This post is a guide to things to do on the National Mall in Washington, DC, written by the tour guides of DC by Foot.
With daily National Mall tours for over a decade, we know a lot about America's Front Lawn!
We include tips on how to get here, where to park, on choosing museums as well as a self-guided tour.
- What and Where is the National Mall
- Museums on the Mall
- Attractions on the Mall
- Where to Eat
- Guided + Self-Guided Tours
- Other Things to Do in DC
Advice about visiting the National Mall is a common question in our Washington DC Travel Tips Facebook Group - where our tour guides, local experts, and over 50K travelers who've just visited share advice!
WHAT AND WHERE IS THE NATIONAL MALL?
The National Mall, sometimes called America's Front Yard, is basically a long, rectangular public park.
It stretches from the U.S. Capitol Building on its east end to the Lincoln Memorial on its west end.
Its current form comes largely from the Senate Park Commission, sometimes known as the McMillan Commission, who submitted their plan in 1902, expanding upon Pierre L'Enfant's original vision.
Here you'll find museums and memorials - but also recreational sports leagues, festivals, concerts, protests, and more.
The best way to see the National Mall is on a our walking tour!
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How long is the National Mall?
It is 1.8 miles (3 km) long by .3 miles (.5 km) wide.
It is bordered by Constitution Ave. on its north side and Independence Ave. on its south side. It covers 146 acres (.59 km).
There are really two halves on the National Mall - the side with the museums, which stretches from the U.S. Capitol Building to the Washington Monument.
Museums on the National Mall
- National Air and Space Museum
- National Gallery of Art
- National Museum of the American Indian
- National Museum of Natural History
- National Museum of American History
- Hirshhorn Art Museum
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Smithsonian Castle
- Freer & Sackler Galleries & African Art Museum
and the side with the national memorials:
- Washington Monument
- World War II Memorial
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- Korean War Veterans Memorial
- Lincoln Memorial
Not all of the memorials nor all of the museums are found in these two sections, but this is a good reference point to work from.
Is it free to see the National Mall?
Yes, it is free and open to visitors 24 hours a day.
When is the best time to visit the National Mall?
The best time to visit can really depend on what you want to see/do. The National Mall is open all day and night as a public park.
- Museums close at 5 p.m.
- Memorial restrooms are usually closed by midnight.
- Sunset and moonlight are some of the busiest times at the memorials - for a reason, they are also some of the most beautiful.
- Sunrise is usually far less crowded (except during Cherry Blossom peak on the Tidal Basin!)
- There is very little to eat ON the National Mall except a few refreshment stands and maybe some food trucks so mealtime is not always the best.
Can you walk around the National Mall?
Yes. Walking, jogging, or biking around the half or the entire National Mall is a popular pastime for locals and visitors.
TIP: Bring your National Parks Passport with you when you visit, as there are 16 National Park Service sites where you can get stamps.
How to Get to the National Mall?
Washington, DC isn't really all that large and the National Mall is a big chunk of the downtown area, so it's not a hard place to find.
Depending on where you're coming from you can use many forms of transportation to get to the National Mall.
However, we strongly recommend that you take mass transit if you are not planning on using a hop-on-hop-off bus.
Where you are headed can make the difference between which mode of transport will best suit you.
DC Metro Stations on the National Mall
Most visitors to the National Mall will take the subway.
There are 6 subway stations that each service part of the National Mall. Below the map, we have listed the stops and the attractions that they service.
Be sure to read our guide and video on how to navigate the DC Metro System.
TIP: During the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, many on-street parking spots and some roads are shut down, making Metro an even more appealing option.
The nearest Metro Stations to the various sites on the National Mall are:
- Federal Center SW: Capitol Building, National Botanical Gardens
- L'Enfant Plaza: Air & Space Museum, Hirshhorn Museum
- Archives: National Gallery of Art, Pennsylvania Avenue
- Smithsonian: Smithsonian Castle, Natural History Museum, American History Museum, Washington Monument
- Federal Triangle: American History Museum, Washington Monument (and the start of our National Mall Tour)
- McPherson Square: White House, WWII Memorial
- Foggy Bottom: Lincoln Memorial
DC Circulator Bus
The Circulator Bus is a special public bus designed in part for tourists to DC.
