Itinerary for 24 Hours in Washington DC

Washington, DC (District of Columbia) is the capital of the great United States of America. There are so many amazing things to see here, including famous monuments, a beautiful cemetery that will touch your heart forever, and, of course, The White House. I never imagined we’d be able to see all of the most important sites in Washington, DC in just 24 hours. Not only is it possible, but you really don’t need any more than that to see the highlights. Here is the itinerary for our recent 24 hour trip to Washington, DC.

24 Hours in Washington, DC

We arrived in Washington, DC early and began our 24 hour sightseeing journey at Arlington National Cemetery. The crowds at the memorials can get quite large, so we decided to save a few of the monuments for late night… so happy we did! Tip: Seeing the monuments after 11pm is AWESOME! There are no crowds, the lighting is stunning, and the weather is cooler!

Arlington National Cemetery

The Arlington National Cemetery is across from the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia. It was established during the Civil War and holds the remains of our soldiers killed in combat.

Sadly, there is a funeral held five days a week, averaging 27 to 30 per day! And, this isn’t the only national cemetery in the United States.

However, it is a sight to see. Arlington National Cemetery is absolutely beautiful, and will leave you feeling quite emotional. We happened to catch them performing a full military ceremony with the 21 gun salute, and it was so incredibly moving. Arlington National Cemetery is just something you really have to experience.

Arlington National Cemetery is open daily from 8am to 5pm. Download and print a map of the cemetery for reference, or download the ANC app. Please be respectful while visiting… speak quietly, leave your pets at home, respect funeral services and the property of the Cemetery.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

In the Arlington National Cemetery is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This is a monument dedicated to those deceased service members who have not been identified. It is guarded 24 hours a day by the U.S. Army.

JFK’s Grave – Eternal Flame

While at the cemetery, be sure to stop by and pay your respects to President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline. JFK’s grave is marked with an “eternal flame”. Be advised, though, that climbing the hill to the gravesite does require physical exertion.

Tour Tram for Arlington

You can take the narrated hop on hop off tour tram rather than walking. These tours leave every 30 minutes beginning at 9am and ending at 4pm each day. Tickets for the tram are available inside the Welcome Center and also outside at the tram circle’s marked podium, or you can purchase them online at www.arlingtontours.com.

Jefferson Memorial

“We hold these truths to be self evident, the all men are created equal.”

Construction on the neoclassical Jefferson Memorial began in 1939 and completed in 1943, with the bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson being added in 1947. The Memorial sits on the shores of the Potomac River in West Potomac Park. It is built from beautiful marble and granite, but those marble steps can be rather slippery when wet… so please be careful climbing them.

The Jefferson Memorial is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except for major holidays. Park rangers are there to answer your questions from 9:30am to 10:00pm daily, except Christmas. The memorial is always free to visit. Again, please be respectful on your visit to the memorial.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors service members who fought in the Vietnam War. It is in Constitution Gardens next to the National Mall. The black granite Memorial Wall is made up of 140 panels all engraved with the names of the over 58,000 service members who died in combat.

If you knew someone who was killed during the Vietnam War, be sure to bring a piece of paper and crayon or pencil along with you. Place the paper over the name and rub it with the pencil or crayon as a memory of the person you lost.

The Memorial is free to visit and is open 24 hours a day. Rangers are on duty from 9:30am to 10:00pm to answer any questions you may have and provide interpretive programs throughout the day.

The Three Servicemen

At the end of the wall is a beautiful bronze statue called “The Three Servicemen”. The three soldiers, European American, Hispanic American, and African American, appear to be interacting with each other and looking on in with dignity at the names of their fallen fellow soldiers on the wall.

US Marine Corp War Memorial a/k/a Iwo Jima Memorial

Another very moving memorial is the US Marine Corp War Memorial, or Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington Ridge Park. It portrays that iconic photograph of the six soldiers raising a U.S. flag on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. It was dedicated in 1954 to the marines who gave their lives in defense of the United States since 1775. Not only is the Memorial moving, the panoramic views from it are also pretty amazing.

The grounds at the Marine Corp War Memorial are open from 6am to midnight every day. If you plan to visit the Memorial in the summer, be sure to come by on a Tuesday evening. This is when the Marine Corp band performs a drum and bugle concert of a full hour at sunset. However, you will not be able to park on the grounds on these Tuesday evenings. You must park at the Arlington National Cemetery Visitor Center and take a shuttle.

