14 Fun and Free Places to Visit With Your Family in Washington DC
Have you ever been to Washington DC? Whether you’ve been 100 times or not at all, I hope that these 14 ideas will help inspire you while planning your next family trip to our nation’s capital.
iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Audible
My husband, daughter, and I just returned from a trip to Washington DC and we had the best time! I was reminded of how much I love the city, and how many fun and free things there are to experience with your family.
Here are 14 of my favorite FREE things to do with families in Washington DC!
1. National Mall
Our first stop on our trip was the National Mall! Pick a spot on the grass, and take in your surroundings. We really enjoyed our time simply laying on the grass and hanging out. This is also a great location to take pictures with the Washington Monument or the Capitol Building.
2. Black Lives Matter Plaza
This is a newer area that was established in 2020. You can find the plaza just north of the White House. Muralists painted “Black Lives Matter” through the plaza, and it’s a really neat place to visit and reflect on what this message means to you.
3. Smithsonian Museums
There are SO many museums under the “Smithsonian” umbrella. There are 17 museums, and they are all free! Two of the museums do require timed entry tickets: Air & Space Museum and the African American Museum. So if you want to visit one of these, be sure to plan ahead!
The Air & Space Museum is great for kids! It’s very entertaining and exciting. The African American Museum is great for anyone, but I would recommend taking your older kids here, as the topics are a bit deeper.
The American History Museum is so fun for kids and adults! You can even see the original Star Spangled Banner! We also love the Natural History Museum and the National Zoo!
We ate lunches at 3 of the museums, and the American Indian Museum had our favorite food :)
The National Gallery of Art was amazing! I think that this is a great place to go, whether or not your kids like art. This museum could be a great opportunity to introduce your kids to all the different types of art. If you do end up visiting, be sure to go on the roof to see a giant blue rooster!
Depending on which museums you decide to visit, many of them are very walkable! Be aware that parking is very limited.
4. National Archives
Here you can see the original Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence! How cool is that?! Most kids are probably familiar with these documents, which makes it super fun to visit.
Be aware that NO photos are allowed in the building.
You can book timed tickets ahead of time, but they also have a standby line. The building opens at 10 am, and we got there at 9:30 am. We were in the building by 10:15 am!
5. Library of Congress
The library has free timed-entry tickets. These are required to get into the building, so be sure to get those ahead of time. You can usually get them up to the day before your visit. You will be able to see Thomas Jefferson’s library and so many other interesting books. On top of that, the building is beautiful!
6. Enjoy the memorials and monuments
Most of the memorials and monuments are near the National Mall, but some are throughout the city. My first recommendation is the Washington Monument! This one is right at the mall, and it is amazing! We went to the Lincoln Memorial at sunset and it was magical!
We also enjoyed the Jefferson Memorial and MLK Memorial. The MLK Memorial has a great view of the water. You can also check out the FDR and Eisenhower Memorials.
The WWII Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial are all very close to each other, and worth visiting.
We went on a night tour of the Memorials and I would definitely recommend that!
7. Arlington Cemetery
This cemetery is somber and beautiful at the same time. You can enter the cemetery for free, but you have the option to pay to take a tram around. This is a great option for little kids who don’t want to walk or for those with limited mobility.
I recommend watching the changing of the guard. You go to the gravesites of the “unknown soldiers” and they will always have a guard on duty. This happens every hour on the hour in the fall and spring, and every 30 minutes in the summer. They will be there no matter the weather.
8. White House
Even if you’re not able to go inside the White House, it’s still worth going to look at from outside the gates!
You can request to book an appointment 3 months before you plan to go. You do this by contacting a member of Congress within your district. Hopefully, they’ll be able to get you a free ticket to tour the House!
9. Supreme Court
Whether or not they are in session, I think that it’s worth checking out the Supreme Court! They may have restricted public access depending on what hearings are in session. There is a lone outside where you can wait to go inside. They only allow you to sit and watch for a few minutes before cycling through the next group of visitors.
10. Botanic Gardens
These gardens are right outside of the Mall! They have several different ecosystem rooms set up for you to explore! I would recommend spending 30 minutes to an hour here. It’s very beautiful and relaxing.
11. FBI
Did you know that you can tour the FBI building?! You MUST have an advanced reservation, and you need to make it at least 4 weeks before your trip. Contact your district’s congressman to get tickets!
Only U.S. citizens can do this tour and you can ONLY get tickets through your congressman.
12. U.S. Capitol
Not only is the outside of the building beautiful and fun to walk around, but you can also explore the inside! You will need to get your free timed entry tickets ahead of time.
13. United States Holocaust Museum
I would recommend this museum to families with somewhat older kids. There are a lot of heavy topics discussed in the museum that may be confusing or overwhelming to little kids. I would suggest talking with your kids ahead of time about the Holocaust and the things that they might see or learn about.
The first story of the museum is an exhibit called “Daniel’s Story” and you do NOT need a timed ticket for this one. This floor is also geared toward kids.
If you want to see the rest of the museum, you need to get your timed ticket in advance. They also release some tickets in the morning for day-of entrance.
14. Ford’s Theater
This is the theater where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. You will need to get timed tickets for this as well.
15. Canadian Embassy
Here’s a bonus thing to do! This one is a bit random, but it’s still fun! It’s cool because once you step into the embassy’s property, you are technically on Canadian soil!
That’s all for this week! Please message me on Instagram @thistraveltribe if you have any questions. I also want to mention that we had an amazing tour guide on this trip named Brenda! If you want her info, DM me! She also has tours in New York and Philadelphia. She is fantastic!