The Exorcist Stairs in Georgetown are free, open 24 hours a day, and genuinely unsettling — even if you’ve never seen the film. They sit at the corner of 36th and Prospect Street NW, dropping 75 steep concrete steps from the residential streets of Georgetown down to Canal Road below. Director William Friedkin filmed here in 1973 for the climactic final scene of The Exorcist. More than 50 years later people are still making the trip.
Here’s everything you need to know before you go — including where to actually park, because Georgetown will humble you on that front too.
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What Are the Exorcist Stairs?
The stairs — officially called the M Street Stairs — are a public outdoor staircase at the intersection of 36th Street NW and Prospect Street NW in Georgetown. They descend 75 steps from the Prospect Street level down to Canal Road, creating a steep drop that’s impressive even before you know the film connection.
William Friedkin used them for the final scene of The Exorcist — the one that ends the film. That single shot turned a mundane city staircase into a pilgrimage site for horror fans. They’re also, worth noting, a completely normal part of the Georgetown neighborhood. Locals jog them. Dogs bound up them. On a Tuesday morning you’re more likely to see someone counting reps than anyone thinking about horror films. That contrast is part of what makes them interesting.
When to Visit
The stairs are accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year — and the experience changes dramatically depending on when you arrive.
Early morning: Quiet, locals only, minimal crowds. Good light for photos if you’re there just after sunrise.
Midday: Best natural light for photos. Moderate tourist traffic — you’ll share the stairs but won’t be fighting for space.
Evening / golden hour: The best combination of atmosphere and photography. Warm light, long shadows, the Georgetown rooftops behind you. This is the visit most people remember.
Night: The full cinematic experience. The stairs are lit by streetlights and the drop below is genuinely dramatic after dark. Georgetown is one of DC’s safest neighborhoods — night visits are common and the area is well-lit and active.
Halloween season: Packed. Everyone gets it in October. Go early morning if you want any kind of solitude.
How to Get There
The stairs sit at 36th Street NW and Prospect Street NW. Walk north on 36th Street from M Street for about 10 minutes and the staircase drops away to your left. You can’t miss it — there will almost always be at least one person standing at the top with their phone out.
By Metro: Georgetown has no Metro station — a quirk of the neighborhood’s history. Your best options are the DC Circulator Georgetown Route from Dupont Circle station (Red Line) or Rosslyn station (Blue/Orange/Silver), which drops you directly into the heart of Georgetown. Or take Foggy Bottom–GWU station and walk about 20 minutes.
By rideshare: Drop off on M Street NW and walk north on 36th. Straightforward pickup and dropoff on the main commercial strip.
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Georgetown parking is genuinely tricky — no Metro, narrow streets, and aggressive RPP enforcement on every residential block. Pre-book before you arrive.
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Read our full guide to parking in Georgetown DC — garage locations, street parking rules, and the Sunday morning trick locals use.
Where to Park for the Exorcist Stairs
The stairs sit on a residential block with no commercial parking nearby. Don’t try to park on Prospect Street — it’s Zone 2 RPP and fills with residents.
Your best move: park at the Georgetown Park Mall garage on M Street and walk north up Wisconsin Avenue to Prospect Street — about 8 minutes on foot. Or use the Canal Square garage on 31st Street NW and walk east along Prospect. Both put you within easy walking distance without fighting residential permit zones.
For the full Georgetown parking breakdown — garage locations, meter rules, what to avoid — read our dedicated Georgetown parking guide.
Make It a Full Georgetown Evening
The stairs themselves take about 20 minutes — you’ll walk over, take it in, climb up and down once, take your photos, and that’s it. What makes this worth the trip is combining it with everything Georgetown has to offer.
Start at the Georgetown Waterfront Park on K Street NW. Walk along the Potomac, take in the Key Bridge view, get oriented before heading uphill into the neighborhood.
Dinner on M Street before the stairs — Georgetown has excellent dining along the main strip and it’s easier to get a table earlier in the evening.
The Exorcist Stairs — walk north on 36th from M Street. Go after dark for the full experience.
The C&O Canal towpath — the historic Chesapeake and Ohio Canal runs through Georgetown. A nighttime walk along the towpath is peaceful and completely underrated.
Georgetown Cupcake — the original location. There’s almost always a line, but it moves fast.
Tips Before You Go
No formal signage. There’s no sign at the top that says “Exorcist Stairs,” no ticket booth, no gift shop. It’s a public staircase that exists completely in context with the surrounding neighborhood. Part of the charm.
Bring your phone charged. The low light at night means you’ll want it for photos. The view from the top — looking down the stairs and out over Canal Road — is worth capturing.
It’s steeper than it looks. In photos the stairs look manageable. In person the drop is genuinely dramatic. Stand at the top and look straight down before you start descending.
Locals use them for workouts. Don’t be surprised if someone blows past you doing repeats. The stairs are part of the neighborhood, not just a tourist stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these actually in The Exorcist? Yes. Director William Friedkin filmed on location in Georgetown and the stairs at 36th and Prospect NW appear in the film’s climactic final scene. The building at the top of the stairs — a Georgetown University property — was also used in production.
Is there a fee? No. The stairs are a public right-of-way and completely free to visit at any time.
Is it safe at night? Georgetown is one of DC’s safest and most well-lit neighborhoods. Night visits are common, especially on weekends. Standard urban awareness applies but this is not a sketchy area.
How far from the National Mall? About 2.5 miles from the Lincoln Memorial — roughly a 30-minute walk or short rideshare. Georgetown is typically combined with a Mall visit rather than being a standalone trip.
Where should I park? Georgetown Park Mall garage on M Street is your best central option. Read our full Georgetown parking guide for the complete breakdown.
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Zone 2 RPP, midnight meter enforcement, and narrow streets that trap first-timers — the DC Parking & Towing Survival Guide covers every rule so your Georgetown evening doesn’t end at the impound lot.