Cocktails at The Trump International Hotel

After dinner at The Capital Grill we headed over to meet friends at the Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue. The Hotel was once the Old Post Office and Clock Tower, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This really gorgeous building was constructed between 1892 and 1899 in the Richardsonian Romanesque architecture style. Its bell tower is the third tallest structure in Washington, DC.

The building was leased by Trump in 2013, and made into stunning luxury hotel. They make delicious cocktails in the bar, but they are SUPER expensive! I think we paid $90 for 4 drinks, and one was non-alcoholic! So, even if you don’t go for a cocktail, be sure to stop in and check out this gorgeous hotel.

So it’s almost 11pm and we’ve finished dinner and our ultra expensive cocktails. Time to see the things I want to see the most. Well, honestly, we could not have picked a better time to do it because there was hardly anyone out at that time of night. We had no trouble parking, and no trouble getting the photos we wanted.

The White House

The International symbol of the United States is The White House. It is the official residence and workplace of the President, and has been since John Adams in 1800.

One downfall of visiting The White House at night is you can’t get near it. Even trying to get a good photo is near impossible. As soon as I lifted my camera to get some shots, the police put on their siren. So, if I was going to do this again, I’d go to the White House during the day and do a tour. But, I did manage to sneak a quick photo.

Free public tours are available on Fridays and Saturdays, generally, and are on a first come, first served basis. If you would like to tour the White House, a request must be submitted through your Member of Congress. The request can be submitted three months in advance, but no less than 21 days in advance. Self-guided tours run on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30am to 11:30am, or Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30am to 1:30pm. Find more information about visiting the White House here.

Washington Monument

Wow, the Washington Monument at night is phenomenal. This fabulous obelisk is the centerpiece of DC, sitting in the National Mall just east of the Reflecting Pool and Lincoln Memorial. It is made of marble, granite and bluestone gneiss, and is the world’s tallest stone obelisk in the world, at 555-feet all. The Monument was built to honor George Washington, our very first president.

The Monument’s 500 foot observation deck recently reopened to the public after being closed since 2016 due to problems with the elevator. Although we did not go inside, I’m sure the views from the obelisk are pretty extraordinary. But, just seeing it from the outside at night is breathtaking.

If you plan on going inside, check out how to get your online entry tickets that must be purchased in advance.

National Mall & Reflecting Pool

There is something just truly amazing about strolling walking paths of the National Mall at night. The Capitol is lit in the distance, the Lincoln Memorial with its image in the rectangular Reflecting Pool, and the Washington Monument lit and surrounded by 50 of this country’s red, white and blue. It’s just an awesome sight, and completely enjoyable at night without the crowds.

The park is open 24 hours a day, with rangers on duty from 9:30am to 10pm daily to answer your questions.

Lincoln Memorial

One of the most popular spots in all of D.C. is the Lincoln Memorial with over 7 Million visitors each year. This is the best reason to visit the Memorial at night! The other great reason for visiting at night is the way the Mall and the Memorial are lit. It is just incredible.

The Lincoln Memorial was built to honor Honest Abe, our 16th president. A large seated statue of Abe Lincoln sits inside the neoclassical temple at the western end of the National Mall and across from the Washington Monument. On either side of Abe are inscriptions of two of his famous speeches, The Gettysburg Address and his Inaugural Address.

Lincoln’s Memorial is open 24 hours a day and is free to visit. Park rangers are also on duty to answer your questions from 9:30am to 10:00pm, except for Christmas Day.

World War II Memorial

The World War II Memorial is dedicated to the Americans who served in all Armed Forces, and also as civilians during World War II. Its 56 granite pillars, each representing the states of the U.S. and its territories, sit in a semi-circle on the National Mall at the east end of the Reflecting Pool. This was one of my favorite memorials because the design of the pillars, and the landscaping and water features are just beautiful!

On the west side is the Freedom Wall where you’ll have a view of the Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial. This wall holds the message “Here we mark the price of freedom”. It has 4,048 gold stars on it, each one representing 100 Americans who died in World War II.

The World War II Memorial is open 24 hours a day and is free to visit. Park Rangers are available from 9am to 10pm to answer your questions.

U.S. Capitol Building

The United States Capitol Building is where the U.S. Congress meets, and it’s also the seat of the legislative branch of the Federal Government. This building looks amazing at night with its massive dome lighting the sky.

