One mean solar day in Washington DC is actually plenty time to see and do a lot. Don't believe me? This 1 day itinerary for visiting Washington DC includes the best sightseeing around the United states of america capitol, all-time things to do in DC, and an overall plan for an easy mean solar day trip to Washington DC.
We partnered with Best Western to visit Virginia and Washington DC, so for our recommendations for where to stay, bank check out our "hotels" department at the cease!
What you'll find...
Visiting the Smithsonian Museums
Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
Museum of the American Indian
US Botanical Garden
National Portrait Gallery
Highlights for Kids in the National Portrait Gallery
Additional Smithsonian Museums to Visit
Museum of American History
Museum of African American History and Culture
National Air and Space Museum
National Gallery and Hirshhorn Museums
Dining at the many Smithsonians
The National Athenaeum and Announcement of Independence
National Capitol Edifice Tour with kids
Making reservations
Visiting Ford's Theater
Making Reservations
Walking the National Mall
Lincoln Memorial
Washington Monument
The Guild and Visitor Center
Making Reservations
Planning a Solar day in Washington DC
Super schedule: a comprehensive 1 solar day itinerary
Ways to explore Washington DC
Hop on Hop off Autobus Tours of Washington DC
Where to stay outside of Washington DC
Recommendation: All-time Western Fairfax
Visiting the Smithsonian Museums
If y'all're planning a solar day trip to Washington DC, you take to make time for at least ane or two of the many Smithsonian Museums. Whether you're looking for art or history, science or culture, at that place is a museum for every interest.See if whatever of these Washington DC apps will help your day!
Almost of the Smithsonian Museums are located along the National Mall, which is the long lawn between the Capitol Building and the Lincoln Memorial. Several have cafes, and so if you lot desire to stay in the relative surface area, information technology makes for an easy day full of museum-going.
Note: Smithsonian museums provide gratis entry to Us citizens and international visitors akin. In that location's no cost and open almost every day of the yr!If you are visiting during a government shutdown, bank check out these great DC museum alternatives.
Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
Our favorite of the Smithsonian Museums, the National Museum of Natural History is a one of the best things to do in Washington DC. Sightseeing in the capitol isn't consummate if you lot miss the enormous jewel collections, including the Hope Diamond.
And if you don't see the largest taxidermy elephant ever, why are you even visiting DC? The mammal and undersea exhibits are incredible with kids. And and then the new fossil and dinosaur exhibit is besides infrequent.
Tip: get to the National Museum of Natural History AT opening to be able to beat the crowds and give kids an heady kickoff to the day.
Destine at least 90 minutes to two.v hours to visit. 90 minutes is ideal for visiting a little more than half the Museum of Natural History
There is a "hop on hop off" bus tour end at the National Museum of Natural History
Museum of the American Indian
We first visited the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian in New York City and loved the story telling and traditional costume collection. The Washington DC version is similar, only on a much larger scale.
Learning near the many tribes of American Indians / Native Americans is one of the about educational things to do in DC. The Museum of the American Indian shares the recorded history of tribes in the Us, including their displacement, Western Expansion, and current tribal issues. Information technology's one of the best, well-nigh meaningful museums we've ever visited.
Tip: the buffet at the Museum of the American Indian, Mitsitam Buffet, is one of the top rated museum restaurants in the land. If you can dine there, practise it!
Allot at least one hr for a quick visit, two hours is best to go through a majority of the exhibits.
U.s. Botanical Garden
If yous've been post-obit us for any length of time, you know that botanical gardens are some of our favorite places to visit. If y'all're sightseeing in Washington DC, especially on a cold day, visiting the Us Botanical Garden is i of the all-time things to do.
Located between the Museum of the American Indian and the US Capitol Building, it's like shooting fish in a barrel to get to and like all Smithsonian institutions, is free of accuse. Rotating exhibitions for holidays and special events mean that you'll never have the same experience twice.
The drove at the US Botanical Garden is a groovy mode to break up all the museum time and you get to learn new things!
Tip: there is a children'south garden in the middle of the conservatories, which is perfect for letting kids burn down off energy and get their hands dingy.
Destine at to the lowest degree 45 minutes to visit each of the US Botanical Garden areas, more if there is a holiday exhibition.