The Circulator is $1 per person, no matter where or when you hop on.
This new route will take you around the National Mall and Tidal Basin and back to Union Station.
It services all of the major stops on the National Mall, however, it's not the most convenient to get to, unless you are staying near Union Station.
TIP: Take our self-guided Bus tour using the Circulator.
For more convenience, consider one of the commercial hop-on-hop-off buses that provide commentary and make stops in many hotel areas.
Circulator Operating Hours:
Summer (April 1 – September 30) - 7 am – 8 pm (weekdays), 9 am – 8 pm (weekends)
Winter (October 1 – March 31) - 7 am – 7 pm (weekdays), 9 am – 7 pm (weekends)
Parking On the National Mall
There is limited parking on the National Mall. Spots are available on:
- Madison Drive (in front of American History, Natural History, and National Gallery of Art)
- Jefferson Drive (in front of Air & Space, Hirshhorn, and Smithsonian Castle).
On-street parking around the National Mall is restricted during morning and evening rush hours along Constitution Ave and Independence Ave.
- You canNOT park until 9:30 a.m. in the mornings or between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. in the evening.
It is also limited to 3 hours - total. So don't expect that moving your car a few inches forward will thwart the meter maids.
These are paid spots. You can use the parking machines along the road or use the Parkmobile App.
Where do our guides park for our National Mall tour?
Most guides take public transportation to get to the National Mall when we lead tours here, but now and then parking is necessary. Canden prefers to park along Ohio Drive, near the MLK Memorial - there are usually spots along that section! John likes the park just in front of the Einstein Memorial along Constitution Ave NW. Dan suggests avoiding the National Mall parking hassle and looking for street parking off 17th Street by the DAR building - no rush hour restrictions.
Hains Point/East Potomac Park: There are 320 spots on Hains Point, near the Jefferson Memorial (map).
This is a great option if you don't mind walking as it is more than a mile to the Smithsonian Museums.
The best option if you plan to drive into the city is to park in one of the many garages in the area.
The fees are worth avoiding getting towed and ticketed!
You can find and reserve a parking spot ahead of time in a parking garage in the National Mall area through a service called SpotHero.
They offer a bunch of reasonably priced parking options on their website, and the entire process makes parking pretty easy.
Other Ways to Travel:
- There are taxi stands around the National Mall, though they are very easy to hail around any of the memorials/museums.
- Uber/Lyft is very popular in DC.
- Pedicabs can be found all over the National Mall. Most of the drivers work for tips - so keep that in mind based on how far you're going and how many people you have!
- Biking is a popular way to travel to the National Mall. If you have your own bike, there are bike racks at many of the memorials. There are also many Capitol Bikeshare stations in the area.
- On Foot! That is our preferred way to travel. Starting at the Capitol Building, it is one mile (1.6 km) to the Washington Monument and another to Lincoln - those two miles are filled with memorials and museums and great sites to see.
MUSEUMS AND ATTRACTIONS ON THE NATIONAL MALL
A lot of people wonder what's in the National Mall, and the truth is that there are a lot of interesting attractions in the area.
The biggest tip for your museum-heavy visit to DC is that there is not only one Smithsonian museum.
The Smithsonian Institution is made up of 20 world-class museums, and a research center (the National Zoo).
And 11 of the most visited Smithsonian Museums are on the Mall.
Other museums, like the National Archives and International Spy Museum, are further away from the Mall, so do not appear here.
There are also several museums that are only affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution or are completely independent. We list these all below.
Our most suggested thing to do on the National Mall is to join us for one of our walking tours.
We explore the memorials and discuss the history of the National Mall.
Air and Space (National Mall)
The Air and Space Museum is probably the most visited museum in the city, and very popular with kids.
Here you can find the Wright Brothers' Kitty Hawk Flyer, the Apollo 11 Command Module, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, and a moon rock you can touch.
There is another building for the Air and Space Museum called the Annex, which is located near Dulles Airport, about an hour's drive out of the city.
There you can find the Enola Gay and one of the Space Shuttles.
American History Museum
Within the American History Museum, you'll find a collection of gowns from the First Ladies, Julia Child's kitchen, one of the muppets, and the actual flag that flew over Ft. McHenry: The Star-Spangled Banner.
