D.C. in a Day
How to Explore Washington D.C. in a Weekend
One of the best parts about the East Coast is how easy it is to go on a weekend getaway! You can easily get to several different cities within a few hours, and each city has its own rich history and culture. From Washington DC you can reach New York City, Philadelphia, and even popular beach towns like Ocean City and Rehoboth Beach in just a few hours! This ability to get to so many places in such a short time makes the East Coast a wanderer's dream destination.
If you live on the East Coast, you can take advantage of wandering where you live with several options for day trips or a full weekend getaway. On my recent Washington DC getaway, I met a woman who lived in Maryland and had taken the train to Washington DC for the day with her 3 kids. She told me she couldn't live so close and not take advantage of showing her kids the museums.
If you are traveling to the East Coast from afar, you can still take advantage of weekend-style trips to different cities. This allows you to see more of the East Coast in one trip. Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, and even New York City are all within a few hours of each other.
The Best Washington DC Hotel
Where you stay in Washington D.C. depends on what you want to see. If your focus is to see the National Monuments and/or the Smithsonian Museums - I recommend staying on or near Connecticut Avenue. When I planned this 24-hour tour, I stayed at the Tabard Inn. It was the perfect location!
TRAVEL TIP
Take the Red Line Metro to Dupont Circle and walk to Tabard Inn. For a day trip, take the Red Line Metro to Farragut Square to start your tour.
The Tabard Inn is the oldest hotel in the Capitol. It is located one block off of Connecticut Avenue - which makes it the perfect location for a short stay in the city. Plus, the price is exceptionally reasonable for its prime location. One of my favorite parts of a weekend getaway is staying at boutique hotels. I find it adds to the travel experience - especially if you are staying close to home. The Tabard Inn is the perfect example of how a boutique hotel can add to the overall experience of a weekend getaway.
Whether you are staying for one night or several, take the first afternoon/evening to settle into the city. On this recent trip, I checked into the hotel at 4:00 p.m. and did some light wandering around the Dupont Circle area near the hotel. This allowed me to see another part of the city, in addition to the full day of touring I planned for the next day.
TRAVEL TIP
To get the most out of a day, without needing to stay for an extra night, check your bags at the hotel after checkout and then go explore. I checked out of my room at 11:00 a.m. the next day but was able to do a full day of exploring because I checked my luggage with the front desk. They stored it safely until I came back at 5:00 that evening. This way, I was able to enjoy a full day of wandering without any literal baggage weighing me down!
Washington DC Itinerary
A day of wandering ALWAYS begins with coffee for me! The Tabard Inn offers breakfast and coffee that you can enjoy before heading out. There is also a cute French Bakery on the corner of Connecticut Avenue. With an outdoor patio, it's a great way to enjoy a leisurely morning before setting out to wander. I wanted to get the most out of my day on this trip, so I got my coffee and pastry to go before heading down Connecticut Avenue.
Once you have your caffeine and breakfast of choice - let the tour begin!
Connecticut Avenue is on a hill, so wherever you begin - whether at the bakery or somewhere else on Connecticut Ave., just start walking down the hill! The walk along Connecticut Avenue is a tour of D.C. on its own. Even after several trips to Washington D.C. I still appreciate the views and architecture along this street.
For the best view, keep the buildings on the left closest to you. You will know you are going in the right direction when you start to see the Washington Monument in the distance.
Points of Interest along Connecticut Avenue:
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
The White House - if Pennsylvania Avenue is open, you can walk down the street to see it. If the road is blocked off (sometimes it will be), you can see it from a different further down the road.
Self Guided Tours of Washington DC Monuments
The further you walk down Connecticut Avenue, the closer you will get to The Washington Monument. Cross the street at the light of Connecticut Avenue and Constitution Avenue.
Don't go to the Washington Monument just yet though! The Washington Monument will actually be the END of your self-guided tour of the Washington D.C. Memorials.
Cross Constitution Avenue and TURN RIGHT - heading down the sidewalk that runs between Constitution Avenue and the large park.
If you stay for a second day - take the same walk to begin and then turn LEFT to go to the National Mall and the Smithsonian Museums . Download a 3 Day D.C. Guide here:
Travel Tip
There are A LOT of scooters to use around the city! They are a great option if your feet need a break. HOWEVER, you CANNOT END A RIDE next to the monuments. The GPS tracker won't allow it. If you want to scoot, unlock one on the corner of Connecticut & Constitution, stay on the sidewalk, and ride it to the far end of the park. Lock it along Constitution Avenue and then walk down to the memorials.
Visiting the Vietnam and Lincoln Memorial Memorials
Whether you scooter or walk, when you get to the far end of the park and Constitution Avenue, turn left and walk into the park. The first memorial you'll see is the Vietnam Memorial on your left. Keep walking, and you will walk straight into the Lincoln Memorial.
Once you've explored The Vietnam and Lincoln Memorials, head towards the reflecting pool. Rather than walking back up the main street, walk along the reflecting pool towards the Washington Memorial. Off to the left, you will see the Jefferson Memorial. If you are up for the extra jaunt, take a detour and head off to see the Jefferson Memorial up close. You can also choose to gaze from a distance.
Visiting the World War II Memorial
At the end of the reflecting pool is the World War II Memorial. If you can plan your travel during warmer months, I suggest doing it simply for this memorial. The first time I saw this memorial it was winter and the water was turned off. While it's a beautiful memorial regardless, there's something about the water that truly adds to the overall effect.
