Visiting Arlington National Cemetery is a popular activity in the Washington, DC, area, and rightfully so. Many influential people in United States history are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. And the property holds a lot of history. The guide below provides details on parking at Arlington National Cemetery, the significant sites to visit, how to get around the cemetery, and other things you’ll need to know before your visit.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Getting to Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is in Arlington, Virginia, right across the Potomac from Washington, DC. It’s very easy to get to Arlington from DC, especially the National Mall area. However, if you are visiting from out of town and not staying in DC, it’s straightforward to drive to the cemetery.
Parking at Arlington National Cemetery
Ample parking is available at Arlington National Cemetery. When you enter the property, there is a large parking structure on the left. The parking structure has several levels, so don’t get worried if you can’t immediately find a spot.
The parking garage is open daily from 8 am until 6 pm. Parking fees are $3 per hour, with a maximum of $12. You’ll take a ticket as you enter and can pay the parking fees at kiosks inside the Welcome Center or the garage entrance.
Riding the Metro to Arlington National Cemetery
If you are staying in or near DC, taking the Metro to Arlington National Cemetery is very easy. The Arlington stop on the Blue line drops you off just outside the entrance to the cemetery on Memorial Avenue. It’s about a 5-minute walk to the Welcome Center from the Metro stop.
Walking to Arlington National Cemetery
Walking to Arlington National Cemetery is a fun option if it’s a nice day and you’d like some exercise. Wide sidewalks along both sides of the Arlington Memorial Bridge make it safe for pedestrians to cross.
The bridge is on the other of the Lincoln Memorial, so if you’re already at the National Mall, it may be quicker to walk than to take the Metro or drive. It’s about a mile to walk from the Lincoln Memorial to the Arlington National Cemetery entrance.
Visiting Hours at Arlington Cemetery
Arlington Cemetery is open every day from 8 am until 5 pm. Tram tours are offered every day except Wreaths Across American Day in December, and the day of their removal in January. The parking lots close at 6 pm.
Cost to Visit Arlington National Cemetery
There is no entry fee to visit Arlington National Cemetery. However, there are parking fees if you use the parking garage. There is also a fee if you want to take the tram tour around the property. See below for more information about the tram tour.
Things to Know Before Visiting Arlington National Cemetery
Be prepared for the following before you visit Arlington National Cemetery:
- No food or drink are allowed on the property. You can bring a water bottle; there are several water fountains throughout the property to refill.
- There is no bike riding allowed on the property. Exceptions are made for family members with a family pass.
- There are several funeral services each day. You are not allowed to photograph any part of the funeral service, and some tram tour stops may be closed during the funeral
- No pets allowed. Only working military dogs and approved service animals are allowed on the property.
- The property is very hilly. Due to the incline, it may be difficult for some visitors to walk to the Tomb of the Unknown and Arlington House.
- Bring ID. Adults over 18 may be asked to provide identification.
How to Tour Arlington National Cemetery
Walking Around Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is a beautiful property to walk around and explore. As noted above, there is no cost to visit Arlington National Cemetery, so it is free to walk around the property.
While it is fun to walk around the cemetery, keep in mind that the cemetery is very large and hilly! The Union Army took over the property during the Civil War due to its proximity to and clear views above Washington, DC.
You can pick up a map of the property at the Welcome Center or download one to your phone. A large map near the desk for the cemetery tours shows you how far and how long it will take to walk to specific locations in the cemetery.
While walking through the cemetery, watch out for vehicular traffic. There are only a few pedestrian-only paths on the property.
The Arlington National Cemetery Tram Tour
You’ll want to take the guided tram tour to get the most out of your visit to Arlington National Cemetery. These paid tours are hop-on/hop-off style, starting at the Welcome Center and dropping you off at some of the most popular sites in the cemetery.
As you ride to each location, the guide on board will offer information, interesting facts, and history and point out some of the notable gravesites on the property.
Tram tours are offered almost every day of the year except for National Wreaths Across America Day in December and the day the wreaths are removed in January. Tours run from 8:30 am until 4 pm and leave every 15-30 minutes.
Tram tour prices start (in 2022) at $10 for children and $18 for adults, with discounts for seniors and active military, veterans and their families.
Key Locations to Visit in Arlington National Cemetery
Military Women’s Memorial
At the end of Memorial Avenue sits the massive Military Women’s Memorial, dedicated to women who served in our armed forces. You can enter the memorial and explore several galleries and exhibits that showcase how women have played a huge role in American military history. There is also a gift shop inside.
Visitors can also walk across the top of the memorial, giving gorgeous views of Memorial Avenue and the Lincoln Memorial across the river.
Kennedy Family Gravesite
The Kennedy Family Gravesite is where both John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis are buried. JFK is one of only two presidents buried at Arlington National Cemetery. William H. Taft is the other president.
When Kennedy was first buried, during the first year, his grave received 3000-5000 visitors per hour. They estimate close to 16 million people visited within the first three years of his death. The large crowds created a need to expand the area around his gravesite to the large area it is today.
Jaqueline lighted the immortal flame that burns at the head of his grave in 1967.
Memorial Amphitheater and Tomb of the Unknown
One of the most well-known areas of Arlington National Cemetery is the Tomb of the Unknown, where soldiers from the 3rd US Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard,” stand watch.
The routine the guards perform has special meaning, including the 21 steps they take as the cross in front of the tomb. As they switch sides, you’ll notice that they also change their weapon to the side closest to the observers and visitors, signifying that they will oppose any threat to the tomb.
The changing of the guard is a beautiful ceremony to watch. This occurs on the hour, every hour, from October 1st – March 31st, and every half hour on the half-hour, from April 1st – September 30th. Arrive 5-10 minutes early to get a good viewing point. A large part of the ceremony takes place towards the right of the tomb, so it would be optimal to stand there.
Arlington House
Only a few people know the history of Arlington National Cemetery. However, you’ll learn much about the property and how the United States Government acquired it when visiting the Arlington House.
The Arlington House was the home of Robert E. Lee (yes, that Robert E. Lee) and his family. It was his wife’s property that she inherited when her father (George Washington Parke Custis) passed away.
When Robert E. Lee decided to side and fight with the Confederacy, Brigadier Gen. Montgomery C. Meigs saw that the Lees would never return and began to bury the body of dead soldiers near the home. (Eventually the government compensated the family for the land).
The Custis-Lee home still stands today, and visitors can take a self-guided tour of the property. The hill where the house stands has fantastic views of Washington, DC, including the Capitol Building and Washington Monument.
JS Marine Corps War Memorial
While technically not in Arlington National Cemetery, the Marine Corps War Memorial (also referred to as the Iwo Jima Memorial) is still something every visitor should see. It is one of the stops on the tram tour but is also an easy walk from the Welcome Center (about 15 minutes).
The memorial was dedicated in 1954 and is modeled after the 1945 photo of Marine soldiers raising the American flag after they captured Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima.
Notable People Buried at Arlington National Cemetery
In addition to the many soldiers and military veterans buried at Arlington National Cemetery, many notable people served the United States in various ways.
- Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall
- Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
- Astronaut John Herschel Glenn, Jr. (the first American to orbit the earth)
- Medgar Evans (both a veteran and Civil Rights activist
- Abner Doubleday (military veteran and “father” of American baseball)
- Pierre Charles L’Enfant (an architect who designed the plan for Washington, DC)
Other Things to Do Near Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is right outside of Washington, DC, so there is plenty to do in the area, including visiting the many museums, memorials, and monuments in the city. Arlington is close to Alexandria, VA, and Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate. Arlington is also a great first stop on a road trip through Virginia!
Read It Now. Pin It For Later!