This is a uniquely American museum.
Natural History Museum
If you're picturing a giant T-Rex in the center, that's New York. We have an elephant in the rotunda!
You can see the fossils of some of the great American dinosaurs, as well as ancient mummies, a white rhino shot by President Teddy Roosevelt, and the Hope Diamond.
National Museum of African American History & Culture
This incredible museum is also incredibly popular but you may be able to visit without tickets during certain times.
The NMAAHC is dedicated to the history, culture, and life of African Americans and includes museum exhibits on slavery and the fight to end it, artifacts and stories from the Underground Railroad, Jim Crow era, and accomplishments of black Americans throughout American history.
The section on segregation is particularly moving and the pop culture exhibits are a popular stop.
National Museum of the American Indian
This is one of the newer Smithsonian Museums and focuses on Native Americans of the Western Hemisphere.
Its sister museum is in New York City.
The staff at the museum are incredibly knowledgeable and you can learn a lot about the beliefs, languages, and culture of various Native American tribes.
Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
This contemporary art museum features works by Picasso, Matisse, and Pollack as well as exhibitions of more modern artists.
The sculpture garden has two parts - one just in front of the Hirshhorn and one across the Mall, which is actually part of the National Gallery of Art.
You will find Yoko Ono's Wish Tree, which contributions from around the world, and Rodin's (think... the Thinker) Burghers of Calais.
Smithsonian Castle
If you've seen Night at the Museum II: Battle of the Smithsonian, this beautiful building will look familiar.
Think of it more as a visitor center where you can get a map and information about the institution that started it all.
You can also pay your respects to James Smithson, who is interred near the Mall entrance of the building.
Freer and Sackler Galleries
The Freer & Sackler Galleries make up the Asian Art Collection.
African Art Museum
Just across the garden from the Asian Art Galleries and houses the largest public collection of African art in the country.
Both the Freer/Sackler and the African Art Museums are located behind the Smithsonian Castle.
National Gallery of Art
While this is not technically a Smithsonian, the National Gallery of Art is a non-ticketed, open-to-the-public museums just like the Smithsonian.
There are two wings: East (Contemporary) and West (Traditional) - connected below ground with a beautiful walkway and underground waterfall.
Highlights include a Calder mobile, self-portraits of Rembrandt and Van Gogh, and the only Leonardo Da Vinci in the Americas!
The National Gallery of Art sculpture garden next to the museum showcases the contemporary sculpture collection, including a Calder and a Lichtenstein.
Holocaust Memorial Museum
Also, not officially on the Mall but just across the street. We have an extensive Guide to Visiting the USHMM.
LANDMARKS ON THE NATIONAL MALL
U.S. Capitol Building
You can learn all about the Capitol and get tickets inside the building on our Capitol Hill & Library of Congress Tour.
Bordering the east end, the National Mall stops at the West Lawn of the Capitol Building.
Of course, you can get tickets to visit the Capitol on your own. Get tips on visiting the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress as well.
Carousel
A Carousel was originally added to the National Mall as part of the Smithsonian's Arts & Industries Building, but this is the second carousel here.
It has its own history and was a part of the Civil Rights Movement when the carousel was part of the segregated Gwynn Oak Park in Maryland.
Is the White House on the National Mall?
Officially no.
You can see the Southside of the White House from the National Mall, which is why we talk about it on our National Mall Walking Tour, but you can get much closer by going to the North Side.
Or get even closer by taking a public tour of the White House.
WHERE TO EAT ON THE NATIONAL MALL
Don't expect any restaurants on the Mall that aren't part of the museums, meaning you'll need to go through security and enter the building for the food court and won't be able to take food out of the food court.
By the Museums
- American History: The Stars & Stripes Cafeteria has a standard pizza, hamburgers, and salads.
- Natural History: This will have bit more variety and sometimes has special ethnic cuisine that complements an exhibit.
- National Gallery of Art: You'll find similar fare to American History; pizza, chicken fingers but some more specialty paninis, and less-fried options.
- Air & Space: The Air & Space Museum's food options are currently being renovated.
The best place to eat on the National Mall is the American Indian Museum, Mitsitam Cafe.
It features seasonal, local, Meso-American fare. Expect to pay museum cafeteria prices but the food is very good and the cafeteria is very large.