Visiting the Washington Monument
After the World War II Memorial, it's time to walk around the Washington Memorial! Cross the street and take your time walking around the base of the monument. Take your time to appreciate the amazing views of the other monuments, the Capitol Building, and even The White House, as you walk around. If you plan to go up inside the monument you will need to plan that ahead of time. Fees & Passes - Washington Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Where to Eat in Washington DC
At this point in the day - you are probably ready for food! If you have time and want to relax, follow the music to the food trucks! Just head back towards Constitution Ave. and head in the opposite direction from the memorials.
You will see a dozen or more food trucks lining the street along The National Mall. (I found these to be reasonably priced, especially for a tourist destination. I got three tacos and a bottle of water for $11 which I felt was a lot less than what I have paid at other tourist areas.)
If the weather is nice, grab some food and sit on the grass or a park bench. Depending on the day of the week and time of day you may see people out playing kickball or flag football after work.
The National Mall is the start of the Smithsonian Museums. If you want to visit the museums, plan for a second day. You truly need at least two days to enjoy both the monuments and museums!
Depending on how your feet are feeling, your walking tour of Washington D.C. may end here. Feel free to grab a Lyft back to the hotel, or to grab food at a restaurant nearby. If you are up for a bit more wandering, head back towards Connecticut Avenue!
If you want to explore the other side of the street, there are several more buildings that are beautiful to walk by. If you want a view of The White House, head back on Connecticut Ave the same way you walked earlier. Take a little detour into the park just before The Eisenhower building. Walk through the park and keep an eye out for a view of The White House.
annnnd...If you are done with the walking, just grab yourself a Lyft. Pick-up your bags, and head out. You can now say "I've been to Washington, D.C.!"
Washington D.C. is one of the most culturally rich cities in the United States. You could live there and still never see everything. I can attest to this because I lived there for four years (okay, I lived in Alexandria/Arlington Virginia - so a quick metro ride away). I didn't see everything the city had to offer when I lived there, which is why I continue to come back and visit.
If you have never been to Washington DC and you are not sure when you will get to come back, after this walking tour you can confidently say, I’ve been to Washington D.C. More importantly, you can leave knowing that you saw the most important areas of the city - all in a day!
Do you have more than a day to explore DC? Then keep reading for two more days of travel ideas in the nation's capital!
Visiting the Smithsonian Museums
The Smithsonian is not one single museum, but a collection of several museums. Each of these museums focuses on different parts of history that have shaped the United States. The best part about all of these museums? They are Free!
The museums are free; however, as a result of Covid, many of them now require tickets ahead of time. So, make sure you are prepared by visiting the Smithsonian website to secure tickets before you travel.
If you are planning on visiting Washington DC for at least two days, I encourage you to spend some time at the Smithsonian Museum - or rather, museums.
If you only have one day in the city, then choose either a day at the National Mall or a day at the National Monuments. 11 of the 20 national museums are located along the mall. Therefore, trying to see the monuments and even one national museum all in one day will result in a rushed and unpleasant day of wandering.
How to Choose Which Smithsonian Museums to Visit
Even if you have a full day to explore just the museums, eleven museums is still a lot! Therefore, I suggest taking a look and picking out your top 5 or 6 to get tickets for. This way, you can truly enjoy your time at each one rather than feeling rushed to get through all of them.
My favorite Smithsonian Museums:
The Smithsonian collections are not the only museums in DC. There are several other options such as The National Gallery of Art and The National Arboretum. These are two of my favorite museums in the city. They are definitely worth a visit and are sometimes less “touristy” than the Smithsonian museums.
When planning your weekend getaway to Washington DC, consider the time of year you will be traveling. Sometimes there is not a lot of control over when we travel. However, if you do have flexibility, I recommend choosing a non-holiday weekend outside of summer.
Weekend travel in Washington DC during the summer is busy! Like, really busy! If you can plan your trip on a weekend in the off-season, such as April through May or just after Labor Day, you are less likely to have large crowds to compete with.
If you can only travel on the weekends during summer - I get it! I was a teacher for over a decade and summers and weekends were the only times I could travel. You will still have an amazing trip, just with a few more travelers roaming around.
The Best Places to Explore near Washington DC
Places near Washington DC to Explore by Metro
Even if you drive into the city, the metro is the easiest way to get to most places. Especially when it comes to parking! DC is not the easiest (or cheapest) city to park in; therefore, metro and walk when you can.
The National Zoo, Woodley Park Zoo, is a short metro ride away. As is Arlington National Cemetery.
If you are looking for a DC neighborhood with great food and drinks after a day of exploring, take the metro to Adams Morgan.
If you have extra time in the area and want to get outside of downtown DC, there are some great places to explore nearby.
Old Town Alexandria is full of American History and just a short drive or metro trip from the city, or if you stay at The Tabard Inn you can easily jump on the metro at Dupont Circle and take the metro to Alexandria, VA.
If you want to extend your weekend getaway, you may consider spending a night or two in Old Town!
I used to live a few miles from Old Town in a little area of Northern Virginia called Del Ray. My favorite Sunday activity was to head into Old Town, get a coffee, and walk around. It is one of my favorite places to wander in the United States.
Places Near Washington DC to Explore by Car
If you drove or rented a car for your weekend, there are a few other places rich in American History that you can drive to.
The home of Martha and George Washington, Mount Vernon, is a popular destination. It is about a 15-minute drive from Old Town Alexandria and about 30 minutes from downtown Washington DC. Depending on traffic, these times could be a bit longer.
On the way back from Mount Vernon, take the scenic route along the Potomac River. Need a little escape to nature after a weekend in the city? There is a biking and walking path along the Potomac River that is great for a little fresh air and movement.
Whether you stay in the city or venture out to surrounding areas, after a day or two in the Washington DC area you will be planning your next trip from the airport so that you can return to see more.
