Interested in visiting Washington DC with kids? My husband and I have also been wanting to visit for years, and we finally decided it was time. So we did it!
After taking a week-long trip to DC with our three homeschooled kids this past October 2024, I have decided to write a post about our trip and all that we learned in planning and visiting so that hopefully our experience will help you make the most of your trip!
So buckle up for a ton of info with tips on every topic from what to see and when, travel ideas, and even places to eat! Our sample itinerary is listed below, so be sure to read to the end.
*Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the link. Please see my disclosure for more details.
Visiting Washington DC with kids
On first look, the main area of Washington DC is not the most family-friendly place to visit. There aren’t a lot of playgrounds and such, and most of the museums are not ultimately geared for kids. However, the amount of experiential history and education in Washington DC is great for kids to help them learn and understand more about our great nation, the United States of America.
When visiting Washington DC with kids, we never felt like kids weren’t welcome there. Many families were around also seeing the sites, and we saw several school field trips. Restaraunts have kids menus, and museums had things kids would be interested to see.
Our youngest was 7 when we visited this year, and to be honest, I am unsure I would want to take a child any younger than that. There is SO much walking involved in visiting the capitol city, and museums will quickly get boring for young kids. It was often a struggle even for my 7 year old.
Also note that you will go through security screening in almost every building you enter, and some will not allow you to bring in a bag larger than a small purse. Though there are some exceptions for baby stuff, just know up front that you may deal with some frustration with large bags and strollers.
Our kids were 14, 11, and 7 on our visit. Of course our oldest got the most out of the trip – he also loves history. But our other two also learned a lot and were able to see some pretty awesome things while we were there that I’m sure we’ll be referring back to over the years as we study our nation and it’s history in the coming years.
I think the prime age for your kids to visit is when they are all in their teens. Then walking and understanding are not big tasks to overcome.
The ultimate homeschool field trip
There is so much to see and do in Washington DC with kids that I think it is the ultimate homeschool field trip! And the best part is that so much of it is free! This is great for homeschool families on a budget.
If your family wants to see important parts of US history and to experience some awesome museums, then definitely be sure to visit Washington DC.
Learning about history in this hands-on way is a fabulous way to really let it sink in. Seeing real documents and tools, even visiting the halls where great people have walked, are all next-level education!
Things to do with kids
Some things in Washington DC are more family-friendly than others. Here is a list of the things we found to be great to do with kids:
Visit Monuments and the National Mall
You can’t visit Washington DC without going to the National Mall and seeing at least some of the monuments in the area. Riding scooters around the Mall will make it more fun and faster too! Seeing the war memorials is sobering, but they are great to show your kids so they understand the price of our freedom today.
- Washington Monument
- Lincoln Memorial
- World War 2 Memorial
- Korean War Memorial
- Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- Ulysses S Grant Memorial
- Thomas Jefferson Memorial
- And several more!
Go to the top of the Washington Monument
We had no idea until we got there, but you are able to go to the top of the Washington Monument. It does require tickets, but they are only $1 per person. Be sure to reserve them in advance in busier seasons.
Visit important buildings
We enjoyed showing our kids some of the historic buildings of our nation. Seeing the halls where presidents have walked, and viewing the beautiful architecture and decor was one of the best parts of our trip! We especially enjoyed the Library of Congress!
Note that to go inside these buildings, most require timed-entry reservations. Ford’s Theatre also has a small fee, though some free passes are available on a first come basis.
Tours of the White House and the Capitol building must be reserved in advance through your local state representative and are not guaranteed. Be sure to request tours much in advance to allow for time to complete the process of background checks. Reservations can be requested up to 90 days in advance. Both also have visitor’s centers with museums that always free and do not require tickets.
The Pentagon tour requires reservations through the Department of Defense website and must be reserved at least 14 days in advance. However, visitng the 9/11 Memorial on the same grounds is free and open to the public.
Go to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
The National Zoo houses more than 400 species with over 2,200 animals! It is one of the only zoos in the US with pandas, though they won’t be available to see again until 2025.
