DC Neighborhoods
The DC neighborhood that most people in DC have never heard of — and the one that people who live there have little interest in publicizing.
Kent is the DC neighborhood that most people in DC have never been to — and the one people who’ve been there never forget. Quiet streets, large lots, Battery Kemble Park as the backyard, and 15 minutes to downtown.
Staying Near Kent DC
Kent has no hotels — nearby Georgetown and the American University area have the closest options with easy MacArthur Boulevard access.
The Graham Georgetown
57-room boutique hotel on M Street — closest upscale option to Kent via MacArthur Boulevard.
Check RatesRosewood Washington DC
Luxury hotel near Georgetown waterfront — closest full-service option to Kent.
Check RatesGeorgetown Suites
All-suite hotel with full kitchens near Georgetown — best price-to-space for longer Kent-area stays.
Check RatesBrowse VRBO Near Kent
Short-term rentals in Kent and the Palisades neighborhoods offer the most authentic experience of this far-Northwest corridor.
Check RatesWhere Kent Is
Kent sits in the far northwestern corner of Washington DC — a triangular section of land bounded by Loughboro Road NW to the north, MacArthur Boulevard NW to the southwest, and Chain Bridge Road NW and Battery Kemble Park to the southeast. No Metro, no commercial development, some of DC’s highest home prices, and deer that wander through backyard gardens from the adjacent parkland.
Battery Kemble Park
Battery Kemble Park forms Kent’s southeastern border — 61 acres of wooded trails on the site of a Union Army battery built in 1861. The parapet and gun positions are still visible, preserved by the National Park Service. DC’s best sledding hill in winter. Trails connect to Glover-Archbold Park and the C&O Canal corridor — giving Kent residents pedestrian access to a trail network that extends far beyond the neighborhood.
The Architecture
Predominantly Colonial Revival homes on spacious lots with sophisticated designs and mature trees, most built between the 1920s and 1940s. The combination of large lots, mature tree canopy, and parkland borders creates a genuine wildlife corridor inside the city. Deer wander through backyard gardens with enough regularity that residents barely mention it — and you’re still 15 minutes from downtown DC.
MacArthur Boulevard: Walkable from Kent
There are no businesses within Kent itself — but MacArthur Boulevard along the neighborhood’s western edge is walkable from most addresses. Et Voila! at 5120 MacArthur Boulevard NW — a French-Belgian bistro operating since 2008, known for mussels, duck confit, and Belgian beef stew — is the neighborhood’s anchor restaurant. The corridor also has a post office, hair salons, and daily-need retail that makes car-free life surprisingly workable for a neighborhood with no Metro.
Getting Around
By car: Primary option. MacArthur Boulevard connects south toward Georgetown and the Potomac. Downtown DC is 15 minutes without traffic. By bike: Capital Bikeshare at American University plus Glover-Archbold Trail and C&O Canal access make cycling a genuine option. See our biking in DC guide. Metro: Tenleytown (Red Line) is over a mile away — typically requires a bus connection.
Kent DC Quick Reference
- Location Far Northwest DC, bordered by Battery Kemble Park and MacArthur Boulevard
- Metro None nearby — Tenleytown (Red Line) over 1 mile away
- Architecture Colonial Revival homes on large lots, primarily 1930s-40s
- Commercial None inside — nearest on MacArthur Boulevard
- Park access Battery Kemble Park — Civil War history, DC’s best sledding hill
- Trail connection Glover-Archbold Trail, C&O Canal via park connections
- Best restaurant Et Voila! — French-Belgian bistro, MacArthur Boulevard
- Price range Among DC’s highest — average well above $1.5M
- Wildlife Deer from Battery Kemble park regularly visit residential gardens
- Best for Families wanting space, privacy seekers, park and trail access
Bottom Line
Kent is where you end up when you’ve been in DC long enough to know what you want — privacy, space, parkland, and the ability to be downtown in 15 minutes. No Metro, no commercial development, deer in the backyard. Exactly the point.
For the C&O Canal: Biking in DC Guide. For the nearby neighborhood: Foxhall DC Guide. Full city picture: DC Neighborhoods Guide.
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