There is a "hop on hop off" bus bout stop near the U.s. Botanical Garden in forepart of the Capitol Building.
National Portrait Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery has long been one of my favorite museums on earth. Not only is it home to the Gallery of Presidents (where the portraits on our money are kept), but information technology'south likewise got a wonderful collection of other American art.
Portraits, not just of influential Americans, but of our National Parks fill the walls. Photography of major events and capturing important moments in the evolution of America, are a bonus to all of the other incredible works of art.
If yous're wondering what to see in terms of the many art galleries in Washington DC, the National Portrait Gallery should be at the top of your list
Allot at least i hour to view the highlights of the National Portrait Gallery. Y'all could easily spend 2 or more hours here, peculiarly if you lot took time at the cafe as well.
Highlights for Kids in the National Portrait Gallery
Nosotros talk quite openly and frequently about U.s.a. history with the kids. The Gallery of America's Presidents is easily the most familiar of the many rooms, so our kids enjoyed beingness able to spot people they recognized and could say something about.
Secondly, the decorative arts exhibits actually were a big hitting. Fifty-fifty if yous think kids won't be into 19th century paintings, sculpture and more than, you'd exist surprised. Our boys really enjoyed the fun and fancy pieces in the decorative galleries. Had to pry them abroad actually.
Additional Smithsonian Museums to Visit
Y'all could spend a full calendar week visiting all the Smithsonian Museums, and so if you are left with actress fourth dimension on your day trip to Washington DC, try to work in at least a quick visit to any of the post-obit.
Museum of American History
The Smithsonian Museum of American History is more than battle artifacts and former photos. Hither, yous'll find:
the Star Spangled Banner (the enormous flag from Fort McHenry)
Abe Lincoln'southward famous height chapeau
The lunch counter from the famous Ceremonious Rights sit-in in Greensboro, NC – Dear the interpretive alive interaction!
Dorothy's Cherry-red Slippers from the Magician of Oz
an astonishing collection of LGBTQ history
… then much more.
Kids volition particularly relish the Museum of American History for its highly recognizable collections of both political and pop culture importance.
Allot at least 90 minutes as once you're in the doors, you'll observe that there is much more hither than you lot wait. This museum is 1 of the meridian tourist attractions in the Us
Museum of African American History and Culture
Documenting the struggle and jubilant the successes African Americans accept faced from the origins of slavery in the United states of america to current issues plaguing Blackness America, this is a very serious museum to visit. Fifty-fifty if yous know a lot almost U.s.a. history or have been to different Ceremonious Rights sites, this museum is intense (also really fun/cool in the civilisation areas).
The Museum of African American History requires a lot of parent involvement when visiting with kids. The subject area matter of slavery and segregation can be really emotional and inexplainable topics. Be prepared to cry a bit and be patient with questions.
Allot at least one hour. You could spend several hours, but it really is intense (IMO).
At that place is a "hop on hop off" bus bout stop near the African American History Museum.
National Air and Space Museum
If you're into airplanes and learning about outer space, this is the spot for you. It really is a cool museum, but actually i nosotros would recommend terminal. Information technology is big and in that location are some interesting movies that play, just it'south a lot of just looking at planes.
For kids that want to be pilots and astronauts, it's one of the best things to practice in Washington DC, but when compared to the many other museums and places to visit in DC, I feel similar the National Air and Infinite Museum takes a back seat.
Tip: if y'all'll besides be touring Virginia at all, or just want to do a 24-hour interval trip from Washington DC, the Udvar Hazy Air and Space Center is Astonishing! It's also part of the Smithsonian, so is free (paid parking though), and it HAS A SPACE SHUTTLE!
National Gallery and Hirshhorn Museums
So much art I don't even know where to begin. Both the National Gallery and Hirshhorn Fine art Museums are fascinating. Each represents a wide collection of art from around the world, from aboriginal art to classical pieces, sculpture to one thousand canvasses. And modern fine art.
If you don't desire to walk up to the National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery would exist a very good idea, and it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in DC and so you know it'll be enjoyable. Believe me, y'all'll recognize a TON of what yous'll see.
The Hirshhorn Museum is primarily modern fine art that you'll not encounter the likes of anywhere else in the USA, including big scale installations. It's not ane of our top recommendations, but if yous art particularly interested in eastern art, you'll savor it.
