RFK 100th Birthday Walking Challenge with FreeWalkers
Lace up your walking shoes and prepare for an unforgettable weekend that blends historical tribute, physical challenge, and the sheer joy of putting one foot in front of the other! This November, as we celebrate the 100th birthday of Robert F. Kennedy, FreeWalkers invites you to honor his legendary spirit of determination and public service through an extraordinary walking adventure right through the heart of our nation's capital.
In February 1963, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, wearing nothing but Oxford loafers on his feet and armed with zero preparation or training, set out on a 50-mile trek from just outside Washington, DC, all the way to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. This incredible feat of determination sparked a nationwide obsession with extreme walking and hiking, inspiring ordinary Americans across the country to take on their own challenges.
From that single event, FreeWalkers was born: an organization that has grown from Paul's personal walking obsession into a thriving community of thousands of members participating in dozens of free walking events each year. Now celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2025, FreeWalkers continues to ask the same question that drove that first adventure: "Can we do more than we think we can? What exactly are our limits?"
Your RFK Centennial Challenge Awaits
Walk up to fifty miles with us over two days, with each day's walk constituting a loop starting and ending at Farragut Square in Washington, not far from the White House. We will walk thirty miles on Saturday, beginning with a 10K tour of DC and Arlington in honor of RFK, and including some great towpath and trail walking, along with a walk past Bobby's home and a late lunch stop in McLean. Sunday's walk of twenty miles will take us through Georgetown and Rock Creek Park, with a lunch stop in Bethesda.
Plan for hotel, dining and parking near Farragut Square
Farragut Square, designed by Pierre L'Enfant himself in 1791, is a downtown hub sitting at the center of a bustling daytime district filled with the energy. On the weekends, it affords plenty of breathing room and a wide range of dining and lodging options nearby, along with Metro connections serving the region.
FreeWalks are completely free and open to the public. Whether you're a seasoned ultra-distance walker or someone who just enjoys a good weekend stroll, there's a perfect challenge waiting for you. All you need to bring is water, comfortable walking shoes, and the same spirit of adventure that drove a determined Attorney General to walk 50 miles in loafers through a February snowstorm.
Come discover what you're capable of. Come honor a legacy of public service. Come walk with us into history, one step at a time. Register now and prepare for a weekend that will remind you why sometimes the most extraordinary journeys begin with the simple decision to start walking and are fulfilled by a determination to challenge yourself.
As Bobby Kennedy proved in 1963, and as FreeWalkers has been proving since 2010, we really can do more than we think we can.
Highlights:
- Department of Justice
- White House
- Capitol
- Washington Monument
- Lincoln Memorial
- MLK Memorial
- Tidal Basin
- Arlington Cemetery
- Marine Corps War Memorial
- Francis Scott Key Bridge
- Georgetown
- Washington Old Dominion Trail
- C&O Canal
- Rock Creek Park
- American University
- Capital Crescent Trail
- Bethesda
- and more...