The zoo is further out into the city from the National Mall area, so be sure to allow time for travel. Also be sure to pay attention to the closing times, as they may close earlier than you think – ask me how I know! 😩 Timed-entry tickets are required.
Check out the Natural History Museum
Do you have a child that loves animals or dinosaurs? This is the museum for you! It’s full of fossils, models, and displays of all sorts of animals. Though the favorite section in our family was by far the rocks and minerals! We all love checking out the various shapes and colors of all the intersting formations from our interesting world. Also be sure to check out the Hope Diamond and other beautiful jewelery on display!
Visit the National Air and Space Museum
This is one of my favorite museums in Washington DC! The Air and Space museum is very large and houses actual aircrafts, including the Wright Brothers plane and the command module of Apollo 11! Timed entry tickets were required.
This museum is currently undergoing a complete renovation, and while we were there, only about half of it was open in the National Mall area.
There is a second location with a lot more to see near the Dulles Airport called the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Though we were unable to make it to this location, it has two large hangars and houses the Space Shuttle Discovery and a Blackbird SR-71. Next time!
Check out the Spy Museum
The International Spy Museum is a great interactive museum for every age. But to fully enjoy the exhibits, there is a lot of reading! One of the things that made this museum of spycraft so entertaining is that we all became spies, with a mission and check-ins throughout the areas.
If you have several kids with you, this can quickly get overwhelming to try to track each person’s missions, so be sure to be at the top of your game.
Tickets are required.
See the US Botanic Garden
The Botanic Garden has several areas to visit, and all are free, no tickets required. Seeing all the plants can be a good time for all ages! I’ve heard it’s beautiful near the holidays!
Go to the National Children’s Museum
Of course the National Children’s Museum is a great place to visit with kids! Much to my youngest daughter’s disappointment, we were unable to fit this museum into our schedule. Tickets are required.
Visit Arlington National Cemetery
Visiting Arlington National Cemetery is an experience for all. It is astounding to see the amount of headstones here and visiting some of the memorials and historical sites here once again help us all to understand the price of our freedom. The views are incredible.
We especially loved watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I hope to visit again sometime and pay for the tram ride and see more of the sites, like JFK’s burial site. When we went, we did not enter through the main gate and weren’t able to ride the tram. We walked so much that day!
Visit the National Museum of American History
The American History Museum has some great exhibits for all ages. On the bottom floor, there are a couple spaces especially for kids. This was one of the few Smothsonian Museums that we visited with a kid’s area.
Go to the National Building Museum
We did not visit the National Building Museum on our trip, but it is definitely one I’d love to check out in the future! From what I have heard, there are a lot of hands-on elements, so it is great for kids! Tickets are required.
See the original Declaration of Independence
The original documents of the Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, and Bill of Rights are all on display at the National Archives Museum. We loved being able to see these documents in person in this smaller museum.
Free things to do in DC
One of the best things about visiting Washington DC with kids is that you can do and see so much for free! Many museums in the area are part of the Smithsonian Institution and then the government buildings are also generally open to the public for free. Do note that some places may still require timed-entry reservations.
Here is a list of many of the free things to see in Washington DC. For more info on many of these, see the above section (Things to do with kids) where I have added some extra information.
- The National Mall
- Monuments and Memorials around the city
- The White House (and visitor’s center)
- The US Capitol Building (and visitor’s center)
- The Library of Congress
- The Supreme Court
- Museum of Natural History
- National Air and Space Museum
- The National Archives Museum
- Museum of American History
- The National Zoo
- Arlington National Cemetery and the changing of the guard
- African American History and Culture Museum
- American Art Museum
- National Portrait Gallery
- American Indian Museum
- National Postal Museum
- US Botanic Garden
- Ford’s Theatre
Note that to visit many of these places, they may require timed-entry reservations. Ford’s Theatre also may have a small fee, though some free passes are available on a first come basis.
Tours of the White House and the Capitol building must be reserved in advance through your local state representative and are not guaranteed. Be sure to request tours much in advance to allow for time to complete the process of background checks. Reservations can be requested up to 90 days in advance. Both also have visitor’s centers with museums that are always free and do not require tickets.