Allot 2 hours for the National Gallery and 90 minutes for the Hirshhorn. Both museums are great to add to a solar day trip to Washington DC, but also aren't must-visit things to do.
At that place is a "hop on hop off" autobus bout stop at the National Gallery, not at the Hirshhorn
Dining at the many Smithsonians
"Unfortunately much of DC's amazing dining scene is not convenient if you're spending the day exploring the monuments and museums of the National Mall, merely that doesn't mean you're relegated to snacking on granola bars. Mitsitam Cafe, located in the National Museum of the American Indian, features dishes ethnic to the Americas such equally wild salmon and fry bread. At the National Museum of African-American History and Civilization Sugariness Home Buffet serves upwards regional African American specialties like duck, andouille, and crawfish gumbo or prailine bread pudding with bourbon caramel sauce." – from our diehard foodie friend, Brianna, who visits DC frequently and knows her eats.
For more great tips for visiting Washington DC, bank check out our friend Brianna's site, the Coincidental Travelist.
The National Archives and Proclamation of Independence
Earlier you lot decide yous don't want to visit the National Archives, know that there is SO MUCH MORE in the Archives than only the Declaration of Independence. True, the Declaration is the highlight and what 99% of people see at this allure, but in that location's a whole museum underneath the rotunda.
After you visit the rotunda and meet the Declaration of Independence, the Nib of Rights, and a diversity of other of import historical documents, you can go on downstairs into the Public Vaults.
In the Public Vaults, you'll detect everything from early radio and television broadcasts to armed services records and artifacts. It's almost like a modest version of the Museum of American History. If y'all tin can spare fourth dimension to explore the vault, do it! In that location are some wonderful exhibits that are designed with kids in mind.
Note: photography isn't allowed in whatever part of the National Archives. None. Zero. Do NOT pull out your phone!
National Capitol Building Tour with kids
Prior to visiting Washington DC with kids, we weren't sure that nosotros wanted to tour the US Capitol Building, merely I'm so glad we did. At just around an hr, the guided tour of the Usa Capitol Building is an easy activeness in DC that kids and adults will savor.
Visiting several antichambers, the rotunda and the crypt, you lot get to see quite a bit of the building. The tour includes headsets connected to a tour guide'south microphone, and then despite the number of tours going on, yous can still inquire questions and hear your guide well.
T'he Usa Capitol tour is VERY child-friendly. The guides are awesome and deliver their tour for anybody to understand. So glad nosotros included it in our Washington DC sightseeing!
Tip: at that place is a great scavenger hunt activity volume available at the tour check-in desk-bound. Get i for each child you lot have with you!
In that location is a "hop on hop off" bus tour stop at the National Capitol on the WEST side of the plaza.
Making reservations
There are a limited number of walk-up spots bachelor for tours of the U.s.a. Capitol Building, so reservations are strongly recommended. At that place are two ways to do this. The website for National Capitol tours makes it seem like yous MUST go through your local congressman, but that's not so.
Yes, you tin can reach out to your local congressional representative and if they're available and want to, they can provide you a tour of the US Capitol Edifice. Their tour may be much more in depth than the standard public tour, so if yous tin conform that, do information technology!
In full general though, you tin can make reservations through THIS WEBSITE. Y'all tin cull your engagement and time, and this will secure you a spot for a tour, so might besides book it here.
Tip: book the online reservation for a US Capitol Building tour, but besides reach out to your congressman. I would've loved to tour the Capitol with Rep. Derek Kilmer (because he'southward crawly and from our hood!).
Visiting Ford's Theater
Sightseeing in Washington DC includes such a diverseness of tourist attractions and celebrated sites. Ane of these is Ford'south Theater, the place where President Abraham Lincoln was shot. I know this sounds like a terrible place to visit, but visiting is actually a actually good thing to do with kids.
Between learning about the Civil State of war and how information technology tore the nation autonomously and getting an actual visual of life in the 1860s, visiting Ford's Theater with kids is a expert add-on to a twenty-four hour period trip to Washington DC.
Beyond the theater itself (which still operates as a working theater), there is besides a good sized interpretive center under the theater, and so the Lincoln Education Center across the street. Also attached to the pedagogy middle is the Petersen Firm, which is where President Lincoln died. So much to see!
