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North AmericaUnited StatesMaryland

South Kensington

Maryland, United States · North America

About South Kensington

South Kensington works well as a base: 5 minutes from Chevy Chase, 9km from Smithsonian's National Zoo.

South Kensington is a town located in Maryland, United States. With a population of 8,462, it is an important destination in North America.

On a road trip, South Kensington sits in United States, where you drive on the right. It's in the America/New York time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add South Kensington to your route.

About South Kensington

The Washington D.C. Temple (originally known as the Washington Temple until 1999) is the 16th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in Kensington, Maryland, near Washington, D.C., and the Capital Beltway, it became the church's first temple east of the Mississippi River since the

Read more original Nauvoo Temple, completed in 1846. At 160,000 square feet (15,000 m2), it is the church's third-largest temple. Construction was completed in 1974 at a cost of $15 million (about $116 million in 2024). More than 750,000 people attended a seven-week open house before its dedication. Designed to blend mid-century modern elements with traditional temple architecture, it has six gold-tipped spires modeled after the Salt Lake Temple. The temple has no cathedral-like space; instead, most rooms have no windows. Standing 288 feet (88 m) tall, the temple's central eastern tower was the church's tallest at its dedication. It supports a 18-foot (5.5 m) gilded statue of the angel Moroni. The temple's 57-acre (23 ha) wooded site was chosen to make it a landmark along the Capital Beltway, and traffic reports often refer to it as "the temple". Since 1978, the temple has hosted the annual Festival of Lights, drawing thousands to see live performances and millions of holiday lights, with a foreign ambassador as guest speaker each year. The temple is accessible to church members with a current temple recommend.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in South Kensington

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in South Kensington?

South Kensington offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to South Kensington?

Plan your road trip to South Kensington with Plan Your Road Trips! Add South Kensington as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is South Kensington located?

South Kensington is located in Maryland, United States, North America. The coordinates are 39.0130 latitude, -77.0710 longitude.

What is the population of South Kensington?

South Kensington has a population of approximately 8,462 people, making it a town in United States.

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Quick Information

Population
8,462
Continent
North America
Country
United States
Region
Maryland
Timezone
America/New_York
Coordinates
39.0130, -77.0710

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United States

Police
911
Ambulance
911
Fire
911
Driving side
right

AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Right turn on red is legal in most states unless signed otherwise.

Full driving guide for United States

Tags

North AmericaUnited StatesMarylandTown

Worth the detour from South Kensington

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

landmark

Smithsonian's National Zoo

Free-admission zoo in Washington, D.C. that is part of the Smithsonian Institution, famous for its giant pandas.

9 km · about 20 min drive

landmark

The White House

Official residence and workplace of the President of the United States since 1800, a symbol of American democracy.

13 km · about 25 min drive

landmark

National Mall

America's front yard stretching from the US Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, lined with iconic monuments, memorials, and Smithsonian museums.

14 km · about 25 min drive

museum

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Home to the Hope Diamond and over 148 million specimens, making it one of the world's premier natural history collections.

14 km · about 25 min drive

museum

National Gallery of Art

A free world-class museum on the National Mall featuring masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the present, including the only Leonardo da Vinci painting in the Americas.

14 km · about 25 min drive

landmark

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

Powerful stone monument on the National Mall honouring the civil rights leader, featuring a 9-metre carved figure emerging from rock.

14 km · about 25 min drive

landmark

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Moving black granite wall inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 American service members who died in the Vietnam War.

14 km · about 25 min drive

landmark

World War II Memorial

Grand open-air memorial on the National Mall honouring the 16 million Americans who served in the Second World War.

14 km · about 25 min drive

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near South Kensington.

Chevy Chase

🇺🇸 United States

1 km awayPop. 9,545

Forest Glen

🇺🇸 United States

1 km awayPop. 6,582

Kensington

🇺🇸 United States

1 km awayPop. 2,330

North Kensington

🇺🇸 United States

3 km awayPop. 9,514

Wheaton

🇺🇸 United States

3 km awayPop. 48,284

Garrett Park

🇺🇸 United States

3 km awayPop. 1,044

Chevy Chase

🇺🇸 United States

4 km awayPop. 9,545

Bethesda

🇺🇸 United States

4 km awayPop. 60,858

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence