parking lot at
the end of 10th Street near the river. The blue-lined spaces run along the building marked
as the Dental Clinic.
-Trailers are to be parked in the same open parking lot at the end of 10th
Street near the river. Trailers are to use the 9th Street gate to enter the Navy Yard, so
the directions to the site which follow may be used. There is room for rigging in this
lot, and it provides easy access to the launch area. The organizing committee is
respectful of the valuable cargo transported on your trailers, so if you have any
questions or concerns about these instructions, please communicate with the contact listed
below in advance of the regatta.
Spectators:
If you are not crew, cox, coach, official, or on-duty volunteer,then you are a spectator. Spectators should walk out of the Navy Yard O St. gate, headed east (upriver). Signs and volunteers will direct you to a shuttle bus which will convey you to the spectating area across the river in the Anacostia National Park. There is no charge for this shuttle bus. Anacostia Park offers splendid viewing, comparable to the Schuylkill, with an unobstructed view of the entire 1,500 meter rowing course. You will be able to enjoy the regatta from the best vantage point.
DIRECTIONS TO THE SITE
Than Washington Navy Yard has kindly agreed to open their parking facilities to us for cars, trailers and buses. Once you have entered the Navy Yard the route for all vehicles is:
CARS: On your right, is a multi-level parking garage (southwest corner of 10th and O) where you are to park.
BUSES AND TRAILERS: Continue another short block and turn left into the Dental Clinic building's parking lot.
GETTING TO THE NAVY YARD: Four sets of instructions follow which detail different
routes to the Navy Yard parking . Choose your preferred starting point or route and follow
one of these sets of directions.
From I-395 in Arlington / Alexandria: Proceed north on 395 toward DC. Cross the 395 bridge
over the Potomac. 395 becomes the SW/SE Expressway. Continue past Southwest Washington,
past the South Capitol Street exit, then get in the far right lane. Take the next exit,
("6th Street SE and Navy Yard"). The ramp becomes Virginia Avenue, SE, which
crosses the numbered streets on the diagonal. Turn right (south)on 7th Street. Drive two
blocks. Turn left on M Street, SE. Proceed to the Navy Yard's gate at 9th Street and turn
right into the Navy Yard. Present driver's license or other identification. Continue
straight ahead for two blocks to O St., turn left on O, then right on 10th. (Follow above
directions to park)
~FROM THE WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE, I-95 / I-495: Proceed across the bridge from Virginia into Maryland on North 95/ 495,staying toward the right lane. Take the first exit, following 295 north. Continue past Bolling Air Force Base. Take the "Navy Yard" exit,following 295 as it crosses the Anacostia River. Stay in the right lane. Exit down off the elevated bridge span onto 12th Street. Continue two blocks. Turn left onto M Street. Continue two blocks to the Navy Yard entrance at 9th Street. Turn left into the Navy Yard. Present driver's license or other identification. (Follow above directions to park)
~FROM INDEPENDENCE AVENUE NEAR THE MALL: Continue east along Independence past the Tidal Basin and bear right toward Maine Avenue. Stay in the left lane. Take the ramp up to the SW/SE Expressway (I-395). Continue past the South Capitol Street exit, then get in the far right lane. Take the next exit ("6th Street SE and Navy Yard"). The exit ramp becomes Virginia Avenue, SE, which crosses the numbered streets on the diagonal. Turn right (south) on 7th Street. Drive two blocks. Turn left on M Street, SE. Proceed to the Navy Yard's gate at 9th Street and turn right into the Navy Yard. Present driver's license or other identification. (Follow above directions to park)
~FROM UPPER NW WASHINGTON (ALTERNATE): Not recommended for trailers Take Massachusetts Avenue all the way down past Union Station to 11th Street, SE at Lincoln Park. Turn right (south). Continue on 11th Street to M Street. Turn right. Two blocks bring you to the 9th Street entrance to the Navy Yard. Turn left into the Yard, and present a driver's license or other identification. (Follow above directions to park)
Correction to the info below: The actual distance from the intersection of Route 301 to Silverlake Road is1.6 miles (not 1/2 to 3/4 miles as stated below). Driving time from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Middletown is approx one hour.
Back to the Top
The Potomac and Thompson's Boat Center in DC
Georgetown Site Directions (also known as the Upper Potomac Course, Thompson's Boat Center site)Thompson Boat Center
Thompson Boat Center in Washington, DC is located just off the Rock Creek Parkway at the foot of Virginia Avenue, NW. There is a parking lot, but it is limited and preference is given to busses, trailers staff and volunteers, all of whom arrive early. There is commercial parking by the water, close to the finish line off Wisconsin Avenue under the Whitehurst Freeway. There is easy access by foot from that lot to the finish line and to Regatta headquarters.
IMPORTANT NOTES FOR TRAILERS: THE ONLY FEASIBLE ROUTE INTO THOMPSON'S PARKING LOT IS VIA VIRGINIA AVENUE. DON'T TRY TO USE ROCK CREEK PARKWAY.
FURTHER, TRAFFIC CANNOT CROSS ROCK CREEK PARKWAY DURING WEEKDAY RUSH HOURS - 6:30 - 9:30 AM, 3:30-6:30 PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
To get to the Commercial Parking lot at Wisconsin Avenue and to Thompson Boat Center:
FROM THE WEST:
Follow Wisconsin Avenue south to K St, NW, also known at that point as Water St. Here the commercial parking lot is directly ahead of you next to the River.
If you are proceeding to the Thompson parking lot, turn left on K St. and proceed east through several stop signs, moving into the right hand lane. As K St begins to climb up hill ahead of you, on the right you will see a small underpass. Follow this onto Rock Creek Parkway and take an immediate right into Thompson Parking lot
From Rock Creek Parkway headed south:
At the traffic light with Virginia Avenue turn right into Thompson parking lot.
NOTE: There is no left turn into Thompson's from Rock Creek Parkway headed north
FROM VIRGINIA HEADED NORTH:
From junction of 95 North and Washington Beltway, take 395 North toward DC. Look for
Memorial Bridge signs and get in right lane exiting onto the route which passes west of
the Pentagon. Continue north until you reach Memorial Bridge. Cross Memorial Bridge in the
left lane and bear left in front of the Lincoln Memorial and take the first legal left
turn (second left) on 23rd St.. Follow 23rd north several blocks to Virginia Avenue, NW
(the street before this turn is E St, NW), . Turn left on Virginia and go directly ahead.
At the traffic light with Rock Creek Parkway be in the left lane. If you want to get to
the smallish parking lot at Thompson's Boat Center (TBC), on the full green light, cross
the Parkway into Thompson's parking lot. To get to the commercial lot at
the foot of Wisconsin Avenue, follow directions across Memorial Bridge to left on 23rd
St.. Follow 23rd past Virginia Ave to Washington Circle. Follow the Circle 3/4 of the way
around, turn right on K St. Follow K St in the left lane down the ramp which takes you
under the Whitehurst Freeway. Proceed through several stop signs to Wisconsin Ave where
you will see the parking lot on the left.
