Are you planning a Washington, DC, family vacation? Then you’re in the right place!
Washington, DC, is a popular family vacation destination. As the United States capital, more than 20 million people visit the city every year!
There are so many things to do in Washington, DC; it is overwhelming even to start planning a trip, especially if you are visiting with kids.
However, you can make your trip to DC amazing with preparation, planning, and knowing what to expect. Like, a lot of walking.
We’ve traveled to Washington, DC, several times with our kids and have learned a lot on each trip. So now we can share them with you to make your family trip a little less stressful.
The guide below will help you plan your trip to Washington, DC, with kids, including the biggest tips to know before you go and itineraries for 2,3 and 5 days! So let’s dive in and get started.
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Let’s Plan Your Washington, DC Trip!
Are you still working out details for your trip to Washington, DC? These are some great ticket and hotel options!
Tickets/Tours:
- Washington, DC Hop On / Hop Off Bus Tour: Get around town in a fun way!
- Arlington Cemetery Tram Tour: You can visit for FREE, but the tram tour is an easy way to get around and learn about the cemetery.
- Mount Vernon Grounds Pass: Tour George Washington’s estate.
Hotels:
- Hampton Inn Washington, D.C./White House: FREE hot breakfast. Walking distance to the White House and a 15-minute walk to the National Mall.
- Hyatt Place Washington Dc/White House: FREE hot breakfast. Larger rooms make it great for families. Walking distance to the White House and a 15-minute walk to the National Mall.
- Embassy Suites Alexandria Old Town: FREE made-to-order hot breakfast. Across from the Metro and a 20-minute ride into Washington, DC.
8 Tips for Planning a Family Trip to Washington, DC
1. Plan Ahead
There are so many things to do in Washington, DC (many of which are FREE) that it can feel overwhelming.
You’ll want to have a general idea of what you want to do and see each day. And better yet, keep those activities in the same general area.
You don’t want to have Capitol Building tour tickets in the morning and then head over to Arlington Cemetery only to have an Air & Space Museum reservation that afternoon.
Look at a map, determine the family “must-dos,” and go from there.
2. Book Your Tickets Ahead of Time
This could be included with the first tip, but it needs its own section to emphasize its importance!
Most of the museums and attractions in Washington, DC, don’t require tickets or timed reservations. However, some do, and you want to ensure you are booked and ready to do before leaving on your trip.
Many of the below attractions release their tickets 30 days ahead of time. And due to their popularity, they sell out quickly, especially during peak travel times, like summer and holidays.
Washington Monument Tickets
The Washington Monument is one of the most popular attractions in Washington, DC.
Due to its popularity, the National Park Service requires timed reservations to enter the structure. Tickets are released 30 days in advance, so if you know the date you want to visit, try to get them as soon as they are released. Tickets cost $1 each to reserve.
If you missed out on the 30-day release, a limited number of tickets are released online the day before your visit date. And if you get in line early enough the morning of, you might be able to secure same-day tickets.
Museum Reservations
As of publication, the National Air & Space Museum requires timed tickets for entry to the museum. Tickets are released in 6-week groups and can be reserved anytime after their release date.
If tickets are unavailable on the date you want to visit, you can try to get the same-day tickets that are released on their website at 8:30 am the day of. Tickets are FREE, and you can reserve up to 6 at a time.
The Museum of African American History and Culture also requires reservations. They are released 30 days ahead of time at 8:00 am, with some same-day passes released at 8:15 am.
Planet Word is another museum that requires a timed entry. They release their FREE passes for the following month on the first of the month prior. For example, tickets for the month of July are released on June 1st.
Passes can be reserved any time after they are released. They also offer a limited amount of same-day passes, so if you didn’t get them before your trip, pop into the museum to see if they are available during the day.
Zoo Admission and Parking Reservations
The Smithsonian National Zoological Park requires reservations for entry to the zoo.
The passes are FREE and valid all day for the date you reserve. Pass reservations open 30 days in advance and are available until they sell out.
If you plan to drive to the zoo, you’ll have to purchase a parking pass in addition to the admission passes. As of publication, passes cost $30 per vehicle.
Capitol Building Tours
You can book a tour of the Capitol Building up to 3 months in advance. Tickets are FREE. Tours for the Capitol Building are offered Monday – Saturday from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Visitor’s Tip: No food (opened or unopened) and liquids (including water) can be taken into the Capitol Building.
3. Prepare for a Lot of Walking
When people tell you that you will be doing a lot of walking in Washington, DC, they mean it!