Due to Covid-19 they are not taking reservations for tours at this time. However, you can take a virtual tour online. See updates on its free tours, programs and activities. Check out the list of prohibited items before visiting.

What to Do With More Time in D.C.

Top Tours for Washington, D.C.

See all Viator tours for Washington, D.C.

Annual Festivals and Events

Plan a trip around one of Washington, D.C.’s fabulous festivals and events.

Best Time to Visit

The summers in Washington, D.C. are very, very hot and this is when you’ll find the biggest crowds. Winters can be harsh! The best time to visit is from September through November and March through May. Personally, I love the Spring and Fall. In the Spring you have the cherry blossoms in bloom, and in the Fall you have the colorful foliage and cool breezes.

How to Get Here

Washington, D.C. is serviced by three major airports:

Out of these 3 airports, the best one to fly into is the Ronald Reagan Airport. This is the closest airport to Downtown D.C. while the other 2 are over 25 miles outside of the area.

Take a look at all of your flight options on Expedia or CheapOair. See how to find the best deals on flights.

Train

If you don’t want to fly because of a fear of flying or some other reason, there’s always Amtrak! Book your train ride to Washington, D.C. with Trainline. Read my blog on how to see the world by train for more train travel tips.

How to Get Around Washington, D.C.

Driving in Washington, D.C. can be easy if you get to know the grid system before heading there. But, the traffic can be pretty frustrating. I recommend leaving your car at your hotel and taking a ride share like Uber or Lyft, or hailing a taxi. Once you’ve gotten downtown you can get around pretty easily by walking, biking, bus, or other public transportation.

Bike D.C.

For those who like to explore on bicycle, Capital Bikeshare has tons of stations across the area with over 3,000 bicycles. It’s easy to use and you can access bikes 24 hours a day pretty much anywhere in the city.

Scooter

While walking through D.C. we noticed a lot of these little 2 wheel electric scooters all over the place. People would just walk up to one and take off on it and then drop it somewhere else. What a great way to get around this big city! There are several companies throughout the city that provide these fun little vehicles. Bird, Lyft, Skip, Razor and several other companies are permitted to provide the scooters in the city. Just download one of these apps and begin your ride.

Metrorail, Metro Bus or DC Circulator

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority provides the most commonly used transportation in D.C. These run seven days a week and you pay through SmarTrip with mobile pay or with a reloadable card:

runs Monday through Thursday from 5am to 12 midnight; Friday from 5am to 1am; Saturday from 7am to 1am; and Sunday from 7am to 12 midnight. runs hundreds of routes throughout D.C. These buses run on natural gas or electric. Use their handy Trip Planner to see fares and times. is only $1 for all riders and provides easy on and off points throughout the city.

Drive

So you’ve got a rental car and you’ve chosen to drive D.C.’s very busy metropolitan area. Let me help you out with parking, but I urge you to use public transportation.

Parking in D.C. is scarce and in high demand. Free parking on the streets is restricted, but if you’re going to be parked there for less than 2 hours, you’ll probably be okay. Check the sign before parking!

There is all day free parking along Ohio Drive along the Potomac or by the Jefferson Memorial in lots A, B and C, but it’s pretty scant. If you plan on seeing some of the memorials at night, as we did, you shouldn’t have a problem parking on the street, but in the daytime it could be a huge problem.

There are private paid parking garages and lots north of the National Mall. Check here for further information on parking in D.C.

Where to Stay

Hyatt Centric Arlington

We stayed on the other side of the Potomac in Downtown Arlington at the Hyatt Centric Arlington. The hotel was located in a quiet and safe area, and we were very impressed with the clean, modern accommodations. It was just a short 10 minute drive to Arlington National Cemetery, and only about 15 minutes to downtown D.C. And, again, if you don’t want to drive, the Metro is right around the corner!

Finding & Booking Accommodations

Lodging is one of the most important aspects of planning a trip. You want to find the right place for the best price. Our favorite resource when we want to rent a home or apartment is VRBO. The search engines we use for making all other reservations for lodging are Booking.com and Agoda. Booking and Agoda really seem to have the best deals on hotels, B&B’s and rental properties, and they will price match! Read more about finding and booking accommodations.

Share Your Travel Tips & Comments

As always, if you have any of your own travel tips to add to this post, any remarks on the article, or if my information needs an edit or addition, please leave your comments below. I value all of your input.