Lincoln Memorial
Credit : heyengel
Twelve memorials . Eleven museums . The U . S . Capitol . Twenty-four hours .
Is it possible to visit all the National Mall ’ s attractions in a single day ? Technically , yes .
Is it advisable ? Probably not .
However , the numbers illustrate just how geographically concentrated Washington ’ s monuments are . If Washington has a commemorative epicenter , the National Mall is it . The memorials are open 24 / 7 and free to visit , and visiting in winter guarantees fewer crowds . ( An obvious exception is Inauguration Day , when hundreds of thousands flood the space .)
Stretching almost two miles from the U . S . Capitol in the east to the Lincoln Memorial in the west , the National Mall occupies more than 300 acres . Its defined boundaries have been recalibrated over time , but it also includes West Potomac Park , the site of several memorials . They include the 1943 Jefferson Memorial on the banks of the Tidal Basin ( site of the storied cherry trees ) and a spate of relatively newer monuments : the Vietnam Veterans , Korean War Veterans , and World War II memorials , and tributes to Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Martin Luther King , Jr .
The Mall ’ s north and south sides are bordered by Constitution and Independence avenues , the locale of many of the Smithsonian ’ s most famous museums , including Air and Space , Natural History , and African American History . Like the memorials , their admission is free .
A game plan for visiting : Arrive via public transportation . Parking is scarce and pricey . A good starting point is the Smithsonian Metro station at the corner of Independence Avenue and 12th Street SW . A kiosk outside dispenses maps and helpful information . Head west toward the Washington Monument and reflecting pool that leads to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial . Note : The Washington Monument is one of the few National Mall venues that require entry passes . Get same-day passes at The Washington Monument Lodge ( on 15th Street between Madison and Jefferson drives ) or reserve them in advance at recreation . gov .
Free ranger-led programs are available at virtually all National Mall monuments and memorials . For timetables and venues , visit the National Mall and Memorial Parks site at nps . gov .
Several hop-on-hop-off tour companies ( Old Town Trolly and Big Bus Tours ) operate around the mall . Other tour options include sightseeing from an openair electric cart ( Intrepid Urban Adventures ), cruising in a replica Model T ( DC Monuments Tours ), and enjoying tea party fare in a double-decker bus ( Tea Around Town ). Self-serve bike and scooter rental sites are also located around the National Mall .
But the best way to experience what has been dubbed America ’ s Front Yard is to stroll its grassy expanses or , alternately , the wide gravel paths that border the lawns . A five-mile loop trail from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial attracts joggers . Local sports teams scrimmage on playing fields near West Potomac Park . You can even visit Park Police horses ( Thur – Sun , 9 a . m . – 3 p . m .) at their stable / visitor center .
And on any given day , there ’ s likely to be some gathering — a performance , a protest , a vigil . It ’ s people-watching at its best .
WINTER 2024-25
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