Nearby is L'Enfant Plaza Food Court, entrance located on D St SW between 9th and 10th St NW, but it is only open for weekday lunches.
Don't get this confused with the L'Enfant Plaza Metro Station - which isn't actually at the plaza.
The Food Court is easily accessible via L'Enfant Plaza Road which is directly behind Smithsonian Castle (map).
Also available for weekday lunches, Maryland Ave SW between 7th St SW and 6th St SW, just behind the Air and Space Museum is usually a haven for local food trucks.
TIP: June through August can be quite warm, so make sure to stay hydrated.
And we're not talking hot dog stands - these are gourmet, excellent meal options for a fraction of museum cafeteria prices.
The only downside is you have to eat outside but you'll see lots of people having makeshift picnics in the many grassy areas nearby.
You can also, surprisingly, get a great meal in the US Department of Agriculture's cafeteria.
A hidden gem when it comes to cafeterias in DC is the Department of Agriculture.
Now, we understand that going to a federal building's office cafeteria might not be high on your list but this one is an exception.
The food is great and not too expensive and you'll see some amazing WWII-era art along the way.
All you need to enter the building is a photo ID and you'll get a visitor's badge.
Lunch is 11 am - 3 pm and the entrance is on C Street SW about a block from the USHMM.
By the Memorials
If you find yourself near the iconic monuments and hungry, the only options are the refreshment stands.
These are more than just hot dogs - there are sandwiches, salads, and a variety of options.
You'll find the most options to eat at the Lincoln Memorial/Korean Memorial refreshment stand on the Independence Ave. side of the Lincoln Memorial.
There are smaller refreshment stands to eat at near the Jefferson Memorial and between the WWII Memorial and Vietnam Veterans in the Constitution Gardens.
If you want a sit-down restaurant/cafe, the Foggy Bottom area is about a 15-minute walk from Lincoln Memorial.
Just take 23rd St NW, the road that literally comes straight out of the side of Lincoln Memorial, and walk up the hill.
Here you'll find pizza shops, burger joints, salad bars, and Whole Foods.
And don't forget services like Uber Eats, which will bring food to you wherever you are.
TOURS OF THE NATIONAL MALL
Of course, we think the best way to visit the memorials on the National Mall and Tidal Basin is on one of our pay-what-you-wish walking tours.
We offer National Mall 2-hour walking tours during the day and evening for a moonlit option and a 4-hour National Mall and Tidal Basin tour nearly every day of the week!
Don't want to travel on foot?
Many people opt for either a hop-on-hop-off bus tour or an all-inclusive full-service bus tour. Learn about all of the bus tour options available to you in DC.
TIP: If you are considering a tourist discount pass for your time in DC, then keep in mind that many of the bus tour options mentioned in the link above are included for free with the purchases of any of them.
Is it free to see the monuments in Washington DC?
Yes. Not only are they free, but many are open to visitation 24 hours a day.
Take our self-guided Bus tour using the Circulator.
SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF THE NATIONAL MALL
If you cannot take our walking tours or prefer to wander on your own, use our GPS-enabled audio tour or our self-guided National Mall Tour below.
Download our National Mall Audio Tour. We also offer several other self-guided audio tours in the app.
Use the directions and guides below to visit these sites on a self-guided National Mall (And Tidal Basin) tour.
- Washington Monument
- White House South Lawn
- WWII Memorial
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- Albert Einstein Memorial
- Lincoln Memorial
- Korean War Veterans Memorial
- Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
- George Mason Memorial
- Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Washington Monument
From here take any of the sidewalks leading west towards the Lincoln Memorial you see in the distance.
It is only 1 mile away but there are a lot of things to see between!
How to Get Tickets to the Washington Monument
View of the White House South Lawn
You can get a much better view of the White House up close, but from here you can see the South Lawn.
Here is where Marine One, the presidential helicopter takes off and lands.
The White House is a direct line with the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the round-columned building across the Tidal Basin.
We encourage you to walk around to see the Jefferson Memorial in person but this is a good view if you don't plan on doing that!
Be careful crossing 17th Street, it's one of the few roads you'll have to cross but since these are not intersections some cars often don't realize they need to stop for the red light!
Stand in the center of the WWII Memorial facing the Lincoln Memorial.