There is a "hop on hop off" bus tour stop at Ford's Theater / Madame Tussaude's.
Making Reservations
While reservations aren't required to do tours of Ford's Theater, they are recommended. You can go through the online process to secure your tour fourth dimension. The fees for placing online reservations are considered a donation to preserve and protect this historic landmark. You can also walk-up, but it'south non a guarantee for visiting in the decorated season (summer).
Walking the National Mall
The area between the US Capitol Edifice and the Lincoln Memorial is call the National Mall. This is Not a shopping mall, but is a long public park with lawn space, a variety of memorials, and the Reflecting Pool. The National Mall is a function of the National Park System, only is open up to the public with no admission charge.
Along the National Mall, you'll observe most of the Smithsonian Museums, an antique carousel, random food trucks, and sometimes big events. We've been during the National Volume Sale and information technology'south bonkers!
Tip: for the math/science lover, program some time to seek out the Albert Einstein Memorial. Information technology's merely off the Mall and worth finding.
Lincoln Memorial
At the west end of the National Mall is the Lincoln Memorial. This is one of the most iconic places to see in Washington DC. All-time viewed either upwards close or from across the reflecting pool, the Lincoln Memorial is a meaning place for many and should be visited with a tranquillity respect.
Also, the Lincoln Memorial is the site for many protests and public events, so check and see if anything is happening there before you plan your mean solar day trip to Washington DC. While it'due south ever good to be involved in history, something like a protest could really impact your Washington DC vacation.
There is a "hop on hop off" omnibus tour finish at the Lincoln Memorial.
Washington Monument
Right in the middle of the National Mall is the Washington Monument. Even if you lot didn't include it in your "things to see in DC" listing you'll run into information technology anyways. Towering above the city, the Washington Monument is open up to visitors, both to enjoy the plaza and go up in the tower.
There is a pocket-size museum at the top of the Washington Monument, but the real experience is going upward in the elevator and looking out over Washington DC, including a view of the White House. Second all-time view in Washington DC (the offset is the Post Office tower view).
Note: y'all do demand tickets to go up in the Washington Monument. If you'll be visiting in the summertime, be certain to get them in advance!
The Lodge and Visitor Center
Check in for your trip upwardly the Washington Monument happens at the base of the tower. Here you'll find a tiny Visitors Center with some minimal info on the building of the monument and its architecture, just about chiefly the lift archway.
The Lodge is, for united states, the more important spot to visit, as it'due south where you lot'll go the National Park Passport stamps for EVERYTHING in Washington DC. Since many of the monuments and historic areas don't have dedicated interpretive centers, this is the spot for stamps and souvenirs. This is also where y'all can go aforementioned-day reservation tickets to get upward the Monument.
Making Reservations
Like with Ford's Theater or the Capitol Building, if going upwards in the Washington Monument is on your list of things to do in Washington DC on your solar day trip, you'll desire to reserve your bout in advance. It'southward rare that information technology'south not busy, so having a reservation is the only manner to guarantee a successful visit. Get your accelerate tickets here!
Planning a Twenty-four hours in Washington DC
Now that you know all of the amazing things to practice in Washington DC on a twenty-four hour period trip, you lot'll desire to be sure you tin do the most important activities and museums. Everything listed CANNOT exist done in one day, so here'due south how you programme it.
Tip: Feel gratis to copy our spreadsheet to paste into your ain spreadsheet program.
Call back every bit you're planning your time, well-nigh everything noted in our suggestions for what to run across or practice in DC isn't open up until ten:00 am. You may be able to schedule a tour that begins but earlier opening, but as well that, 10:00 am is your starting time time.
Also, nearly all of the museums close by 5:xxx pm. The exceptions are:
National Portrait Gallery – 7:00 pm
Smithsonian American Fine art Museum – 7:00 pm
National Zoo – 7:00 pm in summertime
Time
Action
Duration
10:00 am
_________________________________
90 minutes
12:00 pm
_________________________________
60 minutes
Lunch
45 minutes
2:00 pm
_________________________________
60 minutes
4:00 pm
_________________________________
60 minutes
The above planning table is perfect to make certain you tin can spend a adept amount of fourth dimension site-seeing at your favorite Washington DC attractions. There's some buffer built in at that place so y'all can add to your plan equally you run across fit. And depending on the conditions and how calorie-free it is out, you can add time at the National Zoo or walking the National Mall at the end of the day.