The most popular area for tourists to visit is the National Mall, which encompasses all of the memorials, monuments, and museums. It is a large area to cover for big and little kids alike. Even grownups will get tired!
To give you an idea of size, the distance from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument is almost 1 mile (1.6 km), and that’s only the halfway point!
There is a lot of space between each memorial and monument, so you’ll spend much of your time walking between each one. You can easily walk 3 miles if you loop from Lincoln Memorial, around the Tidal Basin, and back again.
And if you are debating about bringing a stroller, bring it! You’ll be happy you had it, even for your older kids.
4. Bring Lots of Snacks (And Maybe Pack a Lunch)
Walking around the National Mall, you’ll see many beautiful memorials, monuments, and museums. Do you know what you won’t see a lot of? Food options!
Other than the occasional hot dog cart or ice cream truck, from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument, there are no food options.
Food trucks start to show up around the Washington Monument, and will line 14th Street and also Independence Avenue near the Air & Space Museum.
There are also some food stands by the Smithsonian museums as well as a small café in the Sculpture Garden. And inside each museum, there are cafeterias and food courts with varied options.
If you don’t want to worry about where to buy food when you are on your family trip to Washington, DC, make sure to pack snacks and water. Or even a picnic lunch!
There are plenty of spaces to spread out along the Mall. On a hot and sunny day, try one of the many shady spots alongside the walking paths.
Visitor’s Tip: Many of the government buildings, like the Capitol Building, will not allow food and drink inside. You may have to plan other food alternatives if those buildings are on the agenda for the first part of the day.
5. Remember Not Every Restaurant is Open on Weekends
Speaking of food, even though it’s a big tourist destination, Washington, DC, is busiest during the week when all government buildings are open and people are working.
Due to that, many restaurants near the Federal Triangle and White House close early on weekends or are not open at all.
You might have better luck finding a place to eat along the Wharf or at one of the several vegan restaurants in Washington, DC.
6. Visit the Kid-Friendly Areas of Museums
In case you didn’t know, the Smithsonian Museums are some of the awesome attractions in Washington, DC, that are FREE to visit.
Now that we’ve established that, you should also know that many of the museums have fun, interactive kids’ areas. These are wonderful areas for parents to sit and rest while kids get to kids!
Some of our favorite spots are the Wegman’s Wonderplace at the National Museum of American History and the ImagiNATIONS activity center at National Museum of the American Indian.
7. Visit During the Off Seasons
The best time to visit Washington, DC, is in the fall when the temperatures start to cool off and the crowds are much lower. It makes for a perfect fall getaway!
The second best time to visit is spring, even for a spring break getaway. It’ll be busy due to events like the Cherry Blossom Festival, but it won’t be summer crowd levels.
Washington, DC, is also very nice to visit in the winter. It’s typically less crowded, even over winter break, and the FREE museums provide a great space to enter and warm up before you walk to your next destination.
8. Find the Playgrounds!
Our biggest tip when visiting any major city with kids is to take a playground break!
As much as we want to visit museums and other attractions in the area, it’s always nice for the kids to get some play time in. Thankfully, there are plenty of awesome playgrounds in DC.
We took some time on one of our visits to play at the small area in Franklin Park, across from Planet Word. It was a hit with the kids even though it’s small.
9. Don’t Push Yourselves
Even the most seasoned travelers will be not able to see everything on their Washington, DC family vacation.
Between the enormous size of the National Mall, the time spent in the fantastic museums, and the government buildings you can tour, it’s hard to do it all in one visit.
Pick 2-3 activities for each day and make sure to build in time for rest breaks, snacks, and meals.
If you can fit more in, great! If not, you will have something to look forward to the next time you visit Washington, DC, with kids!
Washington, DC Family Vacation Itinerary Multi-Day Options
Whether you have a weekend or a whole week in Washington, DC, you won’t be able to see everything! It’s one of the best family vacations on the east coast for a reason.
The below Washington, DC itineraries touch on some of the most popular attractions in DC to make the most out of your trip and serve as a good starting point for you to plan your Washington, DC, family vacation.
Washington, DC Weekend Itinerary
Day One:
- Arlington Cemetery in the morning (drive or take Metro)
- Visit a few of your favorite museums in the afternoon (try to plan for 2 or 3 in close proximity)
- Enjoy the memorials at night (they are very pretty, all lit up!). You can either walk around or take this bus tour.