The Pentagon tour requires reservations through the Department of Defense website and must be reserved at least 14 days in advance. However, visitng the 9/11 Memorial on the same grounds is free and open to the public.
More things to check out if you have time
Here are a few more things you may want to check out if you have time that I haven’t already listed above.
- George Washington’s Mount Vernon
- National Cathedral
- US Holocaust Memorial Museum
- The Museum of the Bible
Our family highlights
On our visit, my family saw a lot of great things! There really was so much we saw, and so many things that we loved. But among the amazing things, a few stand out.
One of my favorites was the White House tour. While the decor is not really my style, I loved seeing many of the famous paintings of presidents that I’ve seen in books. Paintings of Washington, JFK, and Lincoln were my favorites. I really enjoyed getting to see them in person!
Another favorite in our family was the Library of Congress. This building is easily the most beautiful in the whole city! Full of amazing architecture, paintings, and statues. Plus it houses a Gutenberg Bible on display!
The Air and Space Museum is another favorite. My son and I love space exploration, and my son and husband really enjoy aircraft. We only wish the whole museum had been open!
A few Historical things we were glad we made time to see were the original documents of the Declaration of Independence, The Constinution, and the Bill of Rights. These are housed in the National Archives Museum. We also loved seeing the very old Star Spangled Banner display in the Museum of American History.
Another highlight of our visit was going to Arlington National Cemetery and watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I’m pretty sure my son hasn’t ever stood up straighter than he did after that!
Best time to visit Washington DC
We visited during October, and the weather couldn’t have been better! I highly recommend trying to visit in mild weather months, like the autumn or spring months, as you will be outside quite a bit! The city is quite spread out and walking from place to place takes some time.
Of course, being in the capitol city means that you should consider some other things when planning a trip. Unless you are wanting to attend the inauguration, seeing the sights will be more difficult during this time due to the increased amount of visitors. You also will likely not be able to visit some of the buildings like the White House and Capitol Building.
Other times that may not be good to visit is near a presidential election or around holidays.
Our first visit to the city was right after Christmas in December 2008 – scaffolding for Obama’s inauguration was being set up, and we were unable to visit the more secure buildings like the White House. However, the Smithsonian museums were all open and we still had plenty to do to fill our time!
During our second visit, despite being a month before a persidential election, the area was calm. There was a small organized protest happening one day we were there and they were setting up for an event in the Mall over the weekend. But these generally did not interfere with our sight seeing.
To be honest, it is likely impossible to avoid large gatherings and events completely in Washington DC at any point in the year. It’s a pretty busy place!
Tips for visiting DC
Here are my top tips for visiting Washington DC with your family:
Be sure to wear good walking shoes that fit!
I thought we had this one under control, but on our first day in DC, my youngest was complaining of her feet hurting. So we had to find a shoe store and ended up sizing her up two full sizes! Major mom fail. 🥴
Plan what you want to do in advance
There are so many things to do and see. Be sure to plan in advanec so you can prioritize – you won’t be able to see everything in one trip! Also some things require reservations far in advance, so planning for this is helpful.
Make a list of food options in advance
Originally I figured we would pack lunches and eat at our Airbnb quite a bit. But plans changed. We lived through several hangry conversations trying to decide where to eat. So if I had done some advance scouting for restaraunt options, much of that could have been avoided!
Consider bringing food
Food in Washington DC is not cheap, especially for a whole family, so if you’re hoping to save some money, consider bringing food. Even if it is just for breakfast and a few dinners. Packing lunch can also be helpful if you’re up to it. But make sure it’s easy meals, cause you’ll be tired after a long day in town!
Use the Metro system
The Metro is Washington DC’s subway system. It goes all over the city and even goes out into Alexandria and Arlington. It is a complex system with several rails, so be sure to take some time to become familiar with how it works. Google Maps has the Metro as an option for travel, so using that can be helpful in navigation and estimating travel time.
Stay outside of the city
Lodging in DC proper is pretty expensive with a family, so staying outside of the city is helpful to save some money. Just be sure you can find a place near the Metro for easy transportation around town. Alexandria and Arlington both have great options.