Download our daily action planner sheet here!
Super schedule: a comprehensive 1 day itinerary
This itinerary is a high free energy, just the highlights ane twenty-four hours itinerary for Washington DC with kids. Nosotros recommend this if you're visiting DC with kids who love museums, have a good and sustainable energy level and who are just as into history every bit some adults.
We used this exact itinerary with our kids and information technology was perfect!! Intense, simply really ideal.
TIME
Activity
Elapsing
10:00 am
Museum of Natural History
90 min
11:30 am
US Botanical Gardens
45
12:xv pm
Lunch at Capitol Buffet
45
1:00 pm
US Capitol Building tour
60 min
2:30 pm
Ford'southward Theater and Museum
45 min
3:30 pm
National Portrait Gallery
45 min
4:30 pm
National Archives
45 min – stayed belatedly
5:15 pm
Washington Monument / Mall
Visit Lodge and walk the mall before dinner
This is an intense itinerary even though it doesn't expect like a ton of action. Planning a solar day like the plan above will make for a fun and comprehensive mean solar day trip to Washington DC. You'll hit the big tourist attractions and won't exist short on things to do.
Means to explore Washington DC
Whether you're a walker or like to do cabs and buses, getting around the main tourist core of Washington DC is pretty piece of cake. If you lot programme on walking, be certain you are wearing Nifty shoes with a very comfy sole. A few hours on concrete or museum floors volition habiliment you lot out.
Other options to become betwixt the different attractions include taxis or Uber (for more than two blocks) or even hopping the Metro subway system. This is good on rainy days when y'all're planning a more spread out twenty-four hour period.
Hop on Hop off Bus Tours of Washington DC
Some people beloved doing the hop on hop off bus tours of cities, and in places similar New York or Seattle it makes sense. In Washington DC, information technology is available, but it isn't the most efficient way to striking all the places to visit. It'due south a keen style to save your anxiety, but not your time.
If y'all do want to do a Hop on Hop off tour bus, plan your day based on the bus road. Familiarize yourself with a map of Washington DC and the bus road.
Tip: doing a Hop on Hop off bus tour of Washington DC is dandy on a sunny 24-hour interval where you just want to go sightseeing. Sometimes just getting the audio bout and seeing things from the bus is all you need.
Former Town Trolley Tours Washington DC – TICKETS HERE
Big Autobus Washington DC Tours – TICKETS Here
Where to stay outside of Washington DC
With the DC Metro arrangement being as comprehensive every bit it is, you have lots of options of where to stay and be able to do a Washington DC twenty-four hours trip. Our recommendation is actually the Fairfax or Vienna areas and then accept the railroad train into the city. At that place are some wonderful curt term rentals in the DC area, and Washington DC AirBNB rentals are growing more than and more every month.
Why stay all the way out in Fairfax? Unproblematic. Traffic in the greater DC area is insane and driving to the metro stations closer to the city is only equally much of a headache as driving into the city.
From the Fairfax area, you have easy admission to the Vienna Metro station and Park & Ride. Traffic to get to it is awesome, even during rush hour, and when you're done for the day, traffic heading back to your hotel is a cakewalk.
Observe a Fairfax / Vienna area All-time Western hotel here!
Booking.com
Recommendation: Best Western Fairfax
Nosotros stayed at the Best Western Fairfax, equally they sponsored our trip around Virginia, and information technology was ideal for both our Washington DC day trip and for seeing more than of the great DC surface area. The hotel has nice, make clean rooms, offers a comprehensive complimentary breakfast, and in the summertime has an outdoor puddle.
It'southward a pretty area fifty-fifty though it's located off the thoroughfare, Chain Bridge Road. From the BW Fairfax it's a strait shot into the historic downtown surface area (bang-up restaurants!).Book the Best Western Fairfax here!
If you accept any additional questions virtually what to see or other things to do in Washington DC, please let us know! Leave u.s.a. a annotate or send us a bulletin and nosotros'll help you our as best equally we tin can!!