You'll see a large plaque explaining why this location for the memorial was chosen.
National WWII Memorial
Restrooms: You'll find these in the building behind the Ranger Station.
There is also a brown octagonal building between WWII and Vietnam Memorials that is what we call emergency-only restrooms.
They are there if you need them, but don't expect much.
As you exit the WWII Memorial via the Atlantic Archway to head towards the Lincoln Memorial - DON'T take the sidewalk leading along the Reflecting Pool unless you want to extend your walk.
The quickest way to the next memorial is via Constitution Gardens, the windy pathway to your right.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial & Vietnam Veterans Women's Memorial
Restrooms: You'll find these in the basement of the Lincoln Memorial.
From the flagpole, backtrack along the sidewalk keeping the memorial to your right, and walk past it to the corner of Henry Bacon Drive and Constitution Ave NW.
Cross Bacon Drive and then take the crosswalk on your right to cross Constitution Ave NW.
The entrance to the Einstein Memorial is a little further up the road so DON'T turn right on the sidewalk once you cross the street, keep walking until you see the sign.
Albert Einstein Memorial
This memorial was placed in front of the National Academy of Sciences in 1979.
It's the only memorial where it is encouraging to climb on - owing to how huggable he looks! Notice his nose is a different color because everyone reaches up to rub it.
Looking at the ground, those small dots you see are an exact layout of the stars and constellations from the night the memorial was dedicated.
If you stand in the center (you'll notice many lines leading to that point) and face the statue - say something to Einstein.
While it will sound normal to everyone else, it will sound distorted to you!
Cross back over Constitution Avenue NW and head towards the Lincoln Memorial. You should be able to see it from here!
Lincoln Memorial
Restrooms: You'll find these in the basement of the memorial.
With the Abraham Lincoln Memorial behind you, enjoy the view down the Reflecting Pool (Jenn-ny!).
You can see the Washington Monument, Capitol, Library of Congress, and Smithsonian Castle all in this view.
Head towards the trees on your right. You should start to see a scene of lifelike statues walking through the trees.
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Restrooms: You'll find these in the basement of the Lincoln Memorial.
As you exit the memorial, head towards the left to cross Independence Ave NW.
The crosswalk here is in two parts - to cross westbound and then eastbound lanes so you'll have to press the button to cross twice.
Turn left after you cross the street and walk along the intramural fields until you reach the MLK Memorial.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
Restrooms: You'll find these in the back of the Bookstore building, entrance outside.
Make your way to the water and take the sidewalk to your right walking along the Tidal Basin until you reach the steps.
Take the steps into the FDR Memorial but instead of going directly in, turn right at the top of the steps towards to building.
If you make your way around to the front of the building, that is the true entrance to the memorial.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Restrooms: You'll find these at the beginning and end of the memorial.
There are two paths to take. If you exit the memorial past the bathroom, that sidewalk will lead you to the Inlet Bridge.
You can also make your way back to the water and walk along the water to get to Inlet Bridge. These two pathways will merge as you cross the bridge.
Keep an eye on the right - that is the Potomac River and the Pentagon in the distance.
After the bridge, you'll see a seated statue across the street, cross the road to visit the George Mason Memorial.
George Mason Memorial
This memorial is often overlooked as George Mason is referred to as the Forgotten Founder.
A representative of Virginia who encouraged the addition of individual rights to the Constitution, you can learn more about George Mason's role in our nation's beginnings at this memorial.
Cross back over the street towards Inlet Bridge but turn right so you don't actually walk back across the bridge.
The sidewalk splits and one follows the road (often where you see rows of coaches parked) and one heads towards the water - take the one near the water to walk around to the Jefferson.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Restrooms: You'll find these in the basement of the memorial.
To make your way back to the National Mall or nearby Metro, follow the sidewalk along the water past the Jefferson Memorial.
It will merge with 15th St SW and you can walk past the Bureau of Engraving and Printing & the Holocaust Memorial Museum.
You're now back on the Mall at the start by the Washington Monument.
The nearest Metro is the Smithsonian Metro Station (Blue/Orange/Silver).
If you turn right on Independence Ave SW from 15th St SW, the station is on that side of the street in two blocks at the corner of 12th St SW.