Fly instead of drive
We drove to DC this time, but we decided if we were to do it again, we would probably fly in to save on the 10+ hour trip for our family. The Reagen National Airport is right along the Metro, so it would be super easy to use this option.
Build in rest and time off
Because of all the walking and reading and barinwork involved in museums and the city, it is helpful to build in rest time. Most of the museums are closed by 5:30 so most evening will be free. But if you plan on staying for several days in the city, building in a few hours even a whole day off in the middle may be helpful. We learned this the hard way.
Know the open hours for everything
Many of the museums in the city have similar hours, but not everything is easy to predict. It is good to double check open hours for each activity before trecking across the city. And note the hours may change with the season. We sadly learned this the hard way by travelling across town to the zoo only to be 30 minutes late. 😕
Make reservations and buy tickets in advance
Several museums and attractions require advance tickets and reservations. Many are free, but still require timed entry passes. Also note that tours of the White House and the Capitol building must be reserved in advance through your local state representative and take time to secure. Tours for the Pentagon must also be reserved in advance through the Department of Defense. All tickets may be harder to get in busier seasons.
Carry things easily
There is a lot of walking and going through security checks, so having lightweight bags that are easy to get through checkpoints is a must. I also want it to be comfortable and secure of course. Not just stuffing things in all my pockets. And if you go to The White House, you are very limited on what you can bring with you. So be sure to have the right bags, purses, and such with you.
For our trip, we carried an Osprey hiking pack. They are super comfy and lightweight. Mostly we just had water bottles in it. 😊 If we had a backpack that was also a cooler, I know we would have used it for packing lunches. You definitely don’t want to carry around anything heavy or super bulky.
I decided to ditch my purse, even though it’s small, in favor of just a wallet and a travel belt wallet that could hide under my shirt. To the white house, you cannot take a bag of any kind, so the small wallet is a must. In the travel belt, I was able to carry my wallet, any tickets we had, lip balm, museum maps, and such. It worked out perfectly! Highly recommend!
Travel tips for families in DC
Airports
We drove to DC this time, but we decided if we were to do it again, we would probably fly in to save on the 10+ hour trip for our family. The Reagan National Airport is right along the Metro, so it would be super easy to use this option. The Dulles International Airport is also nearby the city.
Subway system
The Metro is Washington DC’s subway system. It goes all over the city and even goes out into Alexandria and Arlington. It is a complex system with several rails, so be sure to take some time to become familiar with how it works. Google Maps has the Metro as an option for travel, so using that app can be helpful in navigation and estimating travel time.
Daily and weekly unlimited passes are available and we decided this was the easiest way for our family to get around town.
But understand that Metro stations are several blocks apart so you will be walking quite a bit between the Metro and everything you go to see. So much walking!
Parking
Driving and parking your own car in town could get a little crazy. There is so much traffic there and drivers are quite impatient! I would not recommend driving if you can avoid it, especially in the main tourist areas. Parking is also going to be quite expensive. Just to park your car at your hotel will cost you a daily fee, let alone finding a parking lot in town.
Buses and rideshare
There are public buses used by many to get around town. You also can use rideshares like Uber and Lyft. There are also lots of bus tours that will take you around the city to see the sights!
Bikes/scooters
One of the great things we discovered is how many bikes and scooters are in the city! This is a great way to get around. Pretty much everywhere you look, especially in the National Mall area, there are electric scooters and bikes for rent through apps like Lime and Bird.
Where to stay
My biggest recommendation on finding a place to stay is to look for a place near the Metro. Preferably within a block or two for ease of getting around. Also lodging in DC proper is pretty expensive with a family, so staying outside of the city is helpful to save some money. Alexandria and Arlington both have great options.
My husband and I visited the city more than 15 years ago, and stayed near dupont circle in a hotel. This was expensive but convenient, though getting in and out of town was quite a hassle.
This stay with our whole family, we got an Airbnb in Alexandria. This worked well for us. It was in a nice quiet area that we felt was safe. We were also able to get a larger place for less money than we would have spent in town. The one downside was the longer commute but it was worth it in the end.