Day Two:
- Take in views from the Washington Monument (or the Old Post Office Tower if you couldn’t get tickets) in the morning
- Spend the remainder of your day visiting the museums and monuments you missed from Day One or visit the National Zoo
Washington, DC 3-Day Itinerary
Day One:
- Arlington Cemetery in the morning (drive or take Metro)
- Visit a few of your favorite museums in the afternoon (try to plan for 2 or 3 in close proximity)
- Enjoy the memorials at night (they are very pretty all lit up!)
Day Two:
- Take in views from the Washington Monument (or the Old Post Office Tower if you couldn’t get tickets) in the morning
- Visit the National Zoo in the afternoon or take the Metro in Alexandria and the FREE King Street Trolley while exploring the town
Day Three:
Washington, DC 5-Day Itinerary
Follow Days One-Three on the 3-Day Itinerary
Day Four:
- Visit Mount Vernon for the morning/afternoon
Day Five:
- Free day! Visit the museums and memorials that you missed or want to see more of. This is a great time visit museums further from the National Mall like Planet Word, the National Building Museum, and the National Portrait Gallery. You might even consider driving to the National Arboretum.
Getting Around Washington, DC With Kids.
DC Metro
The easiest way to get anywhere in Washington, DC is by using the Metro. It is fast and convenient, and can get you from Alexandria, Virginia to the National Mall in less than 20 minutes.
As convenient as it is, there are some things to know about the Metro:
- Every rider over 5 years old needs their own SmarTrip card. These can be purchased at any Metro stop and refilled as needed.
- The Metro fare is calculated based on the time of day and distance between stations. It is not a flat rate like the New York City subway. The fare is also listed on the SmarTrip machines at each stop.
- Each rider will need to scan in at the departing station and scan out at the arrival station. This is why everyone over 5 years old needs their own card.
- Up to two children 5 years old and younger can ride the Metro for FREE with a paying adult.
- There is only one Metro stop on the National Mall (the Smithsonian stop). The Blue, Orange, and Silver lines stop there. However, L’Enfant Plaza is only a few blocks from the National Mall, and, in addition to the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines, the Green and Yellow lines also stop there.
Walking
Overall, Washington, DC, is pretty walkable. Most of the monuments and museums that visitors want to see are along the National Mall.
However, its size is a little deceiving. Those attractions seem closer to each other than they actually are. It’s mind-blowing to think that the National Mall from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol Building is almost 2.5 miles long!
Driving
A car might be more convenient when you’re visiting Washington, DC, with your younger kids and toddlers.
You can leave extra diapers or snacks in the car and have a place to stow your stroller when visiting places like the Washington Monument that don’t allow them.
The only downside is limited parking time for paid street parking. It is typically limited to two-three hours.
You can always park at the several parking garages north of the National Mall, but then you’ll still be walking a few blocks to the museums and monuments.
Electric Scooters
Electric scooters are fun option to get around Washington, DC, with kids. However, they are not easy for little kids to use, so they might not work for your family.
Riders will have to use the company’s app to pay to use the scooter. You typically pay per minute, and the rate depends on the time of day and how in demand the scooters are.
Companies that have permits for dockless scooters in DC for 2023-2024 are Lime, Lyft, Spin, and VeoRide.
Like most major cities, ride-share companies like Uber and Lyft are available. You might find them most helpful to get to and from the National Zoo or to your hotel if it is across town.
Where to Stay in Washington, DC With Kids
There are many family-friendly hotels in Washington, DC. Some are close to the National Mall and White House, while other good options are a Metro ride away.
It is usually more expensive to stay in Washington, DC, than staying outside the city, so your budget may determine which is the better option.
Sometimes, you can find a good deal in Alexandria, VA, or Arlington, VA. Just make sure the hotel you choose is near the Metro to make it easy to get in and out of the city!
We’ve stayed at the following hotels and have had a good experience at each:
- Hampton Inn Washington, D.C./White House: Nice hotel with FREE hot breakfast. Walking distance to the White House and a 15-minute walk to National Mall.
- Hyatt Place Washington Dc/White House: Nice hotel with FREE hot breakfast. Larger rooms make it great for families. Walking distance to the White House and a 15-minute walk to National Mall.
- Embassy Suites Alexandria Old Town: Beautiful hotel with FREE made-to-order hot breakfast. Across from the Metro and a 20-minute ride into Washington, DC.
Family Vacation to Washington, DC Wrap Up
I hope these tips for planning a Washington, DC, family vacation have eased some of your stress! Washington, DC, is such a fun place to visit with kids that your family will have a great time no matter what you do.
Just remember the key takeaways:
- Reserve the tickets you want ahead of time
- Remember to wear comfortable shoes
- Try not to do too much!
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