Washington DC's outdoor pool season is short, and most of the city's best hotel pools are indoors. Of these five, the InterContinental has a heated outdoor rooftop pool, the Rosewood has a rooftop pool open from dawn until dusk, and the other three are indoor pools you can use all year.
How we selected and ranked these hotels
Pool type set the order first. The InterContinental's heated rooftop pool and deck is the only pool on this list that its hotel describes as outdoor, so it is listed first. The other four follow by guest score, highest first. All five are five-star hotels, so star rating did not separate them.
Every pool on this list was verified as an active feature of the property.
Pool comparison at a glance
| Hotel | Pool type | Star rating | Seasonal or year-round | Guest score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| InterContinental - Washington D.C. - The Wharf by IHG | Outdoor rooftop | 5 | Seasonal (closed December to April) | 9.1 |
| Four Seasons Washington DC | Indoor lap pool | 5 | Year-round | 9.1 |
| The Potomac Hotel, Autograph Collection | Indoor | 5 | Year-round | 9.0 |
| The Watergate Hotel | Indoor | 5 | Year-round | 8.6 |
| Rosewood Washington DC | Rooftop | 5 | Not published | 8.5 |
Planning around DC's pool season
- The InterContinental's rooftop pool, the only pool on this list its hotel calls outdoor, closes from December through April. Book between May and November if an outdoor pool is your priority.
- The Watergate Hotel's pool is indoors, in the Argentta spa, and is open to hotel guests, spa guests and club members.
- The indoor pools at Four Seasons Washington DC and The Watergate Hotel are open all year, making them the better choice for spring or fall visits.
- DC's average high in July is 89°F with high humidity. Shade or a cabana makes a real difference on those afternoons.
Best hotels with pools in Washington DC: what to know before you book
The five hotels on this list cover three pool formats. InterContinental Washington DC at The Wharf is the only one whose pool its hotel describes as outdoor, a heated rooftop pool that closes from December through April. Rosewood Washington DC in Georgetown has a rooftop pool with a built-in fireplace, open from dawn until dusk. Its site lists those hours and no season.
The other three pools are indoors. The Watergate's pool is a 50-foot heated indoor salt pool in its Argentta spa, a short walk from Georgetown.
Four Seasons Washington DC has a heated indoor saline lap pool with a hot soaking tub, open year-round to hotel guests and Fitness Club members.
InterContinental at The Wharf has a heated rooftop pool and deck overlooking the Potomac and the marina.
South of the Mall, The Potomac Hotel, Autograph Collection, which was Salamander Washington DC until its 2026 rebrand, has an indoor pool next to its spa in the former Mandarin Oriental building on Maryland Avenue SW.
The hotels
InterContinental - Washington D.C. - The Wharf by IHG
801 Wharf Street SW
9.1967 reviews
10 min walk to L'Enfant Plaza (Green/Yellow/Blue/Orange/Silver)A heated rooftop pool and deck overlooking the Potomac and the marina, with food and drinks from the WAVES rooftop bar.
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Four Seasons Washington DC
2800 Pennsylvania Ave Nw
9.1107 reviews
11 min walk to Foggy Bottom-GWU (Blue/Orange/Silver)A heated indoor saline lap pool with a hot soaking tub, open all year to hotel guests.
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The Potomac Hotel, Autograph Collection
1330 Maryland Ave, SW
9.0697 reviews
7 min walk to Smithsonian (Blue/Orange/Silver)An indoor pool, part of a full spa floor in the former Mandarin Oriental building, and open all year.
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The Watergate Hotel
2650 Virginia Ave NW
8.6278 reviews
7 min walk to Foggy Bottom-GWU (Blue/Orange/Silver)A 50-foot heated indoor salt pool in the Argentta spa, open all year.
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Rosewood Washington DC
1050 31st Street NW
8.524 reviews
16 min walk to Foggy Bottom-GWU (Blue/Orange/Silver)A rooftop pool with a built-in fireplace and views of the Potomac, the Kennedy Center and the Washington Monument, open from dawn until dusk.
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All 63 Washington DC hotel guides →
Frequently asked questions
Which Washington DC hotels have outdoor pools?＋
InterContinental Washington DC at The Wharf is the only hotel on this list whose own site describes its pool as outdoor, a heated rooftop pool that closes from December through April. The Watergate Hotel and Four Seasons Washington DC have indoor pools. DC summers average 87-91°F from June through August, the heart of the outdoor pool season.
Which DC hotels have year-round indoor pools?＋
Four Seasons Washington DC's heated indoor saline lap pool is open year-round to hotel guests and Fitness Club members. The Watergate Hotel's indoor salt pool in the Argentta spa is open all year too, and The Potomac Hotel, Autograph Collection on Maryland Avenue SW has an indoor pool next to its spa.
Can non-guests use hotel pools in Washington DC?＋
The Watergate Hotel's pool is open to hotel guests, spa guests and club members, and Four Seasons Washington DC limits its pool to hotel guests and Fitness Club members. Contact each hotel directly to confirm current access policies.
Do I need a spa booking to use the pool at The Potomac Hotel?＋
Hotel guests can access the pool as part of their stay. Spa treatments are booked separately. Non-guests interested in pool access should contact the hotel directly, as day-pass availability and pricing are not publicly listed.
Which DC hotel has the best pool for families?＋
InterContinental Washington DC at The Wharf has the only pool on this list its hotel calls outdoor, a heated rooftop pool open from May through November. The Four Seasons, The Potomac Hotel and The Watergate have indoor pools that work year-round.
When do outdoor hotel pools in Washington DC open and close?＋
The InterContinental's rooftop pool, the only pool on this list its hotel calls outdoor, was closed from December 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026. If you're visiting between December and April, plan on one of the three indoor pools.