Food ideas while you’re there
Food in Washington DC is not cheap, especially for a whole family, so if you’re hoping to save some money, consider bringing food or getting to the grocery store after you arrive. Even if it is just for breakfast and a few dinners. Packing lunch can also be helpful if you’re up to it. But make sure it’s easy meals, cause you’ll be tired after a long day in town!
Originally I figured we would pack lunches and eat at our Airbnb quite a bit. But plans changed. We lived through several hangry conversations trying to decide where to eat. So if I had done some advance scouting for restaraunt options, much of that could have been avoided!
Most of the museums have their own cafe, so eating in these spots can make food pretty simple. But most of these are your cheap cafeteria type foods, so they won’t be fabulous meals, and they’re honestly not cheap!
My husband and I like to do some “souvenir eating” as I like to call it and find great local spots. DC has no shortage of great restaraunts! And many of them are pretty family friendly!
Here are some of the places we went and some others we want to try next time:
- City Tap House
- Duke’s Grocery
- Good Stuff Eatery
- Luna Hall DC (Food hall)
- The Square Food Hall
- We, the Pizza
- Founding Farmers
- Old Ebbitt Grill
- Matchbox
- Shake Shack
Things to be sure you do in advance
If you are planning a trip to Washington DC with kids, I highly recommend you spend some time making a plan before you go. There is so much to do and see, you will need to prioritize – you won’t be able to see everything in one trip! Also some things require reservations far in advance, so planning for this is helpful.
Several museums and attractions require advance tickets and reservations. Many are free, but still require timed-entry passes. All tickets may be harder to get in busier seasons as well.
I also suggest you make a plan not only of what you want to do each day, but ideas on where to eat, even if you don’t plan to eat out much. There’s nothing quite like figuring out food when you’re hangry!
Also note that tours of the White House and the Capitol building must be reserved up to 3 months in advance through your local state representative and take time to secure. Tours for the Pentagon must also be reserved at least 2 weeks in advance through the Department of Defense. These tours require background checks and approval and you may be denied due to various reasons, including other events and happenings at the time.
These are some of the places that are free but require timed entry passes:
- Library of Congress
- Air and Space Museum
- National Zoo
- White House tour
- US Capitol Building tour
- Ford’s Theatre
Here are some places that require tickets and are not free:
- National Children’s Museum
- Spy Museum
- The Museum of the Bible
- Washington National Cathedral
- The National Building Museum
Sample itinerary for a family trip
Here is the itinerary I made for our trip to Washington DC with kids. While this may not be what you would like to do exactly, it can be a great starting point for you and your family. We actually stayed fairly close to this plan but were completely exhausted by the end! A break in the middle of the week would have been great. Needless to say, we did not visit any of the optional places on the schedule.
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | |
| Morning | Drive | National Mall and memorials | White House tour 10:30 | Library of Congress and Supreme court | Arlington Cemetery and Pentagon | National Zoo | Check out (by 11 am) |
| Afternoon | Air and Space Museum | Museum of Natural History | Capitol tour – 12 pm and National Archives Museum | Spy Museum | Museum of American History | Drive home | |
| Evening | Check-in (after 4 pm) | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | |
| Optional | US Postal Museum | National Cathedral | Botanic Garden | Bible Museum | National Gallery of Art |
One week is not enough!
There is so much to do in Washington DC! So much! You could probably sight-see every weekend for several months and still not see it all. So when planning a trip, you will definitely need to prioritize what your family wants to see as well as what you think you actually can make it through.
One week is definitely not enough! Washington is such a big place, and if there is anything I know you will do, you will be walking! A lot!
So take care of yourself with frequent breaks and grace for each other. And be sure to not only check out the sights, but some of the great food as well!
Washington DC with kids
Going to Washington DC with kids is a big undertaking, but it can totally be done! Just be sure to wear your walking shoes! The monuments, memorials, historical buildings, Smithsonian museums, and more will keep you busy for days so don’t forget to plan ahead. The memories you make together will be worth every blister. It truly is the ultimate US homeschool field trip!
Have you been to Washington DC with kids? What are your favorite places you visited? Comment below!
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