Gyms in and near Washington, D. C., DC

You can work out at any number of Washington DC gyms, but chances are you won’t end up sweating next to a US congressman. Unfortunately, the men and women of the Hill have their own private congressional gyms. The good news: politicians have been pushing for renovations to the aging gyms for at least a decade, so our workout environs are likely to be much nicer than theirs. Especially when there are spots like Merritt Athletic Club, whose 10 locations sparkle with state-of-the-art cardio equipment, free weights, yoga studios, and recreational pools. Or perhaps the 13-location Washington Sports Club is more your style: it supplements traditional gym equipment with a UXF Training Zone complete with battle ropes, TRX cables, and other metabolic-training tools.